FOOTBALL.

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 July 1913, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

SATURDAY'S REP GAME

WEST COAST (13) v. INANCiAiTUA NOTES ON THE GAME.

The first of this season s rep. matches was played at Reefton on Saturday last, when a team chosen from the miidlde and southern divisions played a team representing the Inangahua Sub-Union, which includes the northern division of the West Coast Rugby Union. Ever, since the Inangahua, Sub-Union was formed the games played have invariably been hard and fast, and Saturday's game was no exception to the rule, though, for the first time since these matches have been played in Reefton, the weather conditions were very bad, rain pouring down for the' greater portion .of the time, which made the ground treacherous, and correct handling of the greasy, wet ball was well-nigh impossible. Inangahua was most unfortunate is not being able to put its best team in the field, as. owing to various causes, no less than six of their chosen •cam were unable to play, and, in a district which necessarily has not many players to pick and choose from, this was a serious matter. The team which played put up a splendid fight, which is not in any way indicated by the scores registered.

In the first spell not long after the commencement of the game Ericsen mis handled the wet bad and fast following up enabled Topp to score a good try. I). Heslop made a splendid attempt to goal, the ball falling just under the bar. The Coast men woke up after this reverse, and their forwards, hooking the ball in the scrum, enabled the half (D. Dowell) to get the ball out to his backs, and two very fine passing movements enabled Nelson to score two tries. Dowelh Casey, Hall, Sherlock and Nelson all showed out well, particularly Sherlock and Nelson, wno played very cleverly indeed. With the scores at Coast 8 and InangaIma 3, the local team woke up and very con cl forward play on the part of Baker, Miller and Gamboni, well backed up by the rest of the pack,, gave the Coast gome anxious moments, but they managed to stave off the attack, and half-time arrived without any further alteration to the score.

The second spell was played in a driving downpour of rain, and the game was practically a forward one, though the hacks on both sffdcs were at times responsible for some good work. Inangahua were now getting their share of the ball in the scrums, but owing to its haitg-ing-up in the back ranks the half was practically debarred from doing anything in the, way of .opening up the play. D. Heslop and Topi) were doing some splendid marking for Inangahun, whih- for the Coast Nelson was responsible for clever plnv. in which bis opponents- were left standing. Forward rushes were now practically the order of the play, and the Inangahun team was showing up well, and there is no doubt that the local team had the better of matters in the second spell, hut they could not score. Several times forward rushes carried the hall to the line, hut the Coast men put up a stubborn defence and the hall would again he taken away from the danger zone. On one occasion O'C'a liaglian rushed the hull right over the Inangahun line and just missed scoring, a force down resulting. Again Hall was resnonsiblo for a splendid piece of work in cutting in and this time a score was narrowly averted, but the ground was so slippery that keeping one's feet was a difficult matter. In.the fiddle or the second spell Inangahua forwards were heating their opponents, and several times a score against the Const was narrowly miased. Until near the end 1 of the game Inangahua kept up the pressure, hut after the Tell had rung for no-side the Coast forwards rushed the hall through from their own line and. some of the backs following up, carried the hall right up the middle of the field at their toe and Sherlock, following up, scored an unexpected try. The try being converted, the game finished Coast 13, Inangahua 3. Mr R. Lochore made a most impartial referee. NOTES. Owing to the number of players originally selected who did not take part in the game, and the wretched weather conditions which prevailed, the game is no criterion as to the respective merits of the teams. There is one thing certain and that is there are many good players on both sides, and should each team he fully represented in the return match in Greymonth there will he a fine, open game, which should he well worth seeing.

Of the Coast players, Dowell, Hall, Nelsor and Sherlock played a splendid game in the backs, while Mclntosh, Mclvor. Atkinson and Harnett played well in a pack that did its work well considering it was never together until the afternoon of the match.

The Inangahna forwards played a rattling good game. There are some fine players in this pack. Those who played prominently were Miller, Baker, and Gamboni, though all played well. The Inangahna backs were uot so good in combining as the visitors, ""though this is not to he wondered at, considering that their selected five-eighth line was absent. D. Heslop was the outstanding back of his side. He played a fine game and his kicking was first-class. Coulson and Topp played the best of tbe others, though it would be well to suspend judgment on their play until they have a chance under better conditions.