RUGBY FOOTBALL

Greymouth Evening Star, 27 May 1935, Page 8

RUGBY FOOTBALL

KEEN, INTERESTING MATCH.

WEST COAST 19, BULLER 6. In tho first home and home match of the season between the two provinces, West Coast defeated Westport by 19’ points to G, in brilliant weather. The ground was in excellent order and there was an attendance or over a thousand. The game provided the usual West Coast Buller matchhard and interesting, but, by no means, brilliant. Buller were outweighed by about a stone per man in the forwards, but in tho first spell, tbzi home pack were more than a match for the Coasters, who were slmv and ponderous, when opposed by the speed and fire of the Buller men. Though West Coast led three ml at half time, the score "was no indication of the run of the play, as the visitors liad been well beaten, and mignt easily have had three tries recorded against them. The Buller forwaids, packing a light, but w’ell balanced scrum, played with great life and dash in the first spell, but the supei ior weight of the Coasters, combined with a good deal more bustling, told its tale in the second spell, and found the home team well beaten at the final bell. Short passing among the Coast forwards in the second spell was a feature of the game. The lighter Bub ler pack acquitted themselves w'ell against the visitors, but the latter proved their superiority in the second spell, when they infused a great deal more dash imo their play. The Coast backs were the more dangerous, and worked brilliantly at times, but, at others, they were far from impressive.' Despite tho disparity in the weights, the Buller forwards, through the ability of Orman, secured the greater share of the ball, and. even ■when Coast , did get it, the. ball did not come out as fast, as it sno«jlu have, thus handicapping . the leaiguard. In addition, the Buller backs, intent on breaking up the Coast combination, played up close all day, and tackled well. The outstanding forward on (he ground was unquestionably Ron Kihg. last year’s All Black from ihc- Coast, who/though locking the scrum, was on the ball all the time, but most effectively in the second spell. His speed, enabled him to move with the backs, and his sure handling, and control of the ball at his toe, singled him out among two fine packs. Kii?§ has not played a better game cni;* t . Coast. Next to him among the? visitors were M. Scahdrett, ailst IJlcNeight, both .of whom playetE-jsplfen-did games. Freitas and L. Efugnes were valuable men in the lineouts, and tho latter did his job well/j.p the loose. Freitas was ever in theAhick of the tight fucking.. Uniach, though he did not get his full share of the ball played well in other departmeiits, his fitness keeping him up with the play at all times. A. Scandrett and. B. Kelly fully justified their inclusion, the former doing well in his first essay as a side-row forward. Kelly was especially to the foie in the tight. None of the forwards could be sai£ to have failed, all giving of their best. In the Buller forwards, who were an even lot, Harding, Buttress and Robinson were especially prominent, and Orman distinguished himself as a hooker. To beat for the ball such a pack as was fielded by Coast, was no mean performance, and Orman will go further in the trials. Moreton and Brown were also prominent forwards for Buller, but all played as a pack throughout, especially in the first spell when they rushed the Coasters almost off their feet. Davidson,- though he was out of touch in the first spell, was the better of the half-backs. Reid had any amount of chances, but was not impressive. Some of Davidson’s passes in the first spell were very poor, but he improved in the second, though he would not be recognised as the half who played against Grey at Hokitika on the previous Saturday. Hooper and Hughes combined well, Hoopei’ adapting himself well to the second five-eighth position. Huglies, like McNeight, though suffering from boils, played d heady game, doing a great deal on defence. Hooper was clever, and always dangerous, but both Coast five-eighths received little latitude from their , opposites. Strachan and Power played sound games, defending well, but in watching the Coast inside men, they nullified their own attack by standing too shallow. West and Ahern, the centres, both young players, came through their first rep. game alright, though at times both showed signs of nervousness and over-eagerness. West, after his great game against Grey, developed a habit of dropping passes, probably the result of over-eagerness, but the game will do him an immense amount of good. His backing up was a redeeming feature. Ahern showed great speed and a clever swerve, and was always dangerous. His was a most, promising display, and he should develop well.

