RUGBY FOOTBALL

Greymouth Evening Star, 5 June 1934, Page 3

RUGBY FOOTBALL

COAST v. CANTERBURY KEEN GAME IN THE RAIN The West Coast-Canterbury representative match was played at Rugby Park yesterday afternoon in atrocious weather conditions, and before an attendance of approximately 2,000 spectators, including a large number from the Otira line and Hokitika. It resulted in a draw, six points all. The conditions could hardly have been worse, for after several days’ rain, the ground was in a bad way before the teams took the field, and it was not long before it was badly churned up, and the forwards barely distinguishable. Heavy rain fell throughout the game, but the contest was so interesting that few left the ground before the final whistle. West Coast had a decided territorial advantage, and were unlucky to have to be content with a draw. It was purely hard slogging from bell to bell, and as far as the actual slogging went Coast had it all over Canterbury, but could not press home their advantage. On innumerable occasions the Coasters worked their way right to the visitors’ line, but each time Canterbury kept them out. The explanation was the solid scrummaging and team work of the visitors, and their knowledge of the finer points. The Coast forwards gained their ground by comparatively indiscriminate kicking, but on many occasions from scrums on their own line, Canterbury wheeled the scrums cleverly for the middle row' to come away with the ball at their toes. Canterbury must be given credit for a stern defence for the Coast forwards took some keeping out. Canterbury had a slight advantage in getting the ball from the set scrums. Their backs were much more impressive than the home rearguard, but Clark used his backs more than did the Coast half. The Coast half and five eighths almost invariably kicked for the line instead of trying’ to make ground with passing movements, so comparisons are hardly possible. The Canterbury backs were certainly dangerous, and their handling of the greasy ball was good. Particularly in the first spell Coast kept Canterbury penned in one corner of their 25 for what must have seemed to Canterbury an interminable time. Coast’s first points came when Fong snapped up in a melee on the Canterbury line to dive over for a smart try. Canterbury deserved to have the try scored against them there, as with plenty of time to clear the backs were passing on their own goal line, and Mortlock was grassed in possession. Roberts kicked a penalty goal to equalise when Beban was penalised for lying on the ball in front of his own goal. Hart scored Canterbury’s only try as the result of good work by Mortlock, and Coast equalised just on time, when M. Scandrett capped a well-placed high punt from a penalty by Gilbert, with a try under the posts. Gilbert’s kick, which would have given Coast the match, slid off the side of his boot. It was an excusable failure considering the state of the ball and the ground.

NOTES ON THE PLAYERS

Gilbert, at full-back for West Coast gave a fine display. His handling of

the greasy ball was faultless, his positional play good, his line-kicking lengthy and his tackling low and sure. One of his tackles, the one with which he grassed Hart at half-way in the first spell when the All Black wing three-quarter was in full sail for the line, was the most spectacular of the day. Neither of the Coast wingers had many chances, and all they received were the result of their own initiative. Schroder showed speed and dash, and defended well. Pfahlert, who retired early with an injury to his hip, was showing promising form. He was replaced by Davidson, who is a regular half-back. Davidson went down to the Canterbury forwards in typical halfback style, and was never out of his place. J. Beban, who replaced Agnew at centre, was prominent throughout. His handling was good, and he made several good saves. His only mistake was in lying on the ball in front of his own goal, which resulted in Canterbury’s first points, but he certainly saved a try, and as it happened, probably a conversion. Hendry was not as prominent as the other inside backs, but he had a full-time job looking after Mortlock. He used his boot to advantage. His one mistage was in not crashing straight into Mortlock, when the Canterbury man made the opening for Hart’s try. Had he -lowered Mortlock immediately’ Beban would have been able to handle McPhail, and Schroder, Hart; but as it was, Mortlock was able to draw both Hendry and Beban, ultimately giving Hart practically a clear run in. Fong, as usual, was a tower of strength on defence, and took no half measures in going down to the feet of the Canterbury forwards. He exploited a short punt and grubber kick to advantage, particularly in the first spell. B. Scandrett was always in the picture, and again proved himself a great defensive back. All his work was solid and he had a big day coping with the Canterbury loose forwards. His passes were often too slow, but the greasy heavy ball could be partly blamed for that. The Coast forwards all shone at one time or another and none could lose his place on yesterday’s play. It was a day for the solid scrummager and tireless worker and “shiners” would have had few opportunities. McNeight was probably the most consistent of the Coast pack, with King. Freitas and Thomson only slightly- less prominent. Maughan, the Lake Brunner player, secured a reasonable share of the ball considering the experienced front row he was facing for the first time, and be was frequently in the van in the loose.

