CANTERBURY BEATEN

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27986, 5 June 1956, Page 13

CANTERBURY BEATEN

12 8 WIN FOR WEST COAST

BATTLE BETWEEN EVEN PACKS

(From Our Own Reporter) GREYMOUTH, June 4.

Sunny weather with a dry ground and a moderate breeze provided almost ideal conditions for the annual match between the West Coast and Canterbury at Rugby Park, Greymouth, this afternoon. The West Coast gained a well-deserved win by 12 points to 8 after an even game. Neither set of backs could get going properly, although Canterbury looked formidable several times in the second spell. Consequently the match resolved itself into a struggle between evenlymatched packs. With the defenders moving up quickly, the backs were compelled to do a lot of kicking. The Canterbury players, more particularly B. J. Molloy, the half-back, were barracked for line kicking, but much of the kicking was necessary to help attacks. S. K. Henderson and G. Patterson did some judicious line finding. The spectators were silent when West Coast players kicked to touch. The game was spoiled by too much whistle, and Canterbury players, especially, were obviously puzzled by some of the penalties, 16 of which went to the West Coast and 14 to Canterbury. The Canterbury forwards held the advantage in both scrums and lineouts. They won 18 set scrums to 10, and 38 line-outs to 26. It says a lot for the West Coast defence that the Canterbury backs were unable to take advantage of the superiority of their forwards in gaining possession. The rearranged West Coast pack was vastly superior to that which played against Buller at Hokitika. The forwards were much more mobile, and put plenty of dash into their loose play. They were very fortunate, however, to escape being penalised for holding on to the ball in loose rucks. This they did persistently, and also after gaining possession in the line-outs.

Credit must go to the West Coast backs for their sound defence and attempts to open up play. N. Venis. half-back from Inangahua, played a very sound all-round game, and fully justified his selection. So, too, did A. McEnaney on the right-wing. He scored the final try of the match after a good run. Canterbury’s forwards all worked hard, but the backs could not combine. A. W. C. McPherson made some fine runs and openings in the second spell, but the defence held, even if luckily at times. The teams were:—

West Coast.—A. McNabb; F. W. Gugich, C. Thorne, A. McEnaney; K. Brown, A. Negri; N. Venis; A. McCone; R. Inkster, T. Bird, P. Punch, R. Gardiner; P. McPherson, G. Ferguson, A. Krakosky. Canterbury.—G. Patterson: J. M Osborne, A. W. C. McPherson, I. Pickrr!?f'„s K ' Henderson, J. Waine; B J. Molloy; R. W. Moffat; H. Burry, K F. Meates, R. Cochrane, N. Teague' J. le Lievre, J. D. Stewart (captain) E. Hern.

With the advantage of a fair breeze and the sun, the West Coast attacked trom the outset, and lost two opportunities of scoring in the first five minutes, knocks-on occurring with a clear line ahead. Play was in Canterbury territory when the visiting forwards made an irresistible foot rush which right through the defence Teague scoring fairly wide out. Patterson converted.

It was another 17 minutes before the score was increased. An infringement in a loose scrum cost the West C oa st a penalty inside the twentyS) V r e ectTy d kiCked a « oal Irom The West Coast attacked in the latter stage of the spell, and seven minHl! S Li bef °J e r the lntervai a passing rush developed from a scrum, Thorpe found .k the d . efence and scored between the posts. Brown’s kick hit an upright and rebounded. Just before half-time McNabb kicked a penr'r7^ 0 ? 1, m aking the half-time score ° r>i in ff vour Canterbury. jost started when McNabb put the West Coast in the lead with a penalty goal from the 25-yard line Canterbury attacked persistently Meates and McPherson narrowly missanglitJl'eS ’ a i nd Henderson being onlv kicks 1 ' astray Wlth three penalty

befl ? re tim . e Bird obtained the ball in a line-out near half-way rai round on the blind, and after makinr cranneH Pa on ed fh° McEn aney. The win;' clapped on the pace, and althouel Unded the ballf ° r - -

referel 1 ' Euis (Hokitika) was the

TARANAKI BEATS WANGANUI

(New Zealand Press Association) with WANGANUI, June 4. With speedier and more enterprising backs, Taranaki beat Wanganui 14-9 in ?en r s eP Pa S rk nt t;yc e Rugby ’at S Lout 7W hIS morning bef °re a crowd

ain^f.?»h ki * a 5* acked for mos t of the game although at times the Wanganui dominated the Taranaki pick for " ard s wn 81^? 1 11-3 at hal£ -time, R. Johnson scoring two runaway tries, J McS?e OU #?r Wan y J r ’ converting Bayjev ki)SS BanU i’ Lockett sc °red a try. rSanaki k lon « P e *ia ty goal for xaranaKi in the second spell, and Lett scored a try and Mander kicked a fine penalty goal for Wanganui ne

HAWKE’S BAY BEATS WAIRARAPA

(New Zealand Press Association)

yt, ...i . t, v. NAPIER. June 4. Hawke s Bay beat Wairarapa, 11-5, toe?ni>nri The tt mat v h . W t s P la Y ed on a heavy ground. Hawke’s Bay led 11-0 in the ?a£LH* aIf ’i bUt u* W ? 8 su bj ec ted to a sustamed onslaught in the second half xt- . e J,S orers for Hawke's Bay were i^n I J«^ lderso * n ’ and Marett (tries), Kivell i^^7 e l ting^a try> For Wairarapa, HutchbjF AHen ed 3 try ’ which was converted

POVERTY BAY DRAWS WITH EAST COAST

(New Zealand Press Association)

D „ GISBORNE, June 4. Poverty Bay and East Coast drew, 8-all, m a match in Gisborne today, for the second time in a week. It was typical wet-weather football, with frequent heavy showers and a cold southerly. Poverty Hay scored a goal and a penalty goal to East Coast s goal and a try. The teams were even in‘the scrums, but Poverty Bay enjoyed a two-to-one advantage in the line-outs through the fine work of M. Wooster. Wooster, W. Atkins, and A. Rowlands were the pick of the home pack. B. Henare, K. Dewes, and W Peachey were the best of a hard-working and fiery East Coast pack, which frequently bustled the home backs into errors.

The Poverty Bay wing, R. Cossey, was speedy and formidable.

Poverty Bay lost several scoring chances with faulty handling, and excessive kicking by the backs threw away good openings.

In the first spell the East Coast fiveeighths, G. Horsfall, scored beside the posts. The full-back. K. Karaka, converted. Late in the spell Poverty Bay equalled when Cossey scored a yard from the corner flag after a fine run. B. Preston kicked a magnificent goal. Poverty Bay took the lead in the second half when i the full-back, P. Cowan, kicked a good

penalty goal, but just before time B. Watson, the East who was sound on both attack and defence, scored after charging down a clearing kick.

N. ROBERTS TO PLAY FOR SOUTH ISLAND

The Canterbury forward, N. Roberts, will replace A. Soper (Southland) in the South Island team to play against New Zealand in the Rugby trial match at Lancaster Park tomorrow. Soper broke a thumb in a club match at Southland on Saturday.

TOURNAMENT AT RANGIORA

A seven-a-side tournament organised by the North Canterbury Rugby Sub-Union was played on the Recreation Ground. Rangiora, yesterday. The ground was in good order and there was a large attendance.

The winners were:—senior, Rangiora: junior, Oxford; under 18, Woodend; under 16, Rangiora High School.