RUGBY FOOTBALL CANTERBURY WINS AT GREYMOUTH

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27055, 2 June 1953, Page 11

RUGBY FOOTBALL CANTERBURY WINS AT GREYMOUTH

WEST COAST SOUNDLY BEATEN

SIX TRIES TO NONE (From Our Own Reporter) GREYMOUTH, June 1. ' The Canterbury Rugby team beat the West Coast at Rugby Park, Greymouth, this afternoon by 26 points (six tries, one of which, was converted, and two penalty goals) to 6 (two penalty goals. The match was played in fine weather and the ground was fitm. There was a record crowd of more than 3000. The performance of the Canterbury forwards was outstanding. The backs did not rise to the same heights although they were clever individual players. Most of the work was done by the five-eighth, J. Hotop and D. Wilson. Elusive and speedy, with an easy change of pace, Hotop was a star in his own right, and at times tore the defence to ribbons. Wilson as an able support, and was a useful link in the scoring of tries. He scored the concluding try himself. The West Coast forwards towards the end of the match, and Canterbury scored almost at will. Canterbury scored 15 points in the second spell, but the West Coari scored none. Canterbury established an early lead of six points, and then the West Coast drew level with two penalty goals, both kicked by A. Lindbom. Just before half-time, Canterbury scored a second try, which was converted by K. Stuart. , A Canterbury won 19 line-outs to West Coast’s nine in the first spell, and 25 to West Coast’s 17 in the second spell. Canterbury won 10 scrums in the first spell and eight in the second, to the West Coast’s five and four. Even when the West Coast forwards secured the ball, their opponents’ mobility usually broke up any attacking, move. With such a small share of the ball, the West Coast did quite well to hold Canterbury to this margin. That the margin was not greater was attributable entirely to sound defence, particularly in smothering back play. Outstanding Forwards P. Eastgate, K. Meates, and R. H. Duff were outstanding in the well-balanced Canterbury pack. Other hard workers were D. Young. R. Stuart, and S. F. Hill Apart from Hotop and Wilson, M. Dixon was the most enterprising of the Canterbury backs. He showed great speed and determination. Smith, on the other wing, got few chances. P. Vincent was sound at half-back, and so was K. Stuart at full-back. A. E. Elsom did not rise to any great heights at centre-threequarters. although he scored two tries engineered by Hotop and Wilson. J. Lindbom played brilliantly at fullback for the West Coast. His line-kicking was superb throughout the match. When they had the ball, both five-eighths. R. K Breeze and M. Thomas, showed some flashes of brilliance. E. G. Walker defended well at centre-threequarters. Neither of the wing-threequarters, J Gillan and A, Lindbom, played up to their best form. G. Richardson, the halfback. was a little slow in his passes. G Nelson was the outstanding West Coast forward.

After eight minutes of play, the West Coast was penalised for a scrum infringement three yards inside half-way, and K. Stuart kicked a brilliant goal. After 15 minutes. Hotop snapped up the ball and dived over near the posts, but Stuart failed to convert. A. Lindbom kicked two penalty goals for scrum and ruck infringements, and the score was 6-all. Just before half-time, after some good following-up by Duff and Eastgate, the latter scored a try near the posts and Stuart converted. Play had been in progress for 18 minutes in the second spell when Hotop. Wilson and Dixon combined well to send Elsom over at the corner. Stuart failed with his kick. With 27 minutes gone. Hibbs was penalised for off-side play and Stuart kicked another penalty goal from a handy position. A. Lindbom was injured. His successor, A. Dawson, was caught out of position, and following through brilliantly K. Meates scored wide out. Stuart failed with his kick. Dawson gave Canterbury another try when he miskicked. Hotop snapped the ball up and sent it on to Smith, who sent Elsom over for a try wide out. Stuart again failed to convert Just before full time, Wilson picked up the ball when it bounced out of a ruck and he went over in the corner. Stuart’s kick missed. The referee was Mr A. Fong.

WELLINGTON BEATS MANAWATU

(New Zealand Press Association) PALMERSTON NORTH, June 1. Wellington beat Manawatu by 23 points to 0 in a senior representative Rugby match played at the Showgrounds today. Wellington forwards were superior, and with no cover defence Manawatu was unable to keep in check the enterprising and fast Wellington backs.

WELLINGTON B BEATS MARLBOROUGH

(New Zealand Press Association) 3LENHEIM, June 1. Wellington B beat Marlborough by 10 points to 5 in their annual Rugby match, played in Blenheim today. All the points were from tries. Wellington’s were scored by BattelJ and Buddicom, the latter just after he came on as a replacement, and Battell converted both. For Marlborough Norton scored, and Farrington converted. At half-time the score was 5-all. and the winning points were secured eight minutes before time.

WANGANUI BEATS TARANAKI

(New Zealand Press Association) WANGANUI, June 1. Wanganui Rugby representatives beat Taranaki in a match played at Wanganui this morning by 13 points to 3. Trier for the winners were scored by T. Goldsmith and M. Paul. L. Head converted both and kicked a penalty goal. Taranaki's try was scored by P. Dickson.

WANGANUI B BEATS TARANAKI B

(New Zealand Press Association) NEW PLYMOUTH, June 1. Wanganui B beat Taranaki B by 11 points to 9 in a representative Rugby match at New Plymouth today. Wanganui’s score consisted of tries by R. B. Luscombe, M. Lawrence, and B. W. Ericson, one of which was converted by R. W. Webby. C. Trengrove and P. Penwarden scored tries for Taranaki, and R. Cameron kicked a penalty goal.

HAWKE’S BAY BEATS WAIRARAPA

(New Zealand Press Association) NAPIER, June 1. Hawke's Bay beat Wairarapa today in a representative Rugby match by 25 points to 15. The score at half-time was 6-5 in Wairarapa’s favour.

INVERCARGILL TEAM WINS MIDDLESEX CUP

(New Zealand Press Association) TIMARU, June 1. Invercargill Star A again won the Middlesex Cup. a trophy presented by the Middlesex Rugby Club in England for seven-a-side Rugby competition in New Zealand, when it beat Temuka in the final at the South Canterbury Rugby Union’s Queen’s Birthday tournament, held in fine weather at Timaru today. Last year Star won the competition, held at Invercargill. MALVERN SUB-UNION Matches played on Saturday in the Malvern Sub-Union's competitions resulted: — Senior.—Darfield 3, Kirwee 0: Black Diamonds 20. Hororata 6; Weedons Air Force 8, Sheffield 3. Junior. —Combined 9. Darfield 0; Kirwee 9, Black Diamonds 6.