LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVII, Issue 7, 6 December 1926, Page 3

LEAGUE FOOTBALL

NEW ZEALANDERS BEATEN.

WELSHMEN’S FINE DISPLAY.

(By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) LONDON, Dec. 4. Wales beat the New Zealand League team by 34 points to 3, in a match at Pontypridd, at which 10.000 people were present. Wales scored eight tries and five goals, and New Zealand two tries and one goal. Wales entered tho field to tho strains oi “Men of Harlech.” Tho visitors, following, gave their war ,cry. The teams were as fo'ljw Wales: Sullivan (Wigan), Ivans (Swinton), Lewis (St. Helens), llurcombe (Halifax), Rhodes (Pontypridd), Carswell (Hull), Rees (Swinton), Green (Pontypridd), Oliver (Pontypridd), Hodder (Wigan), Stephens (Wigan), Davies (Pontypridd), and Gore (Salford). New Zealand : Gregory, Brown, Davidson, Ivirwan, Parkes, Brisbane, Delgrosso, Avery, Devine, Mason, Carroll, Wright and Thomas. Wales started brilliantly. Evans, Lewis and Carswell,, combining finely, carried the ball across the line, but were recalled for an infringement. The Welshmen continued to sorely press tho visitors. Avery, punting brilliantly, relieved, but Sullivan returned, enabling Evans ; Lewis and Hurcombe to take part in a fine passing run, in which Evans broke in for a return pass, tricked Delgrosso, and scored. Sullivan failed to convert. Wales continued to press, and tiro New Zealanders rarely passed out of tlieir own twenty-five until after a series of scrums, wlien Davidson broke away perfectly and passed to Delgrosso, who scored under the posts, converting the try himself.. The Welshmen returned to the attack, and Sullivan, fielding beautifully, dropped a goal. From tho kick off, owing to New Zealanders fumbling the ball, Gore intercepted and scored a try, which Sullivan converted. The Welsh forwards wero very successful in the scrum, and gave their backs every opportunity, .resulting in many fine rounds of passing. Gore again broke through and passed to Evans, who registered a try. Delgrosso and Brisbane were playing wonderfully well behind the beaten pack and defeated many attacks, but the Welsh three-quarters were too smart to enable them to turn defence into attack. Lewis was prominent in a fine run, but failed to score. At half-time the score was: AVales 13 points; New Zealand 5. The visitors were penalised immediately after tho interval, enabling Sullivan to kick an excellent goal. : The Welshmen continued to have tlieir own way, and Gore scored a try, and a moment later, following a splendid passing round, inaugurated by Carswell, Evans got over. The New Zealanders made desperate efforts, the forwards passing well. After speedy play, they sent Thomas in to score an unconverted try. Tho Welshmen reasserted their supremacy, Hurcombe scoring, after which Rees broke away and sent in to Carswell, who scored. Both trios were converted. Sullivan, after a brilliant effort, scored another trv in tho last, minute. ‘ , Mr Fail-burst, of Wigan, refereed. —A. and N.Z. cable.