CANTERBURY PLAYERS. A W Roberts, who replaced Nolan at full-hack in the Canterbury side, gave excellent service, and extricated bis side from many dangerous corners. His handling was not as sure as Gilbert’s, and he frequently resorted to speculators, which were, in the circumstances, in some degree pardonable.

I Hart created a fine impression on i his first appearance in Greymouth. He scored a good try, and made seveial I dangerous runs. Hayman was given i no chance to prove himself, and was i prominent on only one or two occasions. McPhail proved a valuable link land made the most of the opening [engineered by Mortlock, which led to ■ the Canterbury try. He did Ins share of the defence well. Mortlock was the best of the Can-

terbury- inside backs, and was always where he was most needed. His tackling was good, and his general defensive play first class, while he jinked Hendry and to a lesser degree, Beban, badly when making the opening for Hart’s try. Hazelhurst was seldom prominent, though he shirked nothing. He received a severe drubbing from the Coast breakaways. Clark was not at home in the mud, but his snappy passing ana generally crisp work behind the scrum, was a criterion of his fine-day possibilities. Like his opposite, Scandrett, he took a great deal of punishment from the opposing forwards. Manchester, Andrews, Cottrell. Brownlee and Bowes were the pick of the fine Canterbury pack. Bowes, Brownlee and Howell revelled in the tight, hard scrummaging, but Rankin was not in his element.

Prior to the match, the Municipal Band rendered several selections, which served to keep up the spirits of (he crowd.

THE PLAY. The teams were: — Canterbury- (red and black): —Full back, A. W. Roberts; three-quarters: G. F. Hart, C. H. McPhail, L. Hayman; five-eighths: K. S. Mortlock, R. Hazelhurst; half-back, W. A. Clark; forwards: A. J. Cottrell (captain), J. Wade, A. Bowes; .1, E. Manchester, G. Howell, A. Brownlee. J. G. Rankin; A. H. Andrews.

West Coast (red and white):—Full back, G. Gilbert, three-quarters; . C. Schroder, J. Beban, E, Pfahlert; fiveeighths: S. Hendry. A. S. Fong; halfback, R. B. Scandrett (captain.); forwards: W. McNeight. J. Maughan, M. Scandrett; R. King. F. Freitas, M. Thomson. L. Hughes; E. Jones.

Canterbury won the toss, and defended the southern goal Gilbert kicking off for Coast in pouring rain. Roberts returned the kick to half way. The line our saw Cottrell come through, but Behan went down al. his feet, and held up the attack. MeNeight was penalised for offside play at half-way, and Roberts found touch about live yards inside the Coast quarter with a good kick. B. Scandrett. was round on Clark before he. could get the bail away, and booled downfield, but Canterbury came. back. Cottrell and Bowes headed a forward attack, and B. Scandrett in checking them was penalised for lying on the ball. Roberts had Coast in trouble with a high punt. Schroder failing to take the ball. Clark sent. McPhail and Hart away on the blind side, and Hart centred only for Beban to take a timely mark in front of his own goai. The home forwards broke through a Canterbury passing bout in midfield, and from a melee on the visitors’ 25, B. Scandrett sent Fong and Hendry away on the blind, but the latter failed to take his pass. Brownlee broke clean away from a line out, but. a forward pass held the visitors up. A penalty to Coast for feet in the scrum saw Gi 1 - bert put the Coasters in a good position. B. Scandrett sent out to Fung from the line out, and a short punt by Fong had Canterbury defending hard. Clark kicked clear to Schroder, whose speculator went out about .15 yards from the Canterbury line. Jones headed the Coast forwards in a loose rush, but Canterbury forced down in a forward scramble. A penally against. Andrews for offside play midway between halfway and the 25. gave Gilbert a chance, but the ball slid off the side of his boot and McPhail cleared. Cottrell and Manchester headed a con-

