RUGBY FOOTBALL

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 August 1939, Page 9

RUGBY FOOTBALL

WESTL'AND-GREYMOUTH DRAW. GREY A 6, SOUTH WESTLAND 3. The West Coast Rugby Union’s trial matches at Rugby Park on Saturday afternoon, attracted a good attendance and despite the soft ground, which quickly cut up badly, some of the best footbail of the season was witnessed. From the quantity of talent available, it is apparent that West Coast will be able to field a strong side to uphold the honour of the province in the Seddon Shield challenge match next month. There will probably be weaknesses in the backs, as no outstanding first five-eighths or half-backs paraded, but the number of good forwards available should give the selectors plenty to work on and not a few second thoughts. There will be some good forwards disappointed when the final selection is made.

Greymouth B and Westland representatives played a draw in the first match, which, generally speaking was colourless. The second match between South Westland, holders of the Dittman Shield, and Greymouth A, provided some thrilling incidents, especially amongst the forwards, while the backs also had their moments. Greymouth won by six points to three, and though the margin might have been greater had several easy kicks at goal been turned to account, it represented the diffierence. between the comparative finish of the winners’ display, and the vigour and strength of the South Westlanders.

SHIELD HOLDERS DEFEATED The South Westland —Greymouth A match was especially notable for the splendid forward struggle between two fit and fine packs. First one, and then the other eight would sweep thirty to forty yards with concerted rushes, and it was principally a tribute to the deadly tackling, and determined rushstopping of both sides that the scores

were not larger. The way the Grey forwards rallied when defending was particularly pleasing. As was to be expected in the state of the ground, the backs found difficulty in keeping a foothold, but there were several bright movements by both sets of backs. Vaughan was the most enterprising of the wingers and was unlucky not to score a couple of times. Williams was splendid on defence, and Lindbom though not as impressive as usual, got out of several tight corners cleverly.

In flic fine Greymonth pack, Hammond, Croudis, and Connelly stood ouL Croudis playing probably his best game of the season. A. King was in the thick of the fight all day and was

noticed jumping for the ball in line outs. Nolan and Vincent were the pick of the southerners’ backs. Keating and Ueri’s' showed some promise, but

did not have many chances. In the South Westland forwards wh'o were a fairly even lot, Thiele, Gardener, Thorpe and G. Berry appealed. Thorpe won more than his share of the ball from the set scrums. The teams were:—South Westland: S. Fleming, E. Kirby, J. Keating, V. Berry, J. Nolan. J. Weir, R. Vincent, C. Thiele, D. Thorpe. J. Walsh, G. Berry, J. Gardener, Jim Walsh, M.McBride, J. Donnelly. Greymouth A: A. Lindbom, Arthur Vaughan, J. Lynch, A. King, L. Williams, E. Collins, T. Kiely, D. Wilson, H. Spencer, 11. Kirkwood, W. Blair, J. Hammond, Alex King, M. Connolly, W. Croudis.

South Westland were first to look ■eally dangerous when V. Berry, com-

ing in as an extra back, at a scrum near the side line sold a perfect dummy to Collins only to be tackled well in the 25 by another Grey back. Lindbom snapped up a rolling ball cleverly in the face of the South Westland forwards, and when tackled in possession, sent out a long pass to A. King, who saved a dangerous situation. Vincent was gaining some useful territory with accurate kicks from the base of the scrum. Nolan was showing a lot of initiative, but ran into solid tackles by Williams. Half-time came without a score by either side, though South Westland had had the territorial advantage. Early in the second spell Gardiner led the South Westland forwards in an almost irrsesistible rush to the Grey 25, but with the ball out of the backs Nolan knocked on and spoilt a great chance. A penalty kick awarded to the southerners, was turned to account by Keating who kicked a fine goal from 30 yards out. South Westland 3, Greymouth A 0.

