LEAGUE TEAM ON COAST.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18151, 14 August 1924, Page 14

LEAGUE TEAM ON COAST.

A CRICKET SCORE. (S7ECUX< TO "THS KUeSS."} . GREYMOUTE, August IS.. Heavy showers during the morning converted the Victoria Park playing ground into a quagmire in places, and the attendance at tho match against England was adversely affected. Nevertheless over 3000 people witnessed the game, which was piayed in dull, threatening weitae.-. The West. Coast team was much liyhver than the visitors, who gave a dazzling exhibition, throwing the oall about wiui apparent abandon, and scorin" at every opportunity which presented i'-self. Practical.}- every try obtained was a result of passing movements among the England won the toss and pkyed -with a stron" breeze. The visitors hooked from a scrum at halt-way, and Thomas was grassed in possession after fielding a short punt Howloy missed a pass fiom a scrum, and England kicked over, Thomas forcing. A Coast forward rvsh was stopped by Hurcombe. Pollaid made a great ran along the line, passing finally to Kis, who was brought down. The latter obtained shortly after" from a pretty piece of work and ran ia for an easy try. Sullivaii'e kick went outside. England • • .. 3 West Coast -. •■ •■ 0

By a great effort the Coast forwards reached their opponents' 25, but ifouatt failed to stop a return movement. Thomas retrieved the position' with a nice run, dodging and Fide-stepping several cf his opponents. The pressure was relieved only temporarily, however. Kix failed to accept when he could have run in. Good pjay by Hansen and Hears was the next incident, and a free kick against Brough saw play reach midfiV.d. The Coast hooked twice in succession, but the English rearguard was se?n in action a little later, beautiful passing bot:ts ensuing. Finally the ball reached Pollard, who beat Thomas without difficulty

and (scored in 3n easy position. Sullivan converted. Englccd S West Coast •• •• - ••■ 0 Thomas was obliged to force after a long punt by Sullivan. Skelton headed a Coast forward rush to midficld, where Hunter marked. The English backs secured and trouble threatenc-d until a forward pass to Pollard spoilt the movement: JThere were manv penalties against the Englishmen, chiefly for eff-aide play. From a half-way scrum Mooney went away in a solo effort, bust Cust tackled him and Rix returned play to the twenty-five. A bad pass by Jackson spoilt a Coast rush after the ball had come out cleanly from, a scrum. Mooney broke away and Mouatt stopped his flight with a sure tackle. The Coast captain gave a free-kick for off-side just inside the English half, but he retrieved the position shortly after with clever dribbling. Fending with great determiuation, Evans broki away in a. lons run along tlie side-line until Oust brought him down, anl Mouatt and Hunter made up the ground lost. Howley then secured nnd he and Brough broke clean away, the latter knock-ng on. A penalty for a forward pass by Thomas- to Jackson was taken bv Sul'ivan, but the kick, was fruitless. When Kix secured from the resulting plav he arjwared to be. heading for a try" until a tackle stooped him- _ After thjg .the Coast was. scarcely in the nieture. Mioney secured from a- scrum, and the ball .went to Pollard, dummied Thomas and scored. Sullivan's kick missed. . England .. .. .. 11 .. West Coast '.. '.. . ... '' 0 • Hurcombe was prominent in a good run, but the visiting forwards charged off-side. A long run by Bowman ended in a pass, to "Rees, who ran in without difficulty. Sullivan again missed with the kick. England .. ..• •• 14 - ; West Coast .. .. •■ 0 .

Mooney knocked-on in a brilliant passing rush, and Evans' was tackled safely. Near the Coast line Mouatt secured from a. scrum and went twenty-five yards, the Coast; 'foiwards charging down well.' When near ih» opposine line the movement was brought to nothing by Mooney, who passed _to hie backs and the Ball finally reached Biz,' who scored and Sullivan converted. 'England '..' ' .. ; >... 19r West Coast , .. . , ..; 0

A run by Cust was neutralised'by.Pollard, but the English movement broke down through bad passing. Thompson. ■ dribbled away from midrleld, arid Brough~-went over, hut the Coast was. awarded -a free-kick. The relief was momentary, as Bix ran in a little later unopposed. Sullivan goaled,. and the half-time bell, went with the '.score':' England .. " .. -'.' .'. .24 West Coast .. '..' .. 0

For the first time in the- game the, visitors had to force in front of a rush by Mcars and Giffuey.' Mouatt' returned tl*> kick-off to the twenty-five. The Coast forwards were holding their own in the tight work, but Pollard broke away; and covered 50 yards before he waa grassed. Mouatt broke up an English'back movement. Bennett took a' pass just inside the halfway, and ran in for his first try on the tour.. His attempt to convert failed. England .. 27 WeJt Coast '.. .. .. 0

A kick on the head put • Pollard out of action for a fow minutes. Skelton initiated a rush to the line which ended in an in. fringercent. Meara snapped up in the loose and. side-stepping an opponent, scored in a" good position. Motiatt converted. , England .. .. .. 27 West Coast .. -.. ... 5 Mouatt broke away again -near the line, and struggled over, carrying several opponents. Ho failed to convert. England .. .. ... 27 West Coast '..' .."• ..8 From a passing rush the ball went out to Brough, who fended - off several tack'ers and scored a fine try. Sullivan converted with a difficult kick. England .. .. .. 32 West Coast .. .. ..8 The English Tearguard was in action again shortly after, and Howley passed to Evans, who ran in. Mooney failed to convert. „- Engine? .. .. ..'35 West Coast .. .. .- 8 Bowman's turn came, next; and he dodged and eide-etepped his way through the opposition. Mooney converted. England .. .. .. 40 . West Coast .. .. .. 8 . Pollard ecored from a movement started by Darwell, and Sullivan goaled. England ' .. .. -.. 45 West Coast .. .. ..... 8 Immediately after Eeeg .bolted: and passed to Bfnrcombe, who crossed the line. Sullivan converted. Ehglwid .''.... .. ..50 West Coast .. .'. '•• 8 A momentary rush to the visitors' line was headed by Mcars and Giffney, but Rix put a different complexion on matters with a 50 yards': run, and Howley scored. : 'Sullivan again converted. England .. .. '-:'..■ 65 West Coast .. ..... 8 A Coast rußh past the twenty-five wae led by Hunter, until Mooney set hia backs' in motion and Howley ran in'again.' Sullivan converted. "England .. "'•'•■'-"> •• 60 West Coast .. -. 8 Monatt had a penalty shot which missed, and..' the Englishmen went ..away from the twenty-five with a magnificent passing movement. Rix wae the last man in the rush, and-ho touched-down behind the posts. Sullivan once more converted. ■ England .. .. ..65 We3t. Coast .. .... 8 Griffiths eased the pressure on the Coast line shortly after, and the final -whistle went with tho score: England ..... ..65 - West Coast .. .. .-. ' 8 . Mr J. Kerr, of Blackball, was referee.: A curtain-raiser bciween Marists Jnniors and Rovers proved even and interesting, an i -ended in a draw. Kennedy scored an unconverted try for Marists and Smith crossed the line for Rovers. Mr W. Hopkins was referee.

The members of the English .team were the guests of the Runanga League Club toniebt, at a social held in honour of Mr H. Ellis, a member of the club'B senior team, who is leaving the district shortly for Waihi.