certed rush to the Coast side of half way. The Canterbury backs gave Coast a fright when Clark started a movement about midfield. Hazelhurst, McPhail, Cottrell, and Hayman handled, and the last-named was just gathering speed with a clear field ahead when Gilbert upended him by tipping his heel from behind. It was a narrow escape for Coast, the speed of the movement catching some of the home backs out. of their places. Pfahlert, who had been showing up well was forced to leave the field owing to an injury, and was replaced by M. Davidson. B. Scandrett stole a march on the Canterbury backs when he raced away on the blind side of a scrum and short punted. Roberts took the ball nicely- and found the line near his own 25, and then Bowes led his forwards back out of danger. Thomson led a momentary Coast attack, Mortlock saving with a speculator. From the 25, Clark sent his backs away, and all handled nicely, Hart, the winger being well grassed by Gilbert right on the half-way line with a shattering tackle. Coast were doing all the attacking and the forwards drove Canterbury right back on to their line, the referee ruling a force down in a forward scramble in the corner. Coast had Canterbury on the defensive again, when Fong placed an accurate punt, but Roberts made a great save when he accepted a long pass back from Mortlock, to boot well down. McNeight, Maughan, King and Hughes headed the Coast forwards from a line out at half-way, and a strong loose rush ended when several Coast forwards were forced out right on the corner. Canterbury secured a scrum weli. and came away with the ball at (heir toes, Gilbert sending them back with a high punt for Mortlock to force. Maughan was noticed on several occasions putting in some good work. Roberts let Coast in when a ball bounced out of his arms about five yards from the Canterbury line. King and B. Scandrett headed the Coasters in a loose rush, Mortlock again forcing. Coast came back again, and some hard rucking play- took place in front of the Canterbury goal. Clark passed out to Mortlock, who was grassed in possession as he was about to clear, and from the ensuing melee, Fong snapped up to dive over for a smart try in a handy- position. It was a. well-deserved try, and it seemed the Canterbury backs had had time to clear without passing on their own line. Gilbert failed to goal, the ball going off the side of his boot. West Coast 3, Canterbury nil. Clark sent his backs away- from a line out. at half way, but all were standing flat-footed and the movement eventually broke down at. Hayman. Beban kicked down to Roberts, who found the line midway- between half way and the 25, Coast territory. Manchester. Andrews and Brownlee headed the visiting forwards in a dribbling rush well into the Coast 25, and Beban in holding them up was penalised for lying on the ball right in front of his own goal line. Roberts landed a good goal from a handy position to even the scores. Half-time came with play on the Canterbury 25 and the scores level. West Coast 3, Canterbury- 3.

SECOND SPELL. Canterbury' came through on to the Coast line immediately on the resumption. Fong forcing to save a dangerous situation, and Mortlock almost immediately saved similarly for Canterbury. Coast attacked strongly, and Schroder made a spectacular dive for

the ball when it was kicked over the line, only- to be beaten by Roberts who forced down. Howell and Andrews were at me head of a. Canterbury rush, which went back to midfield and Bowes showed out in a field dash, Davidson going down at the feet of several visiting forwards to hold them up. From a scrum well on the Coast side of half-way Clark swung his backs into action and Mortlock cleverly- ginked Hendry and Beban to make a beautiful opening for McPhail to send Hart over for a fine try- near the corner. Roberts failed to add the extras, and Canterbury- were three ahead. Canterbury 6, West Coast 3. Canterbury- were penalised for a scrum infringement, and Gilbert put Coast on attack with a. high punt. Andrews, however, took a fine mark in the face of the Coast forwards right under his own goal and found touch near the 25. Again an up and under saw Coast in a scoring position, but offside play gave relief to Canterbury. Clark was caught in possession, and let Coast in, Freitas and Maughan being prominent in a hard forward battle near the Canterbury goal. Hart intercepted a pass from B. Scandrett and booted clear. Play was centred about midfield for some time, and Clark securing from a loose scramble kicked to McPhail who sent Hart away. The winger side-stepped Beban and made an exciting run down the line. Confronted by- Gilbert he punted and Davidson came across fast to force down. B. Scandrett and Schroder dribbled through on the blind side and caused some excitement till Roberts came in and found the line with a speculator. Andrews. Manchester, and Brownlee led a strong concerted rush by the Canterbury pack from a line out about midfield and worked their way- right to the Coast line bygood combined dribbling. Andrews made a great effort to dive over from a scrum near the posts, but was brought back, the ball having gone straight through the side of the scrummage into his arms, A blind side attack by Canterbury- was frustrated, and Jones and Fong led the homesters out of a dangerous corner, almost to halfway. First Fong and then Giloert held up another Canterbury rush, the last named finding touch on the home 25. Coast came back, McNeight leading the pack, and when a Canterbury man was penalised for offside play Gilbert failed to goal from midway between the 25 and halfway, the ball going just, outside the posts. It was a good attempt. The drop out went back to Gilbert, who kicked high to Roberts. The Canterbury custodian tried to beat Gilbert, but the Coaster downed him 10 yards from the Canterbury line. Manchester and Rankin put in some good work in a dribbling rush, which cleared Canterbury’s line. A line out about half-way saw another Coast forward attack reach well into the 25 but nothing came of it. A penalty to Coast on the near side line on the Canterbury 25. resulted in Coast scoring the equaliser. Gilbert kicked an accurate high punt, which landed right under the Canterbury goal, and from the ensuing melee M. Scandrett dived over for a welldeserved try under the posts, amidst wild excitement. Gilbert again failed to goal, the ball going off the side of his boot. West Coast (>, Canterbury G. Canterbury rushed to the attack immediately, but the final whistle a minutes’or so later, found play in midfield. Mr F. J. Tempero ably- controlled the gam e. The Canterbury and West Coast

