RUGBY Coast Beats Wairarapa In Spectacular Game

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28685, 8 September 1958, Page 13

RUGBY Coast Beats Wairarapa In Spectacular Game

(From* Our Own Reporter) GREYMOUTH, September 7. After a disappointing first half in which the backs of both teams kicked far too much, the West Coast and Wairarapa Rugby representatives treated the crowd at Rugby Park on Saturday afternoon to some of the most spectacular football seen in Greymouth for many years. West Coast won by 21 points to 13. West Coast scored five tries, three converted, to the touring team’s three tries, two converted. The match was notable for the fact that not a single penalty goal was kicked—a rare happening in Rugby these days. Very few penalty shots were attempted Seldom have wing three-quarters seen so much of the ball as was the case in this match. If it did not actually reach them at the'’ end of a passing movement, they were given numerous opportunities of following up cross kicks by the inside backs. Although West Coast led by 11 pointe to 0 at half-time, the game up to that stage had not been particularly inspiring, but it was a different tale after the interval when, through injuries, Wairarapa was forced to rearrange its back line. J. B. Sugrue, who came on as halfback, made a world of difference to the attack. The result was that the visitors added a couple of tries, and a conversion, brought' the score to 11-8. Two Spectacular Tries It looked anybody's game at this stage, but a couple of unusual tries swung the game in West Coast’s favour. The first of these was the result of a charge down about halfway by P. Punch, the recovery of the ball, and then a run of 40 yards or so to the goal line. vVairarapa was not disheartened at this reverse and set up a strong attack. Just when a passing rush looked likely to end in a try. A. Lindbom took advantage of a loose pass and ran from near his goal line right to the other end to ground the ball behind the posts for a spectacular try. Wairararpa tried hard again in the latter stages and a converted try reduced its leeway. The West Coast forwards all played well, giving their supporters much encouragement regarding their prospects in the Seddon shield challenge next Saturday by Nelson. R. Gardiner played a splendid No. 8 game. His anticipation was remarkable and. in addition to putting him in positions to assist his backs' on defence, it enabled him to set up attacking movements. He made some fifie runs, but, unfortunately for his side, his early pace left his supports too far behind. An Evergreen Forward In the Wairararpa pack, A. W. (Kiwi) Blake proved a very capable leader. He carries his 35 years lightly and is still one of the cleverest forwards playing Rugby. The Wairarapa backs had been most unfortunate in- regard to injuries on tour. Two of them. J. Ford (wing three-quarters) and W. Herrick (five-eighths), were both limping early in the game, and had to be replaced. It may have been just as well for West Coast that Sugrue was not the half-back right through the game. Why he was not chosen to play in the first place is known only to the team’s selectors. The ground was very heavy in Parts, particularly at the southern «nd. Here both ball and players were brought to a sudden halt.

Four minutes after the start. West Coast attacked strongly when S. Stewart (centre) kicked from the left wing The defence was smothered and the ball went to A. Lindbom, on the right wing. After a short dash he passed in to G. Fyall. who scored. T.. O’Callaghan missed the shot at goal. West Coast scored again at the end of 25 minutes from a similar kind of movement. N. Williams, however, placed the centre kick on this occasion. Ross obtained possession from the bounce of the ball •nd passed to P. McPhersoh, who •cored. O'Callaghan failed with the kick. Five minutes later Williams 1

secured possession in a passing rush when the ball bounced well for him. He outpaced the opporing backs to score between the posts. O’Callaghan converted.

At this stage I Ford, left winger, went off with an ankle injury, being replaced by J. Rosengrave. J. Matthews was unlucky* not to score at the end of a loose -Wairarapa rush, being forced into touch-in-goal.

the visitors when K. Henwood knocked on right on the goal line when a certain try confronted him. The score at half-time was: West Coast 11, Wairarapa 0. W. Herrick did not return to the field and Sugrue went on as halfback. He and J. Lett immediately gave the backs more snap. Wairarapa set up an early attack and, after a loose rush, A. W. Blake scored at the end of five minutes. D A. Aitkenhead missed the shot. The Wairarapa inside backs displayed good judgment with kicks to gaps, and, from one of these, the ball was picked up in the loose and sent out to P. Patete. who scored wide out. Aitkenhead kicked a splendid goal and there were now only three points between the teams. Coast retaliated almost immediately. Punch charged down a delayed clearing kick by Lett, regained possession of the ball and ran nearly half the length of/the field to score near the corner. O’Callaghan converted. With Wairarapa Attacking right in front of the goal, A, Lindbom gathered the ball from a badly directed pass and raced the full length of the field to score behind the posts. O’Callaghan converted. Just before time, Sugrue ran round the side of a scrum and set his forwards going. K. Keeghan scoring in a handy position. Aitkenhead converted to make the final score: West Coast 21. Wairarapa 13. / Mr C. Taylor, of Hokitika, was referee.

Otago Beats South Canterbury

(New Zealand Press Association)

DUNEDIN, Sept. 7

The centre three-quarter, V. Lloyd, and the flanker. W. D. Gillespie, put the polish on an entertaining match at Carlsbrook on Saturday, when Otago beat South Canterbury by 31 points to 14.

Lloyd scored three tries and made two others, while Gillespie made every possible claim for \ consideration by the New Zealand selectors for the .third test. -

Besides Lloyd, tries for Otago were scored by A. Barker, W. McAuley, Gillespie, and E. S. Diack, who also kicked five conversions.

For South Canterbury, tries were scored by M. Watson (2) and P. Angland, while G. Taylor kicked, a conversion and a goal from a penalty.

Diack Sets Otago Record

(New Zealand Press Association) DUNEDIN. “September 7. The wing-threequarter, E. S. Diack, set a nev- record of points scored in a season by an Otego player when he raised his tally to 216 at Carisbrook on Saturday. The previous best was that of the Otago All Black, Dave Trevatnan. who scored 214 points before tne war. Diack has scored his points in club, inter-University, and represensitive games, the last 13 pointe coming from a try and five conversions against South Canterbury on Saturday.