Australia’s Better Display

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 September 1946, Page 8

Australia’s Better Display

Narrow Victory over Wellington (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 21. Better co-ordination in the forwards and an improved understanding throughout were most noticeable features of the form of the Australian team in beating Wellington by 16 points to 15, at Athletic Park on Saturday. \The quality of the game on the whole was marred by a heavy wind, with driving, misty rgm for the second spell. A crowd of approximately 25,000 saw the game. Australia packed better in the scrums and the forwards were tighter in the line-outs. For the first time this season the Wellington men found themselves well beaten for possession, although neither side showed absolute finish. Australian Hooking. Cooke being-back in the Australian side made a considerable difference in the work of the pack, especially in the line-outs. The other outstanding Australian forwards were McLean, Windon and Hardcastle. Dawson’s hooking played an important part in the win, although the public often expressed disapproval at the way the ball came from the scrum. The Australian backs did not combine with the same precision as in the earlier games but, nevertheless, were frequently forceful on attack. Mcßride was at his best, and he and Allan were among the best backs on the field. Again, the Wellington forwards were responsible for the major share in their team’s performance. Beard, in line with his consistent form in representative fixtures this season, proved that he had few equals, if any, in either pack and was magnificent in all departments. Lack of Finish. Although they combined well' to score one very good try when Wickham went over from a blind-side movement begun by Paewai, the Wellington backs showed a lack of finish at crucial moments. More than once they were splendidly placed to score, but passes went astray. Of the two full-backs, Piper was keen in anticipation and fast to follow up, and his kicking, in spite of the highly difficult wind, was scarcely ever at fault. Wishnosky, Wellington, was safe in handling and ready to join in with the backs in their thrusts, but did not meet the conditions as well as Piper. Tries were scored for Australia by Windon (2) and Eastes. Piper converted two and also kicked a goal from a penalty. For Wellington, Beard and Wickham scored tries and Beard kicked three goals from penalties.

: Southland Beats Otago , (P.A.) DUNEDIN, Sept. 22. s In a thrilling game of Rugby, I Southland beat Otago on Saturday by , 20 points to 11. Otago had 11 points 5 to Southland’s 3 at half-time, but f Southland completely dominated the , second spell by fine forward play. The Otago defence wilted badly, and Southland piled on 17 points in a series of irresistible assaults on the Otago line. i Brilliant Display by | Maoris • (P.A.) PALMERSTON N., Sept. 22. ’ The New Zealand Maori team, in a i brilliant exposition of Rugby foott ball, beat Manawatu by 14 points to i 11. The. team was slow in settling ■ down and developing combination, but in the second half their backs, ■ in a series of rapier-like thrusts, cut • the opposition to ribbons. The in--1 side backs, J. Gardiner (Bay of ■.Plenty) and I. Proctor (Auckland), i had matters much then’ own way, - and featured in thrilling, swerving ■ runs which dazzled their opponents. Proposed Tour by the ; All Blacks (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 22. An All Black team will probably make a short tour of Australia next season. Announcing this at a complimentary dinner to the Australian players on Saturday night, the chairman of the New Zealand Rugby Union, Mr. S. S. Dean, said as a result of representations made by Mr. W. Cerutti and Mr. A. Tancred, at present in New Zealand, on behalf of the New South Wales Rugby Union, a recommendation to this effect would be made to the New Zealand Council. Seven-a-Side Tourney at Greymouth Not a great deal of interest was taken in the seven-a-side tournament for all grades conducted by the West Coast Rugby Union at Rugby Park, Greymouth, on Saturday. Nearly all the Greymouth senior teams could muster only a few . players and Cobden and United were unable to field sides at all. A number of players from these clubs, however, helped to build up the other teams. Two Hokitika teams, St. Mary’s and Excelior, won all their matches and will play the final at Hokitika. On Saturday, Excelsior appeared to be the stronger side by far. The team’s star was E. G. Walker, former • Southland centre three-quarter, who in two matches scored three tries and paved the way for another four. Blaketown A, the junior champion team, maintained its good form and won the junior division. . Technical School A played good football throughout the third grade section and won the final Cobden A after extra time had been played. Celtic A scored a narrow win in the fourth grade series. The results of the matches are as follow:— ; ■ Senior.—First round: Excelsior beat Star 14-5; St. Mary’s beat Celtic 8-3; Blaketown beat United by default. Second round: St. Mary’s beat Blake- ' town 3-0. In an unofficial match Ex- 1 celsior defeated Blaketown by 14 I points to 3. I Junior.—First round: Cobden A beat Blaketown B by default. Second : round: Cobden A beat Star 14-0; i Blaketown A beat Marist (Christ- 1 church) by default, Third round.—• i

Blaketown A beat CobdenA 6-3. Final: Blaketown A beat Cobden B 10-4. Third Grade.—First round: Technical C beat Cobden B 8-6. Second round: Technical C beat Marist (Christchurch) by default.; Technical A beat Blaketown A 11-0; Cobden A beat Blaketown B by default; Technical B beat Celtic 6-5. Third round: Technical A beat Technical C 18-6; Cobden A beat Technical B 6-5. Final: Technical A beat Cobden A 6-3. Fourth Grade.—First round: Celtic A beat Cobden B 14-0; Celtic B beat Technical A 3-0;- Cobden A beat Technical. C 21-0; Star beat Technical B 3-0. Second round: Celtic A beat Celtic B 14-0; Cobden A beat Star 8-0. Final: Celtic A beat Cobden A 3-0. j The Greymouth Railway team de- j feated Te Kinga yesterday i n a match played at Cobden. A £ry by R. Thompson gave Railway its'threenil victory.