Mann and Holder were on terms as the be,st three-quarters on the ground, and the. finest pair playing on the Coast for years. Mann’s try was a brilliant effort, while Holder left no doubt as to his class in scoring all Buller’s points. Both were dangerous whenever they received possession, and on the day, with more opportunities, Mann was the more impressive. Schroder played a line game, on one occasion beating four men in an effort which produced a try, but Hill received no chances. Gilbert had an off-day at full-back for Coast, his handling and kicking leaving a.good deal to be desired. ,Graham played a fine game at fullback, for Buller, finding touch unerringly, and on many occasions beating would-be tacklers, lie was a big help to Buller, and was never in trouble, though his tackling needed brushing up.

THE PLAY. Tho teams were: — West Coast (red and white): —G. Gilbert: W. Mann, J. West, C. Schroder; J. Hooper, \V. Hughes; M. Davidson; B. Kelly, It. Uniacke. M, Scandrett, W. McNeight. R. King. F. Freitas, A. Scandrett, L. Hughes. Buller (cardinal and blue): —A. Graham, J. Hill, P. Ahern, E. Holder; A. Strachan, H. Power; A. Reid: R. Pratt, G. Orman, (). Prince: J. Brown, E. Harding. J. Buttress, E. Moreton, C. Robinson. West. Coast won the toss and defended tho southern goal, having the advantage of the sun. A penalty for a scrum infringement by Buller soon after the start, saw Gilbert's kk.k from a. long way out, go wide. The Coast backs made one or two nice 111ns. but solid tackling kept them out. Coast did tho early forcing, but. the kicking -always gave Graham ample

time in which to work, and he found touch with accurate though not lengthy kicks. Orman and Harding led tho Buller forwards through into the Coast 25, but West came round and sav&l nicely. Buller came back, headed by Buttress, but West backing up nicely, made up for early mishandling, by clearing well. For the first time, the Buller backs got going nicely, and Ahern cut through brilliantly, and was apparently over, when ho was recalled for a forward pass. It was a neat piece of work by Ahern. The Buller forwards were working well, .all together, and infusing plenty of dash into their play.Prince and Buttress came through onco and reached almost to the line, with the whole Buller pack in tow, but Gilbert saved well. Davidson was passing poorly, and Hughes had great difficulty in gathering his passes. The Buller backs moved several times, but were disorganised. Hooper was noticeable for his failure to tackle Power on several occasions. Buller were having by far the better of the game, but the Coasters were packing solidly, and the Buller backs close to the scrum, had no enterprise, except Strachan, and he was in W. Hughes’ safe hands. Twice Gilbert, after fumbling the ball had his team in tiouble, when he failed to get in his kick. Doing alb the attacking, the Buller forwards kept hammering p.wav at the Coast line, but without the ability to clinch their efforts with a try. Several times King, McNeight and M. Scandrett led the Coasters out of trouble, but the efforts were usually short-lived. Reid gave Holder a fair amount of the ball, but the All pin C i- v.--3 well watched by Mann, and had little room in which to move. The first try cariie unexpectedly from a line out just past . the Coast 25. Schroder threw a. long line-out to Freitas, who immediately threw a long pass to W. Hughes. The backs flapped on the pace, Hooper, West, and Mann handling for the winger to run round Holder brilliantly about half-way, and beat Graham badly. Challenged by Power, he in-passed to Hooper, who sent it back to Mann, for the winger to score a brilliant try in the corner. Gilbert’s good kick failed. Coast 3, Buller nil.

Off-side play by M. Scandrett gave Holder an easy chance to equalise, but his kick went just outside. Mann made two more bright dashes down tho line, once with Davidson and again with W. Hughes. Pratt, the Buller forward retired with an injury to his head and was replaced by .Lake. Gilbert earned applause for a fine line kick, which took play into the Buller 25, but Orman cleared, and right on half-time Holder made a good run down the line, bis inpass going to Gilbert, who found touch. There was no further score at the interval. West Coast 3, Buller nil.

