RUGBY FOOTBALL

Greymouth Evening Star, 22 June 1942, Page 8

RUGBY FOOTBALL

CANTERBURY 6, WEST COAST 4. VIGOROUS FORWARD TUSSLE. Tn fine, though overcast weather, Canterbury representatives defeated Vest Coast at Rugby Park, Greynouili on Saturday, by six points to four, before the smallest attendance seen at a representative matfch at Greymouth lor some years. Th<j 'round was sodden, but not muddy, and the game was played at a fairly fast pace throughout. Canterbury, with the pick of the services this season fielded what should have been one of the strongest sides in years, and the performance of the West Coasters, the majority of whom were over 30 years of age, in holding Canterbury to a margin of only two oointsf was excellent. In fact, with a little luck the Coasters might have pulled the game out of the fire in the last quarter of an hour, and they missed doing so in the last minute by the proverbial ’‘whisker.” As usual, the Coast forwards were the mainstay of the side and they made a great showing, led grandly by R. R. King, who though he has .slowed up, is still a fine forward, and an in■piring leader. The Coast backs, as ms been the case for years, were lot an attacking force, but their ■pulling work was highly successful, ■nd much credit was due to them for he fact that the fast and dangerous Canterbury backs were not able to ako full advantage of their chances. Except on occasions, the Canterbury pack failed to combine as well as tin home forwards, but they did ;orne line work in the last ten min.ites or so in defending their line, vhi-n the Coasters were going all pui for the deciding try. The Canterbury backs- showed flashes of brilliance. especially „ Roach and Kilworih. Generally, the game was a orward tussle, with some great forward play, but several movements by the Canterbury backs showed that on i dry ground* they would have provided plenty of excitement. Canterbury had all the better of the first spell, but in the second, the Coasters came into their own, and just when it was expected that superior fitness would take Canterbury on to an ea§y victory, the home team collected four points, and this appeared to rejuvenate them. For the last quarter of an hour, lhev had the visitors defending desperately. Failure to finish oft their efforts lost opportunities for the Const pack. In the Coast backs, Gillan, except for one or two lapses, notably a penchant for waiting for the bounce, played a fine game. His tackling was good, and his kicking, while not especially long, was sure. Kingstone, the Canterbury, and ex-Auckland custodian, was caught with the ball three times, but otherwise was sure. His handling was excellent, and his kicking for touch gained a lot of ground for his side. Ambergbr played a splendid game in the Coast packs, tackling in deadly fashion, handling well, and showing great ■.peed. Collins was sound, and tackled well. His kicking for touch was valuable, and he backed up well. Backing up was an especial feature ol the play of Amberger. Lindbom was too slow at first five-eighth, but his boot, was more than handy, and besides gaining stretches of ground, collected the lour points for the side. Lad: of speed in getting up on 'defence left the openings for Canterbury's two tries among the inside backs. Davidson was nearly his old self at half. He got through a tremendous amount, of work with great credit. His kicking was always welljudged. and he used his forwards to ‘he best advantage. His passing was hot always up to standard. Kilworth was the guiding hand in the Canterbury backs. Ilis handling was always safe, and lie ran straight. Roach showed speed and penetration, and his eye for an opening and speed (iff the marl-: made Iho two tries. Taylor, at hail, passed well, and long, giving his backs a Hying start. Generally he played a good all-round game. The wingers of neither side had real chances.

In lhe Coast forwards, King played his best game of the season, and he was always to the fore leading the pack. Birchfield was next on the list, and then came Wieblitz and Kirkwood. Wieblitz was a great worker and Kirkwood showed much, o! hi. c former dash and determination. Fisher, besides showing considerable speed. to be in most of the loose rushes, was a successful hooker. Particularly in the second spell, he won more than his share of the ball. In the Canterbury forwards, Herman was outstanding. His most consistent uppm teis were Hayles, Bond and C. Taylor. In the line-outs the Coast pair. King and Birchfield were out..icindingly successful. PLAY DESCRIBED. The teams were:—Canterbury (red and. black):— Kingstone; Ryan, Pearson. McEwan; Kilworth, Roach; A. Taylor; Morgan, C. Taylor, Fearnley; Havles. Bond, Herman, Cassidy; Hardie.