Grey returned to the attack, and a weak clearing kick by Keating went almost straight to Spencer who snapped up and dived over as he was tackled and for what was apparently a try, but the referee awarded a dropout. Kiely and Alex King were prominent in the next Grey attack, but a good kick by Vincent drove them back. Vaughan made a fine run down the line, but was tackled short of the

line and the ball went into touch. Throwing the ball in, Vaughan sent it right to the end of the line to Croudis who barged his way over determinedly to score a splendid try near the posts. Lindbom missed an easy kick. Greymouth A 3, South Westland 3. The best bout of passing during the

day, with all the Grey backs from Kiely to Vaughan handling ended with Vaughan, brought down by Fleming a few yards from the line. Greymouth’s next

try came after a fine forward rush headed by Blair and Connolly, the last-named touching down near the posts. Lynch missed an easy kick. Greymouth A 6, Westland 3 ; The remainder of the game was strenuously contested, with both sides playing fine football, but the final whistle came without further score. South Westland had one grand opportunity to equalise when Weir made a good epening, but a knock-on by Nolan lost the chance. Mr. A. Fulton was referee.

WESTLAND v. GREYMOUTH B. In an evenly contested match Westland and Greymouth B representative teams drew, six points all. Westland led six to three at half-time, hut the home team equalised in the second spell. It was a hard game, lacking the colour of the later match, but none the less keen, and always interesting. In the Grey backs, Martyn, Stewart Spivey (after a shaky start). Clancy and Cox all played useful games, while Moss, Birchfield and Butler were the pick df an even pack. For Westland, Mason. Davidson and Hurrcn were the. best backs, and Thompson, McCarthy. Gillmai) and I’anton all played good games in the pack. The teams were: — Greymouth B:L. Martyn, Spivey, L. Stewart, C. Furness, L. Pedrotti, W. Clancy, C. Cox, W. Moss, J. Sherriff R. Thompson, W. Price, W. Butler, R.

Birchfield, J. Laredo, D. Henderson. Westland:H. Mason, J. Bradley, J. West, R. Burns, 11. Tainui, M. Davidson. J. Hurren, D. Chinn, J. Agnew, llavill, Thompson, Panton, Muirhead, Gillman, McCarthy. Westland took up the defensive from the start, and after ten minutes of play West sent Bradley away to score . near the corner. Mason missed the I kick. Westland 3, Greymouth B 0. After a useful break Clancy sent a pass back to his forwards and BirchI field went over for a good try, with I several packmen in support. Martyn l missed the kick. Greymouth B 3, Westland 3. Clancy was penalised for lying on the ball to stem a strong forward rush, and Mason kicked a good goal to I put his side ahead. Westland 6, Greymouth B 3. A reverse pass by Clancy to Stewart saw the latter make a great effort 1 only to be brought down just short of the line. Before half-time, Martyn misI sed an easy shot at goal from a penalty. The only try in the second spell came I when Clancy cutting the centre out sent a long pass out to Spivey who raced over for a good try well out. Martyn failed to convert. Greymouth B 6, Westland 6. Mason had bad luck with a penalty kick at goal, the ball striking the cross-bar and bouncing back in field. Final score: —Greymouth B 6, Westland 6. Mr. C. F. Cockburn was referee. KUMARA JUNIORS WIN. Kumara juniors defeated Magpies by nine points to nil on the No. 2 Ground at Rugby Park. T. Henham kicked a field goal, P. Sinclair scored and C. Goad converted. To Kinga juniors defeated Star by 20 points to nil. All third and fourth grade matches were postponed . MINOR UNIONS’ MATCH. NORTH 22, SOUTH 9. CHRISTCHURCH, August 19.

Before the full complement of New Zealand selectors, representatives of the minor unions' of the two islands met in a special match at Lancaster Park ,on Saturday. The North Island, with marked superiority in the backs, won comfortably by 22 points to 9, but the game was not quite ,so one-sided as the scores would seem to indicate. The South Island forwards outplayed their opponents in every department of the game except loose passing rushes, at which -the northern men excelled. The co-operafion of the northern forwards with their backs in passing movements lent the game most of its spectacular features, which were not many. The ground was heavy and slippery after the rain and frost, and this militated against open play. The consistency with which the South Island forwards won the ball from scrums, line-outs, and rucks over mote than three-quarters of the game was nothing less than brilliant. The South Island pack had the advantage of the leadership of R. RKing, one of New Zealand's best forwards over the last four or five years. Although King has not had a great deal of play this season, he showed his class by splendid work in the line-outs and tigerish play in the tight. B. Doig and B. Newton, both Ashburton players, showed pleasing solidity in all their work. The latter was injured in the second half. G. D. Mason (Buller), who was unlucky not to earn All Black honours last year, was one of the best forwards on the ground, notwithstanding his lack of size. He shaded taller opponents in line-outs. R. R. Innes 1 (West Coast), a former Canterbury representative, showed all his old ability to keep on the ball. Trusttum, Hancox and Best were the pick of the North Island forwards. There was not a great deal over which to enthuse in the backs —and that was nearly all in the winningteam. The outstanding player was undoubtedly the diminutive North Auckland first five-eighth, C. A. Gibson. He handled well, made some brilliant openings, and nearly always had his opponents guessing. His defence was not of the same high standard.

