WEST COAST RETAINS CUP

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33212, 30 April 1973, Page 24

WEST COAST RETAINS CUP

ifrum Our Ou n Rcpurteri GRIA MOI I 11. West Coast retained the Ruyh\ League Cup when it repulsed a challenge b) Wellington. 15-11. at \\ inghain Park. (ireyinouth. yesterday afternoon.

Heavy rain drove across the ground lor much of the match making conditions extremeh difficult, but the handling by both sides was good. Wingham Park was in ■good order, and despite several days rain there was no mud. The new West Coast ! representative hooker. A. [Gardiner, managed to get a [ three-to-one share of the ball over D. L. Pratt, and this 'undoubtedly helped West Coast particularly in the isecond half when it held ground in Wellington's territory for a long spell i The half-time score was 110-8 to West Coast, anti so lit remained until the latter part of the second spell. ; West Coast had the benefit of the wind behind it in the [first half, but Wellington did [not take full advantage of it in its turn.

The Kiwi, .1. A. Whittaker, was always dangerous, frequently managing to beat his opponent, bur the Kiwi wing, P. C. Orchard, was seen little. In the last 10 minutes of the second spell he moved to the second row, being replaced bv D. Munro. The West Coast World Cup player, A. P. Coll, figured in many good bursts upfield, and at times required three and four Wellingtonians to bring him I down. The McWilliams Wines ‘“Player of the Match” 'award went to the West ; Coast vice-captain, the ‘centre. W. K. Johnsen, for lan extremely heady game [which resulted in him scoring two well-deserved tries. FIRST BLOOD [ Wellington drew first [blood when the winger, G. |S. Thompson, sprinted down the sideline eluding the defence to score wide out, ■but 1. G. Kwockson was unable to convert. West Coast! I replied with a penalty goal! [by R. J. Case a few minutes' later.

Then in the Wellington half. West Coast’s D. J. Monk broke from the base of the scrum and the standoff half, K. R. Murcott, made ground before sending Coll through between Orchard and the centres. He was icaught a yard short, but I from the play-the-ball Monk ‘dived over to score. The [conversion was unsuccessful. The Coast captain, J. D. Hibbs, who led his forward pack well throughout, made a break and Johnsen drew the defence to score. Case converted and West Coast led. 10-3. Wellington took control, and both backs and forwards launched sorties down into

the Coast 25 where then v. a- a kick ahead and ;r--ball was tumbled by ti ■ Coast defence on th, la allowing Whittaker to Mui down. Kwockson convene The second halt saw , slight improvement tn th' weather, but squally show, - still swept the ground Coast fought against it im, Wellington's territory when at one stage it won six scrums in a row in retain!:::: possession after fourth tackles. At this stage Murcott w • slipping away from hi-stand-off opposite. N I Tupaea, but was having difficulty eluding the bigger forwards. R Farrell and P Edwards. Wellington got back nr Coast's territory, but .< penalty goal attempt was m[successful and West stormed back, the ball sw:r. ing backward and iorwaiilacross the Wellington 2> until finally Coll put Johnsen lin under the crossbar for a

try which Case converted I with 13 minutes left. REPLACEMENTS ! Before this Wellington I had changed its forward-. 1 W. Mellors replacing S. (). [Pihema, who went to the ! second row, with P. Edwardmoving to prop. A further [change became necessary [when Edwards retired and 'Orchard moved into the | scrum. West Coast lost its fullback, Case, who was injured [at this stage, and he was ‘replaced for the last few [minutes of play by G. Harcourt. [ The final points of the [game came when the Wei[lington captain. E. M. Carson, sent Farrell over from a Iplay-the-ball movement, but [Kwockson was not able io convert. The referee was P. Yaxley [(Canterbury).