RUGBY FOOTBALL

Greymouth Evening Star, 19 August 1940, Page 4

RUGBY FOOTBALL

CANTERBURY 27, WEST COAST 16

COAST FORWARDS IMPRESSIVE Canterbury defeated West Coast at Lancaster Park, Christchurch, on Saturday, by 27 points to 16. West Coast were 21 points down at half time, but made a great recovery, and with the pack playing high-class football scored 16 points to Canterbury’s six. The Canterbury team is regarded as the best Canterbury has had for several seasons, and they played spectacular football, especially in the first spell. The Canterbury backs were a class above the Coasters as a combination, their speed, sure handling and solid tackling being first-class. The tackling of the Coast backs was poor in the first spell but they showed something like their true ability in the second. After half-time, Coast gave up their tactics of using the backs at every opportunity, and inside backs played their part in Coast’s revival by returning the ball to the forwards at every opportunity. The outstanding Coast back was Roberts, whose speed and solid tackling got his team out of trouble on many occasions. At the finish he scored a great opportunist try with kick-and-follow tactics. He was better at first fiveeighths in the second spell than at second five-eighths in the first. Kiely was responsible for much good work at half-back. Dewar, in this half, did better work at second five-eighths than he had done at full-back, and Vaughan impressed as abe tig/ - fullback than a five-eighth. R. R. King led the West Coast pack splendidly. Birchfield and Croudis were also fine workers in the tight. J. Monk was a persistent hunter of the ball, and with Scandrett did some effective spoiling among the Canterbury backs. Lake, formerly a great scoring forward for University, but now a front-row scrummager, also hunted assiduously. Thiele and Redder made up-a sound front row,'which secured a majority of the ball from the set scrums. The best Canterbury backs were Fountain and Cartwright, the two wingers, who scored five tries between them, and Saxton. Wesneywas a polished full back. Herman, Rankin and Walter were the pick of the Canterbury forwards. For Canterbury Fountain scored three tries, Cartwright two, and Kimberley two, Wesney converting three. J. Monk, Croudis and Roberts scored tries for the Coast. Scott and Kiely converting one each and Scott kicking a penalty goal. Referee: Mr. C. R. McCallum.

SEDDON SHIELD.

BAYS 22, BULLER 3.

Buller, holders of the Seddon Shield since 1937, lost the trophy on Saturday, to Golden Bay-Motueka, who outclassed the holders to win by 22 points to three. The result was a complete’ surprise. Golden Bay have not held the Shield since they won it from Marlborough in 1929. The weather was perfect, but the football was not up to shield standard. Buller played well enough in the first spell, at the end of which the score was three-all, but, after the interval, the Bays completely dominated the game in all departments. The former All Black, Brian Killeen, was the outstanding figure of the match, and he was a great inspiration to the Bays’ men whom he nursed through the critical stages and drove on to big deeds in the second half.

Another outstanding Bays’ back was L. Reed (full-back), who was much more impressive than the Buller man, A. Dunn, who had a complete day off. Patchy in the first half. I. Hickmott played a splendid game on the left wing for the winning team. The Bays’ forwards outclassed Buller in all departments. D.. Ropata, D. Mason, and D. Ward were three splendid Bays’ forwards while M. Moon, a former West Coast representative, also played well.

The Buller backs did not have many chances as an attacking combination mainly because of a lack of understanding between the veteran half-back, R. Butterfield, and the first five-eighths, A. Luff. J. Porter, the second five-eighth, was starved for opportunities, as were the other Buller backs, but he made a brilliant opening for Buller’s only try. The only two Buller forwards who rose to any great heights were J. Fox and C. Robinson, both playing hard games.

In the first half, Weenink scored for Buller and Ropata for the visitors. In the second, Hickmott and Taylor (2) scored tries, Clouston and Taylor kicked a goal each from penalties, and Reed landed a field goal. Final score: Golden Bay-Motueka 22, Buller 3. Mr A. A. Billens (Christchurch) was referee.

INTERPROVINCIAL MATCHES.

WELLINGTON v. HAWKE’S BAY.

