WEST COAST WINS

Greymouth Evening Star, 1 September 1927, Page 3

WEST COAST WINS

TOO GOOD FOR GOLDEN BAY.

INTERESTING GAME AT PARK. .Before a good attendance at Victoria Park yesterday afternoon, in .fine weather, the AVest .Coast Rugby representatives defeated the .Golden (Bay touring team by 20 .points ;to 13, in a game characterised by .interesting open play. The overnight rain .was hot heavy .enough to affect the ground, which was in good condition. An easterly breeze was blowing across ithe ground, but neither Jeum gained much advantage from that source. So far as weight was concerned, the teams were fairly evenly matched, but the Coasters were tb.e (better combination, and deserved their win. The pick of the Rome backs was P. Jamieson, who was on his best form, handling much better than he sometimes does, anff putting in many good runs. AL Jamieson was in his usual good trim, and made the Bayites look foolish on several occasions, his dodgy runs being reminiscent of Jack Steel. Tainni played well at centre threequarter, but Pfahlert was inclined to hang on too long. Nightingale at fullback was fairly safe, and Jenkins, although not in McCleary’s class, did his share at half. The burly Freitas was on his usual good game in the forwards, and his hefty line kicks a feature of the game, while his potted gOfil drew applause. He was well backed up by the rest of the pack, the kicking of Bell being valuable to the Coast, and Devaney (the captain) demonstrating his capabilities as a hooker.

The Golden Bay forwards did much better in the second spell, and-made the pace as fast as the Coast backs had made it in the first spell. Clarke, their rover, and Holyoake, were about the best of the pack, while Riley and Sexton (formerly of Blackball) played fine games in the rear division. The diminutive Brooks, referred to by Bay supporters as “Baby,” got through a lot of work at half in fine style. Weak kicking cost the Bay several points, two easy penalties being badly missed. There were several hold-ups during the game, Lnn and Nyhane retiring owing to injuries, and being replaced by Staines and Fowler respectively. Clarke had to retire from the Coast ranks, and his place was taken by Christensen. The scrum work gener ally was poor, and'the continual infringements by both sides brought forth a harvest of free kicks. The ( teams were as follow :—

Coast. —Nightingale ; AL Jamieson, Tainui, Clarke; Pfahlert, P. Jamhson ; Jenkins; Freitas, Bell, Devaney. ,Caniton. Mclntosh, Dougherty, Fell, and King. Golden Bay—Page ; Sexton, Wilkes, Riley; Lu,nn, Nyhane; Brooks; Clarke, Wright, Janies, Roberts, Hickiniott, Isaac, Prince, and Holyoake. Referee: Air T. Alcdntosli.

,Eay elected to defend the southern goal, and Coast kicked off. 'Their first score came after fifteen minutes’ play, when P. Jamieson made a nice opening and passed to Tainui, who notched .the opening try. P. Jamieson failed with the kick. Coast 3, Bay 0. The Bay drew level five minutes later, when Holyoake put over a good goal after Devaney was penalised for offside play. Coast 3, Bay 3. The home team kept up the pressure, and the next score came „when iFreijas picked up outside the Bay 25, and potted a goal. Coast 7, Bay 3. A strong run by M. Jamieson, after he received the leather from Tainui, resulted in another try. the opposition being outpaced. Bell converted the try j ust as the half-time bell sounded. Coast 12. Bay 3. On changing over, the Bay forwards attacked, ami only two minutes of the second spell had gone when Isaac broke away, eluded Nightingale’s tackle, and passed to Clarke, who scored between the posts. Brooks missed an easy kick. Coast 12, Bayff. .(’oast forwards then took a hand, and Bell finished off a dribbling rush by crossing near the posts. He converted his own try. Coast 17, Bay 6. Not to be outdone by Freitas, Bay also added a potted goal, the feat being accomplished by Sexton. Coast 17, Bay 10. Shortly afterwards, Bay were penalised for a scrum offence, and Bell landed a nice goal from outside the twenty-five line. Coast 20, Bay 10. Coast, were penalised a few minutes later,, and Sexton kicked a goal, the' leather just curling around inside the post. Coast 20, Bay 13. There was no further score, but Bay .were attacking at the finish, ayid Holyoake nearly scored, Nightingale forcing down just as the .bell rang. The visitors were guests at the Blaketown footballers’ dance last evening, and left to-day for Christchurch in continuation of their tour.

