RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 September 1934, Page 9

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

NOTES AND COMMENTS. Greymouth Rugby recovered some prestige on Saturday, when at Hokitika, the representatives convincingly defeated the Westland fifteen to regain the Dittman Shield, after two years. The Greymouth team gave a surprisingly good display, and for the greater part of the first spoil, Westland were not in'the hunt. The forwards played exceptionally well, their fast vigorous rushes demoralising the Westland defence. The Westland team played as well as they were allowed, by the solid packing of the visitors in the tight, and their fast breaking in the loose. The backs, with Bunt and Fong the pivots, showed some initiative, and backed up the work of the forwards well.

The Chosen Nineteen: There were few, if any surprises in the nineteen players chosen, after Saturday’s match, at Hokitika, to tour to Wellington and Canterbury. W. Hughes and R. Bunt are the newcomers to this year’s rep. team, but in their games on Saturday, they could not be left out. Beban was unlucky in having suffered an injury, and being consequently unavailable. The selectors will have a difficult task selecting the best fifteen, and there is sure to be considerable criticism whoever they choose. The main trouble will be with the five-eighths and the forwards. There are three five-eighths, Hughes, Bunt and Muir, and if the former two play up to form on Saturday,, they may bo the elect, with Hughes at second fiveeighth. King could well displace Pfahlert as right wing three-quarter, the latter being the less reliable. There is going to be trouble among the forwards, and on the face of it, it looks as though M. Kelly, good forward as he undoubtedly is, will be watching the game from the sideline. M. Scandrett is too good a forward to leave out of the side, so the forwards finally ' chosen should be Bowes, Olsen, M. Scandrett; King, Thomson, Freitas, McNeight; L. Hughes. Junior Representatives:

The Greymouth Junior representatives played disappointingly at Hokitika on Saturday, being narrowly defeated by the .Westland Junior reps. On the run of the'play they might easily have won, but even then, considering all tlie iootball tlrey have had this season, their display was anything but inspiring. The forwards did well, but the backs, as has been the caso in other games, played too much as individuals. Several of the home team played well, and it is suit prising that so few have found their way into the West Coast team, but it must be said for the selectors, that Saturday was the first time they had looked at the Westland players as prospective representatives. When the Westland team was in Greymouth a few weeks ago, it was the intention to send only a Greymouth team to play at Christchurch, but a subsequent decision of the Union made it a West Coast team, and the selectors had perforce to choose the team on one game, and a comparatively mediocre game at that. Twelve to Nil:

Westland seniors on Saturday defeated Greymouth by twelve to nil, in the matter of penalty kicks, but this was due more to the refereeing of Mr A. Cutbush than to such a superabundance of major infringements as would he suggested by the number of penalties against Greymouth. Westland also received more than usual latitude in the set scrums, and Davidson, the Westland half, an old campaigner, was not slow to take advantage of this laxity on the part of the referee. Successful Debut:

R. Bunt, the Blaketown five-eighth, as was generally anticipated, proved a success on Saturday in the match at Hokitika. He ran straight, was quick off the mark, and, except for a couple of lapses, handled well. His defence was also good, and he gave his opposite, W. Hughes, no chance to get away with anything. Though he may not be as good as Hughes on form, t Bunt is a better footballer than Muir, and if he maintains his form in the trial match on Saturday, he may be one of the first fifteen to play Wellington. How It’s Done:

A. Fong, the Greymouth second five-eighth, on Saturday gave his opponents and the spectators a taste of what he can do, given the slightest chance. He received the ball in a passing movement midway between half-way and the Westland 25, and flashed through an opening,, past the full-back, and over under the posts, before the defence realised what had hit them. In this spectacular dash, Fong showed remarkable speed off the mark, his initial dash carrying him through the line of defence to the full back. In the remainder of the game he played well, but seemed, to be keeping out of trouble as much as possible. Successful Come-back:

W. Hughes played only one club game this season, the first match of the year, and then retired owing to a recurrence of his old knee trouble. Last Saturday was his second game since then, his third for the season, and his kne stood up well. Hughes made a considerable difference to the Hokitika rearguard, though, being short of a run, he slowed up in the later stages of the game, and he was always closely watched by (he visitors. He showed that he 'has not forgotten much about tlie game, and played souiicßy throughout, without being in any way brilliant. Another game before the Wellington trip should put the edge on his speed again. Best on Ground:

A. Bowes, tlie ex-Canterbury forward, had, up till Saturday.’shown himself an honest forward, one seldom showing out in tlie loose open work, but a tiger for work in the tight. On Saturday, however. he produced his best form since lie has been on the Coast, ami was the best forward on the ground. Not only was ho at homo in the tight rucking, but he was seldom out of it in tile loose

playing a grand game in all departments. Bowes also produced a. surprising turn of speed when he outpaced more than one Hokitika man to score his try.