None of the iSouth Island backs impressed very favourably, but the work of the inside men was so poor that the three-quarters did not often get the ball; still less frequently did they get it with room in which to move. J. Alexander (Buller) was not consistent, but at his best he showed a certain amount of thrust. He failed entirely to link up with A. Vaughan (West Coast), who stood too wide and kicked too often when he did get possession. Vaughan redeemed his failure on attack with some excellent defensive work. The three-quarters had few chances, which was disappointing for those who wished to see W. C. Weenink, the big Buller man, in action. In any case, he appeared completely out of his element on the treacherous ground.

ASHBURTON DEFEAT MANAWATU ASHBURTON, August 19. Ashburton representatives defeated Manawatu by 19 points to eight. The game was fast, and spectacular, and was marked by hard tackling and rugged forward play. CANTERBURY DEFEATED. NAPIER, August 19. In the opening match of its northern tour, the Canterbury team was beaten by Hawke’s Bay at McLean Park, Napier, to-day, by 11 points to 3, after Hawke’s Bay had led by 3 points to nil at half-time. Although Canterbury missed several chances of scoring, particularly from difficult penalty kicks at goal, the match was won by the better side. Unable to make a great deal of headway against Hawke’s Bay sold tackling, the Canterbury backs did not. create the impression that they are an exceptionally good combination, although in the dying stages of the game they were going smoothly. The star of the Canterbury team was J. J. McAuliffe, the captafii and half-back, who gave splendid passes and was eventually rewarded when he broke over on his own from a scrum near the Hawke’s Bay line for a brilliant score. , Rainey, the Canterbury hooker, beat Coady for the ball regularly. In the. loose. McPhail, Herman, Hearn, and Walters were always toilers. The Canterbury forwards did their best to feed their backs, and in the scrums their efforts were noticeably successful.

Canterbury had every chance in I he first spell of putting up a lead of a few points. Inn when half-time arrived Hawke's Bay were leading by a penally goal. With the wind behind it in the second spell. Hawke’s Bay set the pace, but the forwards .were too impetuous

and brought disaster to many line movements. Canterbury attacked, well, but adverse luck and solid opposition kept it at bay. The'wind was a big factor in the trend of the game.’ AU C K LAN D-T ARAN A KI DRAW. NEW PLYMOUTH, August. 19. Taranaki and Auckland drew, 6 all, at New Plymouth to-day, in a thrilling encounter that had the crowd on its toes till the- end. The rugged, vigorous tactics of the Taranaki forwards, who played their best game of the season, was opposed to the more polished display of the Auckland backs who, though without Brady, were too strong for the Taranaki rearguard, which was without any of the threequarters who have composed the back line this season. Pearman was the star of the visiting backs, and McLean led his forwards in great style. In flic decisive closing stages the brains of the Taranaki team was Killeen, whose defensive work was outstanding. For Auckland, Pearman and Dick scored tries, and for Taranaki, Walker scored a try and Meuli kicked a penalty.

WELLINGTON DEFEAT OTAGO. WELLINGTON. August 19. Flaying the first match of the northern tour. Otago lost f-> Wellington by 3 points Io 7 at Athletic Park to-day. The ground was soft after heavy rain, but d.id not slow down play to any great extent. The deciding factor in the game was Wellington’s superiority in scrums and line-outs. Lambourn, Wellington’s hooker, gave his side great service in the set scrums, of which there were many, as Wellington took Them in preference to line-outs. With the exception of Tindill and Thompson, I be Wellington backs were not impressive, and failed to make the most of tlte numerous opportunities. Fulton, at centre, played indifferently, and was the cause of many movements breaking down. Hi