SECOND SPELL The Buller forwards headed by Robinson broke through to the Coast 25, on the resumption and King held them up with a great effort. Hooper cleared the lines, dribbling through to half way. Buller came back and Power punted over Gilbert’s head: Buller were unlucky not to score here but Gilbert and Davidson saved the situation for McNeight, the Scandrett brothers and King to take the ball at their toes back to midfield. King was now at the head of the Coast forwards all the tinie. Power, who had changed places with Strachan came round and saved nicely when a good forward rush beat Graham. A cross kick by Holder had Coast in trouble, but Schroder found touch with a fine kick. From a ruck on the Buller 25, Davidson sent W. Hughes away for the fiveeighth to place an accurate-high punt in an open space. Hooper and Hughes were on top when the ball came down, and the ball came' out to Mann to West, who sailed over for a fine try right on the corner. Gilbert landed a great kick from the side line. Coast 8, Buller nil.

A few moments later, Buller scored their first The home backs moved fast and straight from near the Coast 25, and Ahern beat West, to draw Gilbert and send Holder over for a splendid try well out, as he was tackled by Mann. Holder missed the kick. Coast 8, Buller 3. ' From the drop-out Harding led the Buller forwards back, and West saved cleverly when Gilbert’s clearing kick was smothered. Hill made a great effort to get over in the corner, but was pushed out. Buller camped on the Coast line for a few minutes, until the Coast forwards keeping the ball in the back of the scrum took play back to midfield. Graham earned applause when a splendid effort beat , three tacklers, and he found touch in the Coast quarter. From there, Coast scored their next try. Davidson secured from a scrum in front of the posts, sent on to W. Hughes to West to Schroder, who beat four men with a great effort, before sending infield to King to Hooper who dived over for a great try. Gilbert missed an easy kick. Coast 11, Buller 3. Buller replied with a spectacular try soon afterwards. Gilbert took the ball from the toes of the Buller forwards

on his own 25, and came up to transfer to W. Hughes. The latter’s pass, rather wild, went astray, and Holder snapped up to clap on the pace, and go over for a fine try about ten yards from the corner. Graham missed the kick. Coast 11, Buller 6. 'The game had now brightened considerably and spirited barracking added to the excitement. Snappy passing movements among the Coast forwards with King, M. Scandrett and McNeight to tho fore had Buller in trouble on several occasions. Coast were unlucky when, following an opening made by A. Scandrett, Mann failed to take a poor pass from West when he had a clear run in. However, a ruck formed about fifteen yards from the line and M. Scandrett. came through to score a good try a long way out. L. Hughes converted with tt fine kick. Coast 16, Buller 6.

Coast were getting all over their opponents at this stage and scored the final try with a spectacular bout of short-passing among backs and forwards. Davidson secured the ball from a scrum at half-way, sent, on to W. Hughes to West to Schroder. The winger passed infield to King to McNeight to Uniacho to L. Hughes, who sent. M. Scandrett. over for another great try in a handy position. L. Hughes, handicapped by the setting sun. missed the kick. West Coast. 19, Buller 6. 'rhe visitors had all (lie better of the play until the final bell, though a brief attack by Buller saw Graham miss an attempt to pot a field goal right on time. Mr. 11. Casey controlled ihc game. COMBINED COAST-BL'LBER RGBS. Messrs T. Mclntosh (Greymouth) and A. Colvin (Westport) have chosen 1 ho following West Coast-Bnller combined team to play the combined Nel son-Ma riborough-Golden Bay team

in the All Black trial match at Nelson on Wednesday: Full-back: Gilbert (West Coast).