RANFUR.LY SH.fELD. HOLDERS DEFEAT TARANAKI. (Per Frees Association.) PALMERSTON N.. August 31. In one of .the most severe thunderstorms which has visited Ralmeyston North for many years, and on a ground, which, as a result, soon became worse than was the Athletic Park on the occasion of .the historical AR BlackSpringbok test in 1921, Manawßenua ,to-day defeated Taranaki by nine points to three, thus retaining the Ranfurly Shield. A crowd, which, must have been near the ten thousand mark, and keyed to a high pßch of enthusiasm, witnessed the match, despite heavy rain. The game was essentially a for-: ward one. Attempts Jo pick up the ball, by either side, invariably met. With disaster, and to throw the ball, about was almost an equally impossible fe.at. As far as the vanguards, were concerned, they were fairly evenly matched. From the commenepment. Taranaki went on an attacking expedition, and' M.anawhenua. were called upon for strenuous defensive efforts for a fair-’ Jy lengthy period. The combined forwards, however, gradually wore down* the opposition, and were instrumental in drawing first blood. Under the conditions existing, the game resolved itself into a survival of .the fittest, and Maxtawh.en.ua forwards, who last?, ed .better, were able to carry .the day. The, half time score was three to nil in favour of Manawhenua, Jacob sendfrom a .difficult angle with a long kick. The effort was greeted with cheers.

The .Combined team dominated play in the seqpud half. The condition of the ground was now terrible, it being

difficult to distinguish the players amid the sweeping rain and the muddy spray. The excitment increased as Taranaki, ,in a supreme effort hammered (through the defence and O’Keefe, securing from the ruck/ equalised the scores. The final ten minutes of the game was as exciting as'any period, Manawhenua putting on two tries in about five minutes, the last one being on the call of time. Treniivan and Anderson were, the try-getters. Manawhenua will defend the Shield against Wanganui on Saturday at Palmerston North.

WAIRARAPA v. KING COUNTRY. TAUMARUNUI, August 31. Wairarapa met King Country today at Rugby before a large crowd. Unfavourable weather and heavy showers last night and this morning made the ground a quagmire, but notwithstanding its bad condition Wairarapa backs handled the ball magnificently, and won comfortably by 27 to 3. Wairarapa were superior in all departments and the local defence was very weak. Stringfellow opened Wairarapa’s account by cutting right thicugh the defence. Fuller converted. Then Cooke scored after a fine passing bout, but Fuller failed with the kick. Just before half time Ward scored, after following up, but the kick by Cooke failed. The score was 11 to 0 at half-rtime ; after which .the visitors had things their own way. Cooke, Usher, Gray and Le Quense scored, and Fuller and Le Quense converted one try each. Cavanagh scored for King Country from a forward rush.

BUSH v. WANGANUI.

PAHIATUA, August 31

In a, fast open Rugby encounter, Wanganui defeated Bush by nine to six. The back play was inclined to be scrappy, but, the forward divisions were well matched, and fought a gruelling contest. Jones, a Maori three-quarter, scored two tries for 'Wanganui, the other score being gained by a penalty. J. Galvin scored for Bush, and U(ly kicked a penalty. The hall-time score was three to nil in favour of the home team. After the second spell was going about fifteen minutes the referee ordered Jackson (the Wanganui lock) off for “backchatting” his decisions, having previously warned this player. A UCK LA N D 1 ‘DOWNTRODDEN. ’ ; AUCKLAND, August 31. A letter from the New Zealand Rugby Union setting out the arrangements for the All Black trials this season gave rise to a good deal of discussion and sharp criticism at the meeting ; of the Management Cojnmittee of the Auckland Rugby .Union .tonight. Air A. S. Belcher moved that a strong protest be sent do the New Zealand Union against its action in .not arranging a bigger trial to be played at Auqklpnd, the ,pnly argument that could be adduced against such a step being that it was a ques tion of expense. This, he averred, would be’more than compensated R>r by the gate takings. Tn seconding the motion, Air T. Courtney said: “The sooner we get. on our hind legs, the more..likely they are to take notice of us in the south.”

All- Belcher said tjhe New Zealand Union slapped Auckland in the face eevi'y opportunity it. got. “We should let the New Zealand Union see that we are not going to be downtrodden in the same way as we have been for years now. ” lie added. The Chairman, Air H. Frost,, said he thought arrangements had been made for convenience of travelling. He suggested that as Afr E. AlcKenzie, member of the New Zealand Union and Chairman of the All Black Selection ,Committee, would ;be in town the following day, it would be gooj Idea to meet him officially on the subject. The mover and seconder agreed to withdraw the motion in favoiir of the course suggested by the Chairman. It was then resolved that after the Union had .conferred wit ( h j\fi- McKepzie, a letter to the New Zealand L T nion should be drafted.