had it difficult task, as he was well! marked by Mitchell, but on attack he| was unenterprising and- his handling! of the ball was never certain. Mitchell had few opportunities in orthodox passing rushes 1 , but he was always enterprising and gave Wellington some anxious moments. He and Perriam showed fine understanding. Playing opposite Berghan, the All Black, Thompson, Wellington’s first five-eighth, acquitted himself well. He was easily the best of the Wellington backs, and the only one who showed any penetrative ability. Berghan was sound, if unspectacular. Apart from Wellington’s success in gaining possession, there was not a great deal of difference between the two sets of forwards. Both packed well in the set scrums and hunted the ball keenly in the loose. A feature of the play of the Otago pack was the use it made of the short pass. Much interest was taken in the play of the full-backs, Taylor (Wellington) and Silver (Otago). Silver was called on to do much more work than Taylor, but he scarcely made one mistake. He handled faultlessly and his linekicks were long and accurate. Taylor played up to his best form and also scored all Wellington’s points. His place-kicking, however, was not up to his usual standard. In the first spell Taylor potted a magnificent field goal from near half-way, and Mitchell scored a. try for Otago. Toward the end of the game Taylor took a hand in a passing rush by the Wellington backs and crashed through a tackle 'to score near the. corner. He was unable to convert the try. WIN FOR BUSH. OAMARU, August 19. Except for the last quarter of an hour. North Otago made a poor showing against the touring Bush team to lose by one point —the final score was 12 points to 11—after a ragged game Out-weighted in the forwards, the home pack for most of the match

played listlessly. When the game was nearly over, the whole team rallied to score eight points to threaten Bush’s lead, but the visitors finished strongly. HIGH SCHOOL MATCHES. OTAGO DEFEAT CHRISTCHURCH. DUNEDIN, August 19. Although conditions were otherwise ideal, the Carisbrook ground was very heavy when Christchurch and Otago Boys’ High Schools met in their annual match this afternoon. Otago won by 9 points to 0, in a game which was not particularly good. •

MOASCAR CUP. PALMERSTON NORTH, August 19. in the final of the Moascar Cup tourney, Palmerston North Boys’ High School beat Te Ante College by 19 points to 3. In the match between Silverstream College and Mount Albert Grammar School, the former won by 12 points to 6. WIN FOR NEW PLYMOUTH. AUCKLAND, August 19. In a fast and open match New Plymouth High School beat Auckland Grammar School by II points to 12. For New Plymouth, Bauutan (2), O’Byrne, and McCallum scored tries, one of which was converted by McCulloch, while for Grammar School Gardner scored two tries and Bean kicked two penalty goals. Seddon Memorial Technical College beat. Stafford High School by 6 points to 0. COLLEGIATE TO URNE Y. WANGANUI, August 20. Rugby of good standard was seen in the inter-collegiate Rugby tournament, which opened yesterday. The weather was fine, but the grpund-was-heavy atfer rain. ' f In the first match, • Wanganui Col-

ilcgiate School beat Wellington College 6-o'. Nelson College, after being down 6-0 at half-time, drew with Christ’s Colleg'o, 6-all. As Nelson won the tournament last year, Christ’s College and Wanganui will play in the final to-morrow. Wellington and Nelson will play for the runner-up. TARANAKI NOMINATIONS. NEW PLYMOUTH, August 20. Taranaki nominations for the North Island Rugby team are: —Backs: H. E. Johns, J. L. Sullivan, 'C. Brown, B. A. Killeen. Forwards: J. B. Coull, H. Benton, R. Walker, J. Mac Lean, T. G. Fowler. Taranaki nominations for the Maori team to play Fiji are: —-Backs: P. Toro-, Broughton, Weterc, Kara. Forwards: Potaka, Skipper, Awahou. WELLINGTON TEAM. WELLINGTON, August 20. The Wellington team to play Canteribury in Wellington on Saturday is: — Backs: Taylor, Knowles, Veitch, Sherratt, Thomas. Thompson, Tindill. Forwards: McCarthy, Lambourn, Hegglun. Cooper, Cassidy, Gunn, Wales, Tcdd. Emergencies—Backs: Dwyer, Wiight. Fulton; forwards: Kenney. Ougley. Kirschbcrg.