WELLINGTON, August 17. Two tries from magnificent passing movements played a deciding part in Wellington’s victory over Hawke’s Bay by 8 points to 3 in the annual representative match at Athletic Park to-day. Wellington had the better of the play territorially, but was beaten for the ball in both scrums and lineouts. The backs did not get going, but they revealed a high standard of co-ordination and understanding. Judicious support by the forwards also contributed to movements gaining big stretches of ground, and on two occasions leading to scores. Rain during the week left the ground heavy, and a cold wind blew throughout the match. Overhead conditions were ideal, however, and there was a- large attendance. Considering that enlistments have depleted Rugby ranks, the standard of football was remarkably high, and the 8 game was thrilling. Wellington was definitely superior in the backs. The Hawke’s Bay backs were not happy on the attack' though they received plenty of the ball. In the forwards the tussle was more even. Hawke’s Bay had a decided advantage in the set scrums, winning 80 per cent, of- the ball, and also had the

better of the lineouts, but the backs were unable to profit by this supply of the ball. The rucks were even. In the loose, both sets, of forwards provided the spectators with some thrilling football, some rushes being well up to All Black standard. Wellingtonled s—o at half-time, Hegglun scoring under the posts after a thrilling rush in which the ball went through the backs and , in again to Gunn, Cassidy, and Hegglun (forwards). O’Halloran converted. In the second spell Wellington secured an unconverted try, the ball

going through the backs to Wright, who made ground and threw in a high pass to Thurston to Reynolds, who scored. Hawke’s Bay’s points came right on time, Brownlie kicking the ball past several defenders, and Powdrell winning a race to score. Dyer missed the kick.

SOUTHLAND DEFEATS OTAGO.

INVERCARGILL, August 17.

Southland won its return game against Otago by 17 points to 13. It was the poorest game played by the two provinces for some time. Back movements on both sides were generally ragged and seldom made much ground. The Southland forwards were on top from the start and Southland ran up 14 points in the first half to Otago’s 5. In the second half the Otago forwards showed more life and made up some of the leeway, but Southland’s first-half lead was too great.

AUCKLAND GAMES.

AUCKLAND, August 17.

The Auckland representative team maintained its unbeaten record in the fifth fixture of the season against North Auckland, winning by 20 to 9. Wiles, Schubert, and Barry scored tries for Auckland, Hare converting one and kicking three penalty goals. For North Auckland, G. Smith scored a try and Cunningham'* and White each kicked a penalty goal. \ South Auckland beat Auckland B by 26 to 11.

S. CANTERBURY WINS.

TIMARU, August 17.

South Canterbury beat the Canterbury B team by 22 points to 8. The game was fast and open, both sides throwing the ball about freely. The winners scored three tries, two of which were converted, and three, penalty goals, Canterbury securing a converted try and a penalty. Stewart scored 19 of the home side’s points— ! two tries, three penalties, and two conversions. Fitzgerald also scored. For the losers, Gorman scored, and Ballantyne converted and kicked a penalty. The South Canterbury forwards were better in the loose than the visitors, and combined well with the backs. The Canterbury back line was fast but was held out with'solid tackling.

NELSON AND WANGANUI WIN.

NELSON, August 17.

In the inter-collegiate Rugby matches, Nelson 9 beat Wellington 6, all the points being scored for penalty goals. Wanganui 7, a penalty goal and a field goal, beat Christ’s College 5. There was brilliant football throughout, back play in the Christ’s College-Wanganui game being a feature. On Monday, Christ’s College will play Wellington, and Nelson will play Wanganui.

ST. PATRICK’S BEATS ST. BEDE’S.

CHRISTCHURCH, August 17.

In a bright display of Rugby, St. Patrick’s College (Wellington) defeated St. Bede’s College at St. Bede’s ground to-day, by 11 points to 8. Territorially St. Bede’s had much the better of the play; but though the team staged many passing rushes, little ground was gained because of the solid tackling of the visiting backs, who were assisted in repelling

the attacks by the fine work of a winging-forward in Watt. This player certainly took a place on the side of the set scrums; but broke away very smartly and all through the game was a menace to St. Bede’s inside backs.