RUGBY FOOTBALL Marlborough Pack Too Strong

Greymouth Evening Star, 29 July 1946, Page 8

RUGBY FOOTBALL Marlborough Pack Too Strong

Seddon Shield

Retained.

JFetf Coast's Fine Display at Blenheim [SPECIAL REPORTER] BLENHEIM, July 29. Giving their best all-round display of the season to date the West Coast Rugby Union representatives made a strong but unsuccessful bid for the Seddon Shield at Blenheim on Saturday, when they drew with the holders, Marlborough, eight points all, after a fast, hard, and at times exciting game. The result was a good indication of the run of the play, though the luck hardly favoured the challengers in some dangerous attacking movements. Marlborough held West Coast because of the superiority of its forwards, but the West Coast backs were the more enterprising, and scored two splendid tries. Between 3,000 and 4,000 people watched the match and there were many visitors from the West Coast. The ground was soft’after overnight rain.

The Marlborough forwards were slightly superior to their opponents but this was no reflection on the play of the challengers, who were right on their game. There were some torrid exhanges among ,the forwards at times. Marlborough had an advantage in, weight in the scrum, and inis began/ to tell in the closing stages, when the holders controlled the ball in the tight frequently, to keep it away from the lively Coast backs. In spite of the weight disadvantage Coast won a greater percentage of the ball from the set scrums—better than two to one in the first spell, and slightly less in the second. Marlborough won the ball more frequently from the line-outs and from rucks, while their forwards had more fire and life in the loose. The West Coast backs played excellent football in the first half, but the Marlborough loose forwards and the pace at which the game was played slowed them up somewhat in the second, spell. Throughout the game the West Coast backs looked more dangerous than their opponents’ rearguard. It was the best display by West Coast backs this season. The Marlborough backs did not impress on attack, but their defence, with one or two exceptions, was solid.

Dewar in Form

Dewar was the hero of the game as far as the challengers’ backs were concerned. He made the two tries that were scored by brilliantly exploiting openings, and was unlucky on another occasion when his heel was tipped just as he was getting clear with the rest of the back line in support. Horrack also played a fine game. His passing was good, except when he was unduly bustled by the opposing breakaways, and he defended stoutly against some tough forwards. - R. O’Callaghan, at second fiveeighth. played a good game, having a hand in the first try and scoring the second with a fine dive over opposing players. He did not get many .chances on attack, for his opposite, Fitzgerald, was a good tackler, and some of the defence was concentrated on him. This assisted to some extent in getting Dewar his chance. W Amberger did some good covering work, but did not reveal his usual brilliance on attack. His tackling was splendid. R. Roberts played an excellent game on the left wing, running strongly and tackling well. He made some fine runs in the second spell. J. Miller did not receive many chances, but made the most of them. J. Lindbom was not in his best form, probably the result of his enforced spell, and he did not relish the rolling ball in front of the Marlborough forwards. He made some excellent clearances, however, at times, and was unlucky to receive a severe blow which forced his retirement. A. Vaughan, who replaced him, did all his work well. There were few, if any, complaints about the West Coast forwards, all of whom played well. The scrum was the best packed by the province this season, and Fisher did his job splendidly in the middle of a fine front row. None of the forwards played really loose, all their weight going into the scrums and rucks, and they had plenty of life in a hard game. Birchfield, Butler, Thomson and Nelson were probably the most consistent of them, but all did their full share. It was just a case of being beaten by a better and heavier pack m the closing stages.

Marlborough’s Team B. Fitzgerald was outstanding in the Marlborough backs, and Ireland and Gill were next in order, the others being inferior to their West Coast opposites. Marlborough had a splendid pack, brilliant in the loose, fiery all the time hnd fast—very quick to seize on mistakes. Hegglun and Bennett were probably the best of them, but Haines and A. Gibb were little inferior, the last-named showing surprising speed in the open. The teams were as follow:— West Coast.—l. Lindbom; J. Miller, W. Amberger, R. Roberts; R. O Callaghan (captain), D. Dewar; K. Horrack; P. Kirby, K. Fisher, A. Thomson; G. Nelson, W. Butter, ,R. Birchfield (vice-captain) R. Wiebhtz, B. Constable. . „ Marlborough.—B. Gill; R. Croudis, G. Robinson, J. Alack; B. Fitzgerald, G. Burton; G. Ireland; A. E. Haines P. Keehan, T. Hegglun (captain); M. Gibb. F. Bennett, L. Simpson, B. Gibb; A. Gibb. The referee was Mr R. Pratt (WestP °West Coast scored their first try after 12 minutes’ play. Butter and Birchfield got the ball back to Horrack who sent Dewar away. The first five-eighth cut through brilliantly and .then passed to O’Callaghan, who drew the full-back and sent Miller over for a splendid try near the corner. O’Callaghan missed the kick from the side line. West Coast L, 8, Marlborough nil. Eight minutes later Dewar, receiving the ball from Horrack just outside the Marlborough 25, cut through brilliantly again, raced through to tne fur-back and then passed to O Callaghan, who dived cleverly over

the heads of a couple of defenders to scqre in a handy' position. Lindbom made no mistake with the kick. West Coast 8, Maryborough nil. A few minutes later the Marlborough forwards surged through into the Coast 25, and Haines charged down a clearing kick by Lindbom right under the posts. A ruck developed and a quick heel by Marlborough saw Ireland and Fitzgerald over for a good try almost unopposed and in a good position. Croudis goaled. West Coast 8, Marlborough 5, after 24 minutes play. Twice Unlucky There was no further score in the first spell, but twice West Coast appeared to be a little unlucky, particularly so, when Roberts and then Amberger dived for the ball near the corner over the line after an accurately placed short punt by O’Callaghan.’ Half-time was called with Marlborough'on the Coast line: West Coast 8, Marlborough 5. Marlborough attacked hotly on the resumption and from a neat piece of work in a line-out near the goakline Haines dashed away to score a fine try in a handy position. Croudis missed the kick. Marlborough 8, West

coast «. ... There were some exbiting exchanges as the game progressed, with Coast having none of the luck, m several dangerous attacks. Marlborough, too, went close to scoring several times. After 25 minutes of play Lindbom retired injured, having received 3 severe blow on the foce. He was replaced by A. Vaughan. With five minutes to go Keehan (Marlborough) retired injured and was replaced by J. Finlay. With only a minute left for play Wiebhtz retired hurt and was replaced by L. Skerton. Marlborough had the better of the last’quarter of an hour, but failed to penetrate the Coast defence. Time was called with play in the Coast 25, and the score: . Marlborough • • • • ° West Coast ' .. ... S