NELSON TEAM WINS

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25610, 27 September 1948, Page 5

NELSON TEAM WINS

SUB-UNIONS BEATEN 9 TO 3 Showing more combination and lasting better, Nelson representatives beat the Canterbury Sub-Unions team by 9 points to 3, at Lancaster Park on Saturday. The first spell was even, but in the second Nelson took charge and had much the better of the game. The Nelson backs and forwards showed they had derived some benefit from their play on their South Island tour. The forwards worked well together, and although they did not have any advantage in weight, they pushed evenly in the scrums, and their backs were given a feast of the ball. Several of the Sub-Union’s backs made mistakes in handling, a fault which suggested a lack of practice. With really good players in G. Wright, I. McNally, and E. H. M. Richards there were sandwiched men not up to representative standard. The form generally was well below that shown earlier in the season when the Sub-Unions beat the Town team. For Nelson, the best back was the centre-three-quarters, Tait, whose straight running had the defence beaten more than once. If one fault could be found with His play it was in his tendency to kick instead of sending the ball to his wing-three-quarters Bryant, full-back, handled and kicked well and generally his defence was sound. G. Parkinson, half-back, linked up well with K. Wright and J. Rae, the latter a most promising five-eighths. In the forwards, G. Max was always the leader, with sdund support from A. Snow. B. Hill.' and T. Spittall. . G. Wright, the star back for Christ's College last season, playing first at wing-three-quarters and later at five-eighths for the Sub-Unions, showed that he had made some improvement and, while he was compelled to play an individual game, he showed rare dash and speed and football knowledge when he made a strong run and centre-kicked for McNally to score. Richards, at full-back, was always mastei* of his job, his handling and line-kicking being right up to standard. McNally’s play was affected by poor service from the inside backs and he was never allowed to rfiake the breaks which have been a feature of his play.

M. Henderson was a fine leader of a pack which, however, lacked any semblance of combination. N. Dalzell, B. H. Browne • and E. A. Martin all shone in individual efforts. The Play Nelson had the better of the opening stages and scored -the first points when Rae, at first five-eighths, received the ball from a set scrum and shot round on the blind side for a try. Sub-Unions made the scores even when G. Wright after a long run kicked to the centre and McNally dived on the ball which had gone over the line. Duggan, the Nelson wing-three-quarters, opened up passing when hemmed on the line and the forwards carried on for D. Max to score. At half-time Nelson led by 6 points to 3. Nelson had all the better of the second spell and was unlucky not to score more than once. Good passing by the whole Nelson back-line ended when Tait kicked and followed fast for a try near the corner. Nelson won by 9 points (three tries) to 3 points (a try). The teams were:— Nelson.— -J. Bryant; F. Duggan, J. Tait, K. Sharland; K. Wright, J. Rae; G. Parkinson. Forwards.—C. Maskill, G. Max, R. Petrie; B. Hill, A. Snow, M. Browne, D. Max; D. Ward. Canterbury Sub-Unions.—E. H. M. Richard#; G. T. Wright, B. Robinson, L. Fraser; I. McNally, R. Pickering; N. Thomas; A. Chapman, M. Eilken, G. Parsons; B. H. Browne, N. Dalzell, L. D. Davies, E. A. Martin; M. Henderson. Mr L. Walsh w’as the referee.