RUGBY FOOTBALL

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 September 1944, Page 3

RUGBY FOOTBALL

BULLER RETAIN SHIELD

In the final Seddon Shield challenge match of the .season Buller retained the trophy at Victoria Square, Westport on Saturday, when they played a scoreless draw with West Coast Alter the heavy rain the field was a sea of mud, and the game was almost wholly confined to the for-’ wards West Coast had a decided ter- ■ Vitorial advantage almost throughout the f-ame, but were unable to beat the defence sufficiently to score the deciding points. They were unlucky o?i ci number of occasions, players being within inches of scoring, but much of the credit loi; this state of affairs must be given to the stern Buller defence. J. Lindbom played a splendid, game at full-back for West Coast and was their best back. His handling of the greasy ball was almost faultless and his kicking was long and accurate.! McHugh, Hayes mid Wrigh! were next on the list. Mullan, the Buller. hair, was the home team’s best back, s’*Anderson, do...piie several specu-; lator kicks, played a good game at full-back, and zUexander also played a sound game. R. R. King making his, first appearance m a representative' team this season was the outstanding, forward, and he was best supported on the Coast side by R. Birchfield. T. Anderson, D. Neighbours and T | Coyne were the pick ol the Bulleri pack. The teams were:— . ; ! Buller.—S. Anderson: W. Neigh-1 hours, O. Smallholme, A. Cummings;, F. Neighbours, J. Alexander (capt.');l W. MuTian; W. Mumm, T. Coyne, A.| Moseley, T. Anderson, D. Neighbours,: J. Beveridge. S. Dickson, S. Kitchen. I ' Vvest Coast.—J. Lindbom; J. Hayes, W. McHugh, R. Wright; W. Amberger, M. Thomas; K. Horrack; J. Pegley,’ N< Bradley, N. Jones, G. Nelson, R. King, R- Bichfieid (capt.), R.I Weiblitz, W. Crouclis. Mr I. Ramsay (Wellington) was referee.

Buller attacked from the outset, and twice their backs made good runs only to fail before the solid tackling cl ‘.he challengers. Once Smallhblme moked likely to score after a back movement, but McHugn brought him down short of the corner. The Coast' fo: wards, led by King, took play to the Bulier 25 and several ell’orts to break through were held by soiid defensive work, until Smallhblme cleared well. King led trie Coast pack out of their own 25 back to the Buller quarter and from the ensuing scrummage McHugh made- a great effort to go over, only to be collected by Cummings just short *)i the Ime. Coast had had the better of the first spell, without scorWriel’t macle a good run lor Coast soon tSier me resumption, but Cummings saved weil. W. Neighbours took a timely mark when Coast dangerously near the line. McHugh made another great effort throwing ■jimseii tor the corner, but he was unshed into touch in goal before he 6ould ground the ball.. W. Neighoours was prominent again in repelling a Coast attack from his 25. Coast were having ail the better of me game, but tiie defence held. Bulier cleared their lines and got well into the Coast 25, but a penally ior a .izium infringement eiiabieu Coaili, to

clear, tmci lee?. were attacking strongly again in the last few miriutes. The game euaed without ciiiit-r •ide scoring.

[’HIRD GRADF

iii ’ihi* amiua.l iixlurt? between tae inning thiivi grade Rugby sides, Cot-

Lc (Greymoiiui) demaied Hokitika Discrici Hign Sciiool, at Hokitika, on Saturday, by 6 points to J. Tines were ..uoiecl by A. Fauth and A. Forrest.

WELLINGTON v. AUCKLAND

WELLINGTON, September 10

Producing a brand of football superior to any tiling seen at Athletic Park for some time, Auckland overwhelmed Wellington in the annual i-epresentstive Rugby match yesterday by 27 points to 9, scoring seven tries, three being converted, io three penalty goaH. Some of the visitors’ scoring movements, particularly in the second speli, ranged over threequarters of the field and were earned out with such unerring judgment and efficiency that the home side was toiuliy unable to cope with them.