WEST COAST BEATS WELLINGTON

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28999, 14 September 1959, Page 15

WEST COAST BEATS WELLINGTON

Greymouth Match In Downpoiir

In a representative Rugby League match at Wingham Park, Greymouth, this afternoon, West Coast beat Wellington by 16 points to 0, after leading by the same margin at half-time. West Coast’s score was comprised of four tries, two of them converted.

The match was played on a sodden ground in a continual downpour of heavy rain until the last quarter of an hour In spite of the conditions and slippery ball, both teams endeavoured to make the game open on every possible occasion. The result was a spectacular and highly creditable performance on the part of both backs and forwards on either side. West Coast was the more experienced combination. The forwards, with Gardiner always in evidence, played Intelligently, and the backs were most enterprising. The visitors never let up, but in spite of the fact that West Coast lost its full-back Donaldson, and Cooper, a forward, mid-way through the second spell. Wellington was unable to get past a sound defence. The teams were:—

West Coast: Donaldson: J. Fahey, IN Tiller R Griffiths. G. Kennedy. G Menzies G Skinner, B. Gardiner, J McGrath, G Cooper. R Hart. A Walton, T Reid. Wellington: W. Waiwiri, P Pietikiewicz, R. Thomson, J. McGeady. J. Merritt, P. Fox. B Ewart, T Poona, O Butt. W Harris. P Turner, L Pilcher, G. Trinder. Shortly after the start. Griffiths scored in the corner after a brief bout of passing by the West Coast backs Waiwiri bad two penalty ■hots from favourable positions, but was a little wide with both. Half-way through the spell. Tiller obtained possession and found a gap in the defence. He broke through iWaiwiri’s tackle and ran on to | score by the posts. Fahey converted Wellington had another opportunity from a penalty kick, but Har- . ris was unsuccessful. Play swung I to the other end, and Kennedy received in a passing rush and rtced through for a try. Griffiths scored his second try near the corner after fielding a high kick and fending off two opponents Titter converted with the sodden ball, to make the score at half-time West Coast 16 Wellington 0. * i , Having with only four forwards l for the last 20 minutes, West Coast I was unable to add to its score tn I the second spell, while the visitors ‘could not take advantage of having I two extra men. | Mr ©. C< Wilson, of Canterbury. ‘ was referee. !