Three-quarters: Holder (Buller), Mann (West Coast). Five-eighths: W. Hughes (W.C,), Hooper (W.C.). Half-back: Davidson (W.C.). Front row: Uniacke (W.C.), Orman (B.), M; Scandrett (W.C.). Middle-row: McNeight (W.C.),. King (W.C.), Buttress (B), Harding (B.); Last-man-down: Robinson (B). Emergencies, back: Graham (B.); forwards, Brown. (B.). MATCHES AT GREYMOUTH. COMPETITION LEzWERS LOSE. The weather was ideal and the playing areas at Rugby Park were in fine order for the West Coast Rugby Union’s competition matches on Saturday. There was a good attendance. Due to the absence of several of their most prominent players, Blaketown seniors, after a keenly fought game, were defeated by Stars by the narrow margin of two points. United, bv their narrow victory over Cobden, drew level with Blaketown. Neither match produced outstanding football, although the Blaketown—Star match provided several interesting and exciting passages. Blaketown territorially had the advantage, and were unlucky on several occasions not to hays added to their score. The Blaketown backs were responsible for occasional snappy movements, which, however, lacked the necessary penetration. Cobden kept United busy on attack for the greater part but generally the play was of a ragged nature. Celtic juniors defeated United, and Blaketown-juniors were victorious over* -Stars. , Cobden third graders had an easy win over Stars.

STARS DEFEAT BLAKETOWN. Dull forward play marked the open-ing-of the Blaketown—Star match on tho No. 1 ground. ' Beban fielded the ball well on two occasions, and put Stars in a good attacking position. Scandrett handed on to Beban from a line-out inside Blaketown’s twenty-five, and from a handy position in front of the posts he dropped a neat field goal. —Stars 4, Blaektown 0. Blaketown were receiving the lion’s share of the ball from the scrums, due to the fine hooking of M, Olsen, ami Preston ,at half-back, made several dashes on the blind side, being almost over on one occasion. Star forwards worked tirelessly to take play back into Blaketown’s twenty-five, where Pascoe was caught off-side and Furness goaled with a good kick.—Stars 7, Blaketown 0. Olsen, Longstaff, and Scott led a Blaketown forward rush to tile Star line, where Heasley saved with a lucky mark from a knock-on. Reg. Olsen was displaced by Preston, after a fine run by the latter, but he knocked on when almost over. At the commencement of the second spell Blaketown forwards set up a hot attack, and, at the twenty-five, Furness was caught off-side, for Pascoe to goal .with a fine 7, Blaketown 3.

Soon afterwards, from a scrum near the Star line, Bunt gained possession and made a dash, but was well tackled. Following a rucking movement N. Scott dived across to score, and Pascoo converted to give Blaketown the lead—B-7.

Star forwards, led by Fell, Dixon and Quinn, took play to Blaketown territory, where Pascoe was caught offside, and Furness goaled from an easy position.—Stars 10, Blaketown 8. Blaketown then enjoyed a lengthy period on attack, and there were several exciting passages of play, but over-eagerness spoiled several promising Blaketown movements. Following an incident in Star 25, Pascoe (Blaketown) was ordered off. Blaketown forwards continued the pressure, and crossed the Star line, but a force down resulted. Ful Itime came soon afterwards, with the score unaltered. Mr. N. Eggleton was referee.

UNITED—COBDEN. Cobden seniors in their early determined attacks . were unlucky in not scoring on at least two occasions in their match with United on the No. 2 ground. United won, after a dull game, by eleven points to nine. United enjoyed a. period on attack, following Cobden's good start, but the Cobden forwards, combining well, took play into the opposition territory, and, from a scrum, the backs got going, W. Tennent cutting in prettily to run over near the posts. Lindbom missed an easy kick. —Cobden 3, United 0. Cobden forwards combined to lay siege to United’s line, until Caldwell, taking a long pass out, just inside his twenty-five, caiight the Cobden backs out of position and put in a fine run to score wide out. Vincent failed to goal. —United 3, Cobden 3. Cobden forwards rallied to the attack, and took play into United territory. From a scramble near the side line, Wilson picked up to dive over and score. Lindbom failed to goal.— Cobden 6, United 3. In the second spell United set up an attack. Costello secured from a scrum, and, cutting out two men cleverly, handed out to Caldwell, who again scored a nice try near the corner. Adams converted with a line kick. — United 8, Cobden 6. United gained a further try a few minutes later, when a high punt to the line was fumbled by two Cobden players, and McDonnell, following up fast, pounced on the ball to score at the corner. Adams failed to convert.— United 11, Cobden 6.