teams, and members of the West Coast Rugby- Union, v.-ero entertained at dinner at Revington’s Hotel after the match. The toasts honoured were: “The King,” “The Canterbury Union,” “The Canterbury Team,” “West Coast Team ami Rugby Union,” and “The Referee.” The curtain-raiser, to have been played between luangahua reps and the Greymouth represenatives. was not played owing to the bad state of the ground. IN OTHER CENTRES HAWKE'S BAY v. WAIRARAPA. HASTINGS, June 4. Hawke’s Bay defeated Wairarapa by 2!) to 11 in their annual match at Napier to-day, played in fine weather on, a heavy ground. There were 5.000, spectators present. The game was i even, and confined to the forwards in the. first spell, but in the second Hawke’s Bay- were definitely on top. MASTERTON, June 4. ' in the junior Rugby match here, Hawke’s Bay- beat. Wairarapa 19 to S. WANGANUI v. TARANAKI. WANGANUI, June 4. ! The first representative Rugby I match of the season, played here today, resulted in a win for Taranaki by 19 to 11.. Wanganui team lacked good inside backs and were matched against a brilliant line. Mr E. McKenzie, of the New Zealand Selection Committee, was in attendance, and three 1932 All Blacks were playing— Collins (full-back), and Clarke (forward), of Taranaki; and BullockDouglas, of Wanganui (three-quarter). i Collins played a brilliant game, and! Bullock-Douglas scored a sensational | try from an intercept, running the! length of the field. I COLTS MATCH. NEW PLYMOUTH. June 4. i Taranaki Rugby- Colts defeated Wan-j ganui Colts by- 25 to nil to-day. i

V,-ELLINGTON MATCHES. WELLINGTON, June 4. Hutt defeated Wellington College ■Old Boys at Athletic Park to-day by 16 to 9, and taking the lead in the senior championship at the conclusion of the first, round. The gaihS whs a personal triumph for Lilburne, the Hutt captain, who scored a try, and converted two, and kicked a penalty goal. He played a brilliant game. St. Patrick’s College Old Boys defeated University by 11 to 8. It is likely that both these teams will be promoted this week from the second to the first division. “STAND” COLLAPSES. HAMILTON, June 5. Shortly after the commencerifefit of the football match Auckland v. Waikato. at. Rugby Park, Hamilton, yesterday. which Auckland won by 15 to 10, a. large dressing shed, constructed of < < i rugated iron over a wooden ffdmework, collapsed, under the weight of about one hundred spectators who were enjoying the match from the ideal vantage spot.. Although several men were thrown to the ground no one was injured. The centre of the roof sank about three' feet, Throwing the spectators in confused heaps. Fortunately the roof was partially supported by a. centre partition which prevented the total subsidence of the improvised grandstand. QUEENSLAND V. N.S. WALES. BRISBANE. June 4. At Rugby Union football, Queensland defeated New South Wales by 21 to 12. N.S. WALES V. VICTORIA. SYDNEY, June 4. pipO'.y -’ontball, Victoria defeated N\ w Smith Wales in the return match by 14 to 6.