West Coast (red and white): —J. Gillan; C. Monk', J. Amberger, W. Roche; E. Collins, A. Lindbom; M. Da\ id. on; IL Kirkwood. J. Fisher, R. vViohlilz: \V. Blair, IL IL King, R. Jirehiield, A. Smith: W. Croudis. Roach made a grand opening jarly in the game, and sent on to Pearson, who drew Gillan, but Ryan lost a certain try when he failed to lold a good pass, with a clear held ahead. Canterbury had a narrow escape soon afterwards, when Amberger. following up fast caught Kingdone in possession, and the latter’s kick for touch went into touch in foal. McEwan made an opening soon afterwards, when at the end of a passing rush he came inside his winger and gave Pearson a chance, but the larier In mg on and was tackled short of the line. The Canterbury forwards were playing a grand loose game at. this stage, hut the spoiling of the Coast backs and the rush-stop-ping of the forwards nipped many promising movements in the bud. An attack on the blind side by the visiting backs saw Roach and Ryan make a great deal of ground, bm Gillan effectively stopped Roach, and Amberger. backing-up well, tackled Ryan. Canterbury maintained the pressure, and opened the scoring with a brilliant try. Taylor sent Roach away from a scrum, and the fiveeighth ran round Lindbom, and came inside again to swerve past Gillan, and score in a handy position. Kingstone missed an easy kick, and Canterbury were three points up after 30 minutes play. The Coast forwards worked their wav to the Canterbury 25, where Lindbom had his second pot at goal, and again missed. Kingstone was kicking well for the line, and forced Coast back. A penalty to Coast relieved a dangerous situation, after two scrums almost on the line. Halftime camo with Canterbury in Coast territory, and the score:—Canterbury 3, Coast nil. In the second spell, Amberger went to second five-eighth in the Coast team, and Collins to centre. Soon after the resumption the home forwards led by the half-back Davidson took play well into the Canterbury 25, with the ball at toe, but Kingstone rose to the occasion, and made a splendid save. Roche, -the Coast winger was then pushed out at the corner, and from a scrum, he came in as an extra five-eighth and

made a good run well into the Canterbury 25, but his pass to Monk was smothered by the Canterbury threequarters. The Coasters were now playing with grea. vigour, and for about 'l5 >,..</ were practically camped in the Canterbury quarter Twice Canterbury found relief by forcing down. Amberger provided a thrill, when he kicked through past Kingstone, and then for the second ‘ time during the match caught him in possession. Coast set up a great attack, and Kingstone carried the ball over the line where he was tackled in possession by Blair. From the scrum on the line, Herman led the visiting pack in a grand rush which reached half way before Collins stepped in and made a fine clearance. Then from a scrum near the Canterbury 25, Taylor sent Roach away, and he cut straight through between Lindbom and Collins, with Kilworth, A. Taylor and Ryan in support. Reaching Gillan he switched the direction of the attack, and sent on to Taylor, to Ryan, who went on to score a splendid try near the corner. Kingstone failed to improve the position. Canterbury 6, Coast nil. Enlivened by this reverse, the Coasters rose to the occasion, and for the remainder of the game Canterbury were on the defensive practically all the time. A long kick by Gillan gave the Coast forwards their chance, and they battered away at the Canterbury line. A forward sent the ball back to Lindbom, from a ,-ruck, and the five-eighth smartly potted a field goal, amidst great applause. Canterbury 6, Coast 4. Coast still had a chance, and encouraged by the barracking of the crowd, they made renewed efforts. The Coast backs were playing to their pack at every opportunity, and the forwards responded nobly. Davidson was injured and retired, to be replaced by L. Stewart. Coast had no luck in the last few minutes, though the Canterbury defence was excellent, especially the tight packing of the forwards. The Coasters staged a grandstand finish, Kingstone just beating Wieblitz, who was closely attended by Fisher and Stewart, for the ball, to force down after the home forwards had battered their way over. Final score: —Canterbury 6, West Coast 4. CURTAIN RAISER. In the third'grade curtain raiser Possibles defeated Probables by three points to nil. J. Haglund kicked a goal from a penalty. Mr. J. H. Minch in was referee.