BETTER FORWARDS

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 290, 3 September 1931, Page 10

BETTER FORWARDS

Australians Defeated NELSON MATCH Visitors Hampered by Rain By Telegraph—Press Association, Nelson, September 2. The Australian Rugby touring team was defeated again to-day when it met a combined Nelson, West Coast, Buller, and Golden Bay side by 14 points (four tries, one converted) to 5 (a converted try). Combined Team—Graham (Buller); Busch (Nelson), Holder (Buller), Holmwood (Bays); Alexander (Nelson), Lamont (Buller); Davidson (West Coast); Coldwell (Buller); Schwuss (Bays), Stewart (Buller), Goodall (Buller), captain, Max (Nelson), McNeight (Buller), McLeau (Nelson), Grogan (Buller). Australia—Ross; Hemmingway, Towers (captain), Herd, Cowper; Banner, Bennett; Bridle, Reville, Palfreyman, Judd, White, Love, Bonis, and Blair. Just before the commencement of the game rain fell and became heavier up to half-time, making the ground slippery and cieating conditions wholly unsuited to the Australians’ style of play. The Australians were always dangerous in loose, open play, when they threw the greasy ball about with confidence, actually initiating a number of passing movements from their own twenty-five. The honours of the game were with the combined team’s forwards, who played, a. tight, hard game with much more vigour and ruggedness than the tourists. Judd, Bridle, and Blair were the visitors best forwards, and Palmer gave a great display at first five-eighth. Ross, the full-back, was frequently called on to defend against the fast Combined forwards, and in spite of the state of the ball he gave a brilliant exhibition. ' The Combined forwards were an even lot, and Max, Stewart, Grogan and Goodall were probably the best. Davidson, the half, was sound both on defence and attack, with Graham and Busch the next best backs. Territorially, the Combined team had the best of the first half, but the second spell was more even. Caldwell and McLean were responsible for taking play to Australia’s twentyfive, where Alexander gained possession, sent the ball to Lamont, who transferred to Busch a few yards off the line. The winger cut in past the full-back and went over for a clever try. The first half ended without further score. .

In the second spell Holder scored from a brilliant solo effort when A visitors’ back movement broke down; he dashed over half the length of the field for a try in the corner, which was converted with a great kick by Graham from the sideline. Combined 8, Australia 0. A loose combined rush went over half the length of the field, Grogan kicking over the line for McLean to score a try. Combined 11, Australia 0. Toward the end the visitors' forwards seemed to regain vigour, and played up splendidly. A fast forward movement ended in Bridle scoring from the twentyfive ; Ross converted. Australia 5, Combined 11. Just before time Australia was all out to keep the Combined men away from the line when a rebound from a kick gave McNeight the chance to score the final try. Combined 14, Australia 5. The visitors were penalised on a number of occasions for infringements in the scrum. On a dry ground they would probably have reversed the result. RATHER LUCKY WIN Maoris Defeat Marlborough By Telegraph—Press Association. Blenheim, September 2. The Maori Rugby team touring the Seddon Shield districts defeated Marlborough by 9 points to 6 on a wet field today. A draw would b"-e been a good indication of the merits of the two sides. The Maoris held a slight advantage in the first spell, which ended 3-aIl. The fast Marlborough forwards played up well in the second spell, keeping the Maoris on the defensive for 75 per cent of the time, but were just unable to score. The game was confined chiefly to the forwards in the first session, the heavier Maori pack being superior in the tight, but was outplayed in the loose. Fleming kicked a penalty goal for Marlborough in the first five minutes, and half-way through the spell Kana scored an unconverted try for the Maoris. In the second spell Reid scored for the Maoris, in a forward rush, and Patchett bolted thirty yards and scored for Marlborough ; both easy goals were missed. Hohaia won the game for the Maoris by slipping round the scrum and scoring a solo try. which was unconverted. RELIEF WORKERS’ MATCH A single men’s team from the Rongotat relief works met a team from the Alexandra Road job yesterday, the game ending In a win for Alexandra Road by 15 points to 0. The ground was placed at the disposal of the teams by the Rugby Union, Mr. G. Ryan being referee. Play was fast from start to finish. There were at times flashes of clever play, and with a few more contests the teams will be capable of giving a sound exhibition of Rugby. The contest was witnessed by 200 spectators.