AUCKLAND v. WAIRARAPA.

(Special to “Star.”)

AUCKLAND, September 1.

The probable Walrarapa team to play Auckland ,on Saturday will be ; Roache, R. Booth, Stringfellow, Hay.Li Cooke, Cundy, Hiroti, J. Donald (wing-' pr), Q. Donald, Irvine, Harvey, Re-i Slide, Fairbrother, Rgrker, Reid. Meyer is unavailable for Auckland; The vacancy is not filled, but there js a prospect of moving Lucas in to the centre, Sheen five-eighth, and playing Woods, reserve, on the wing. Mr E. McKenzie, .Chairman of the New Zealand selectors, is here. CANTERBURY TJEAM.® The following team has been selected to represent Canterbury on the northern tour: —J. Harris; J. Steel, S. R. Carleton, A. C. Robilliard ; H. Lilburne, N. P. McGregor ; W. Dailey; G. ScrimshawF. Clark, J. TBurrows, J. Pickering, G. T. Alley, J. Jeffries, A. White/ H. B. Godfrey. Emergencies: Racks, N. Doreen and J. Payne; forwards. 1. C. Cray and. J. B. Jackson.

SCHOOL TOURNAMENTS

INVERCARGILL. August 31.

In the final of the South Island Technical College Rugby tourney, Southland defeated Dunedin .by 49 tp nil. The Southland boys were heavier, faster, and more .dashing and from the first, outclassed Qie visitors in all departments. MASTERTON, August 31.

Wellington provincial Primary School Rugby tournament concluded to-day, Walrarapa winning the banner wjtli an u,n.d.e.fea,ted record. To-day’s; results were: Wairarap'a 13 beat Wellington -3; Wanganui 16, beat Manawa.tu nil. had three winsand no losses, and Wellington, Wanganui and Manawatu each one win and two losses. EX-REP’S BRAVERY. (Special to “Star.”) AUCRRAND, September 1. The plucky action of B. Fletcher, a prominent Auckland Rugby player, in saving three men from drowning at Mpriwai Beach during the week-end, was the subject of a complimentary reference Ry H- Frofit, Pjr.esisent pf' tRe Auckland Rugby Union, at a meet- ( ing of the Management Committee 1 last evening. It was decided that the

Chairman and Secretary draft a letter to Mr. Fletcher, congratulating him. N.S.W. TEAM IN ENGLAND. LONDON, August 31. The Waratah Rugby footballers arrived at Plymouth, and were officially welcomed by Admiral Rpyds apd members .Qf the International Rugby Board, representing England, Wales, Scotland and irejland. Admiral Royds said they were looking forward to learn much fro pi New Soutji Wales’ exposition ,of the game. They hoped tU.e visitors would ffpff .iff e Home pouiMrins ffa4 pp.aiptaip,e.d - a ihigh standard efficiency .and .cleanness, and true amateurism. On landing the team were welcomed by the Mayor of Plymouth. Manager W,allace, interviewed, said that all was well. They were unable •to do any Rugby training, ffUt kept by exercises. The voyage was the happiest, except for a few days’ seasickness at the beginning.

Sherlock, Buller representative footballer, sustained an injury to his foot on Tuesday through a railway sleeper falling on' it. This WAY prevent SRerlock from Diking part in the .match against the Coast.

Magpie Seniors v. Excelsiors at Victoria Park, Saturday, e at 3 p.m«i—.Gundry, Dow, Sneddon, Bi.rss, Mayo. Hibbs,' Bromley, Ferguson, Seebec.k, Gibbons, IRdmes, Griffiths, .Clarke, Hayden, Ogilvie. Emergencies: Forwards. Fitzgerald, Curtis’, back, Fitzgerald.

The following team will represent Cobden Juniors i,n ,their match wRh Blakefown on Saturday next, g.t Cobden :—Olli ver, Raiiß, LsjUWb Hggletop, Baillie, iNush, Hyndmuh, Spark, Quigley, Abbie, Wilson, Richardson, Spencer, Armstrong, F. Eggletpn. Emergencies : Harwell (forward), Redway (hack). ‘ .