AL’fer several determined forward rushes by Cobden. United broke away in a passing rush, but A. King intercepted and outpaced the opposition, to score wide out. He failed to convert. —United 11, Cobden 9. The final whistle shounded soon afterwards. .Mr. W. McLaughlin was referee.

JUNIOR GRADE In a. fine game at Rugby Park Celtic scored a victory over Unitefl by 9 points to 6. Cullen and McGinley (2) scored for Celtic and Ferguson (2) for United. BLAKETOWN 11. STAR 6. . Blaketown Juniors defeated Star by 11 points to six. Mills and Minchin scored for Star, and Aiderton (2) and Millett for Blaketown, Goodall converting one. Cobden thirds easily defeated Star by 21 points to nil. WESTLAND SUB-UNION. 'file Westland Suh-Vnion’s competition was continued on Sut/rday, at Cass Square. Hokitika, when Excelsiors, weakened by the absence of seven players in the representative ’earn, defeated Kiwis by !i points to nil. Kiwis made a poor showing when they

had a gooil chance of winning. Richards, Lewis, and Connolly scored for Excelsiors, who did most of the attacking. Mr. Collett- was referee. CANTERBURY WIN. DUNEDIN, May 26. Tho All Black trial match on Saturday between the Canterbury—Ashburton—South Canterbury team and the North Otago—Otago—Southland team was played in perfect weather.

'Pho Canterbury combination were tho winners by ten points (two converted tries) to 9 (an unconverted try ami two penalty goals).

AT OTHER CENTRES. AUCKLAND. May 25. Varsity 15, Grafton 6; Grammar Old Boys 11.' Technical 9; Otahuhn 1. Ponsonby 11. WELLINGTON, May 25. Senior A. first division: Marist 17. Wellington 13; Wellington College Old Boys 8, Athletic 3; I’etono 10, Ilutl 6; I’onekc 6. Eastbourne 6. Second division: Johnsonville 9. Mclrose-Selwyn 3; Sl. Patrick's Old Boys 11. University 10. ’ CHRISTCHURCH, May 25. Athletic 9. Sydenham I; Sunnyside 16. Christchurch <5; Linwood 21, Marivale 0: Old Boys 18. University G. INVERCARGILL, May 25. 1 Star 9, Marist !•. Blues 17, Piratesl i<). OA.MARU. May 25. I Mahi'tio 8, Excelsior 11. Ohl Boyffl 23. Ngapara 21. Athletic 6, Dttnlroon 'j'HAMES. May 25. Waikato 30, Thames Valley 3. Aitken. tho centre three-quarter, was the outstanding hack. He score.l four successive tries. Valley won- outclassed.

PALMERSTON NORTH, May 25. Old Boys 24, United 8. Feilding Old Boys 6, Feilding 3. St. Pat’s 10, Oroua Downs 6. Rongotea 6, Woodville 3. Massey College 3, Kia. Toa 0. WANGANUI, May 2a. Old Boys 16, Tech. Old Boys 13. Ratana 18, Marist 9. Waverley 10, Pirates 6. NEW PLYMOUTH, May 25.

Star 22, Inglewood 3. Old Boys 30, Athletic 14. Clifton 7, United Old Boys 0. Tukapa 29, Waimate 8. Eltham 9, Kaponga 9. Opunake 8, Patea 5. Stratford IS, Okaiawa 12. HASTINGS, May 25.

Esk View' 5, Hastings 16. Celtic 6, Marists 10. Napier Old Boys 13, M.A.C. 11.

NAPIER, May 25. Technical Old Boys 18, Havelock 6. Hastings H. 5.0.8. 13, Pirates 8. MASTERTON. May 25. Old Boys 8, Carterton 6.