RUGBY LEAGUE ENGLAND DEFEATED

Greymouth Evening Star, 30 July 1946, Page 4

RUGBY LEAGUE ENGLAND DEFEATED

West Coast Team Makes ; . History A CONVINCING VICTORY

Football history was made at Greymouth yesterday when, for the first time, a West Coast Rugby League team defeated an English touring team. Ground conditions for the match were bad, with sheets of water covering the playing field at Victoria Park but a crowd of over 4,000 saw West Coast, as the result of magnificent forward play, score a decisive victory, by 17 points to eight, over’a much heavier side. England’s big forwards literally “bogged down” in the mud and were out-played by the lighter but more vigorous West Coasters. The English backs, similarly, failed to adapt themselves to the conditions and were unable to break through the solid defence.

Water lay in patches *on top of the ground at Victoria Park and many of the spectators were compelled to stand in it almost to boot tops. The showers became less frequent during the afternoon and there was little rain during play. Despite these conditions, the crowd was the largest ever seen at a Rugby League match in Greymouth. England chose one of its strongest sides, ten of the players having taken part in the tests in Australia, but on the day appeared to. commit a tactical error in fielding its heaviest men, who were unable, under the conditions, to execute their famous quick turns. West Coast conceded probably a stone per man in weight and the average over the packs would probably be slightly more, but this did not prove the disadvantage expected. Played as Team. Playing as a team and hunting always as a pack, the West Coast forwards gave the Englishmen no respite, breaking up their attacks with deadly tackling and profiting by their mistakes by being constantly on the ball. The weight difference in the scrum told, but in the loose the West Coast forwards more than held their own and in the tight they frequently broke through by combined efforts. Surprisingly, after their herculean efforts, the West Coast pack did not tire, as many expected, and over the final quarter they were still contesting every inch of the ground. Every man in the West Coast forwards did his job well and all'played splendid wet-day football. For this reason it would be unfair to individualise but mention must be made of the fine loose forward display given by K. Mountford, who had no superior on the field. C. McBride and J. Newton were trojans in the tight, Mcßride’s covering up being most effective.

Nuttall Kicks Well.

Playing to a pre-conceived plan, to give the visitors no opportunity to profit by handling mistakes due to the sodden ball, the West Coast outside backs had few opportunities, with the exception of R. Nuttall, who was a tower of strength at full-back. He was caught out of position on a few occasions, but covered up well and his line kicking was a feature of the match. He repeatedly sent the Englishmen back 40, 50 and even 70 yards with perfectly directed kicks and this was a big factor in West Coast holding a territorial advantage. On the day, he outshone his opposite, J. Jones. With K, Mountford frequently coming in as an extra back, the West Coast inside backs concentrated on smothering tactics and the’ fact that England scored only two tries is sufficient indication of their success. M. Ord gave an excellent exhibition behind the scrum in all departments and he turned the tables on T. McCue, a famous exponent of the blindside surprise, with a fine try. J. McNaughton, first five-eighth, -took risks with the offside rule to stand up close to the English halves and he covered them well. On attack he was equally sound. J. Curnow was one of the most impressive backs on attack, compensating for his lack of weight by his trickiness and the visitors soon found that they could allow him no latitude. His defensive play was also sound. The West Coast three-quarters had no opportunities on attack, few attempts being made to pass the ball beyond the five-eighths. Their defence, however, was fairly sound and Teen, by good following up, was rewarded with a try at a critical stage in the game.

England’s Many Mistakes. The bustling tactics of the home team, the state of the ground and

some of the referee’s rulings combined to “rattle” the Englishmen

and they were forced into many mistakes—more than might have been expected from an international side with such an impressive record. They were frequently penalised for scrum and play the ball infringements. In fact, there were a large number of penalties against both teams, this being one of the few regrettable features of the match. The English forwards did not play as well as a pack as did the West Coast and this was their downfall in this department. Phillips, Foster and Owens were the most effective. The English backs, despite the waterlogged ground, were very fast but were unable to adapt themselves to the conditions. Their passing lacked accuracy and their line kicking generally was not up to the standard of the West Coast. However, they showed that, on a dry ground, their speed and backing-up would have caused West Coast many headaches. McCue as scrum half was quick to get the ball away but earned many penalties. Ward was the most impressive of the threequarters and made some good openings. Risman did not appear to be at home under the conditions and hesitated at times, allowing the fastfollowing West Coasters to leave him and the other three-quarters short of room. Jones, likewise, -was troubled by the fast following up and his kicking lacked the length and direction of Nuttall’s. The teams were as follow:—

mistake with the kick. With seven I minutes to play, England staged a strong attack, but the defence held and the game ended with the scores: West Coast 17, England 8. Mr. J. Mathews was referee.

W. Mountford, L. Beban; J. Curnow, J. McNaughton (captain); M. Ord; P. Coll, R. Aynsley, J. Newton; C. Mcßride, J. Mundy; K. Mountford. Coast’s Early Lead. The opening try went to West Coast, in a spectacular manner. Nuttall gathered in a rolling ball and his well-placed kick had Jones in trouble. K. Mountford came through fast, dribbled past the full-back and reached the open, with Teem in support. There was a great race for the ball and Teen succeeded in diving on it in a handy position. McNaughton converted. West Coast 5, England nil. West Coast had a lucky escape when Newton was penalised for offside well out and Risman’s kick hit the upright and bounced out. Nuttall placed West Coast on attack with a good line kick and from a fiveyard scrum Ord worked the blind side neatly to go over for a solo try in the corner. Nuttall missed the kick, leaving West Coast eight points up after 18 minutes play. Coast was penalised for a play the ball infringement on the 25, in midfield, and Ward opened England’s account with a penalty goal. Following a period of even play, England showed how dangerous their backs could be, McCue securing from a scrum 10 yards out to send a long pass out 4o

■ Risman, who broke through to touch down near the posts. Ward missed an easy kick at goal. Half-time was called four minutes later, with the scores: — West Coast 8, England 5. At the request of the English captain, the teams changed round without the customary interval. First points were again secured by Coast, England being penalised for a scrum infringement right in front of their own goal. McNaughton made no mistake with the kick, bringing the score to: West Coast 10, England 5, after 12 minutes play. A 50-yard line kick by Nuttall put Coast in an attacking position and the forwards swept through in great style, K. Mountford, Coll and Mcßride surging over the line in the corner, for the first-named to be awarded a try. Nuttall converted with a splendid kick, making the score, after 17 minutes play in the second half, West Coast 15, England 5. Following hard forward play on the Coast line, from a ruck McCue shot the .balls out to Owens, who dived over well out. Risman failed to convert. With a little over 15 minutes to play, West Coast still led by seven points. In the concluding stages the West Coast, forwards continued to press and Owens was penalised for an illegal fend, on his own 25, in front of the posts. McNaughton made no

England— J. Jones; E. Batten, A. J. Risman (captain); E. H. Ward, A.I Bassett; W. Horne, • T. McCue; F. Whitcombe, J. Egan, F. Hughes; D. Phillips, T. Foster; I. Owens. West Coast.—R. Nuttall; M. Teen,