RUGBY FOOTBALL Lively Forwards And Smart Backs Enable Westland To Beat Grey

Greymouth Evening Star, 1 September 1947, Page 8

RUGBY FOOTBALL Lively Forwards And Smart Backs Enable Westland To Beat Grey

Flashes of first class football by the backs of both teams, the improved display of the Westland forwards, and poor kicking for goal by Greymouth were the outstanding features of the Dittman Shield match between Westland (holder) and Greymouth (challenger) ,at Cass Square, Hokitika on Saturday. Westland won deservedly by 12 points to 6, though Greymouth might have won comfortably if all the chances to kick goals from penalties had been taken. ' ■ ' There was a good attendance, with a “gate” of over £5O, ? and the football was interesting throughout with some bright back play, mainly by the inside, backs. The Greymouth, team was somewhat disappointing, lacking cohesion; and life, and failing to make the most of the chances it received. The ground was greasy and heavy in places and the ball was not easy to '■ handle. *

The Westland forwards started off with great vigour and they retained it to the end. It was this superior life and energy which enabled the Westland pack to get in among the Greymouth inside backs and to beat their opponents in the loose. In addition the Westland forwards played a generally tighter game than earlier in the season and through this they won a good share of the ball though in the set scrums Greymouth probably had an advantage. The backs were lively but play was mostly confined to the; inside men. In fact, ’ seldom, if ever, in the first spell did the wingers receive the ball in chain passing. Westland had a decided advantage territorially in the first spell and deserved to be more than its nine points ahead at the interval. ' Later, however, the Greymouth backs made more of their chances and the forwards improved so that Greymouth had a territorial advantage in the second spell. J. Lindbom and R. Stoop had a keen duel with the 'honours slightly in favour of Lindbom for his general play. Stoop, however, played an excellent game, particularly .in the second spell. Lindbom had a bad day with his place-kicking, only one of many shots going over the bar, and he missed at least four that would on any other day have been presentations to him.

The wingers did not get many chances in the open, and W. Amberger was the best three-quarters. His defence was excellent, he backed up well and kept the Grey backs on the move with his fast following up. P. Hurren, a former representative half-bapk-and five-eighth, did everything thqt was asked of him in good style on the left 'wing for Westland, and J; Benyon, on the Grey left wing also did well with limited chances. Mixed Display G. Walker again gave a mixed display. He ran strongly and wai? always dangerous on attack. He scored one try and made a grand effort to get another. In the first spell his defence was sound but in the second his opposite J. Gillan beat him easily twice, once to make a try. The second time the Grey backs just failed to make the most of the opening. Gillan was the better of the Grey five-eighths, in spite of one or two handling lapses early. He tackled well and was dangerous on attack. M. Thomas, handicapped by a rather too deliberate service from the scrum, appeared to kick too much, especially in the first spell. Except for. one instance his tackling was good and he made one grand opening which just failed to produce a try. A. Kitchen, playing at first five-eighth for Westland made a good impression. He ran straight, and fast and cut. through brilliantly on one occasion. His handling was not always sure.

H. Tainui was the better of the half-backs, sending- out long, quick and accurate passes. Robertson, playing his first big game, was worried by .the Westland breakaways, and his passing, while accurate, was on the slow side.

The two Eastgates were outstanding in the Westland forwards, and they received good support from O’Dell and R. Weiblitz. M. Wells was prominent but spoiled his game by too much offside play. A. Panther, R. Birchfield and M. Lambert were the best Greymouth forwards with Fisher always prominent. G. Nelson and R. Thompson were prominent in the open. The teams were as follows:— Greymouth!—J. Lindbom; L. Silcock, R. Oslen, J. Benyon; J. Gillan, M. Thomas; J. Robertson; A. Panther, K. Fisher, K. Tomlinson; R. Tinnelly, R. Birchfield, M. Lambert, G. Nelson; R. Thompson. Westland!— R. Stoop; M. Stoop, ,W. Amberger, P. Hurren; E. G. Walker, A. Kitchen;' H. Tainui; P. Eastgate, J. Walsh, R. Eastgate; R. Wieblitz, S. O’Dell, R. Godfrey, Ron. Wieblitz; M: Wells. | The referee was Mr W. J. Brown. : The Scoring I Westland opened the scoring when! P. Eastgate kicked a good goal from a penalty just outside the 25 and near the centre of the field. With 10 minutes to go to the end of the spell Walker kicked through near the Coast' 25 when a back movement broke ■ down and kicked past Lindbom. The; ball bounced perfectly into Walker’s, arms and he scored a good try in a' good position. P. Eastgate missed, a fairly easy kick. Offside play by) Tinnelly gave P. Eastgate another chance a few minutes later and he goaled with a splendid kick. Half- • time score:—Westland 9, Greymouth nil. '

' Kitchen cut through brilliantly after 15 minutes of play and sent on to Walker who drew Lindbom’s tackle and sent Amberger racing over near thek corner for a splendid try. P. Eastgate * missed the kick. Westland 12, Greymouth nil.

Five minutes later Gillan cut in beautifully past Walker and as he was tackled close to the line he passed out to Thomas who crossed between the posts for a splendid try. Thomas missed an easy kick. Westland 12, Greymouth 3. Lindbom kicked his first and only goal for the day when Tainui was penalised for not putting the ball in the scrum fairly. It was an easy kick. There, was no further score. Final score:—Westland 12, Greymouth 6.

GREYMOUTH COLTS TOO FAST FOR THE WESTLAND TEAM

The Greymouth Colts carried too many guns for the Westland Colts in their match on the No. 2 .ground at Cass Square/and won by 26 points to three. Greymouth won a feast of the ball from set scrums and lineouts and their backs had. too much pace and ability for their opponents. There was some fine football by the Greymouth backs with some brilliant tries.

B. Hayton was again at the top of his form and scored two splendid tries. E. McLeod, L. McDougall and F. Roberts also played fine games and McDougall and McLeod, exploiting a reverse pass, engineered the best try of the match. Westland could not match the Greymouth backs for speed and their tackling was not good. The outstanding forwards were G. Oxley, B. Mettrick (hooker) and D. Wilson.

Tries for the Greymouth Colts were scored -.by Oxley (2), Hayton (2), McDougall,, and McLeod. McDougall converted four. For Westland E. Andrews kicked a goal from a penally. Mr A. Hay was the referee. West Coast Beats Buller Third Grade Fifteen

The West Coast third grade representatives defeated Buller at Westport on Saturday by 8 points to 6. The ground was heavy and play was confined to a great extent to the forwards. West Coast had a decided territorial advantage and was unlucky not to win by a bigger margin. N. Curtis scored the try for West Coast. T. Burley converted the try and also kicked a goal from a penalty. Results in the lower grade matches played at Greymouth and Hokitika were as follows:—

Junior.—Excelsior 12, Technical Old Boys 3; Blaketown 8, St Mary’s 6. Fourth grade.—Blaketown and Celtic both won by default. All fifth, sixth and seventh grade matches were postponed. Playing at Hokitika Marist (Christchurch) third graders defeated St Mary’s by 36 points to 3.

West Coast Fifteen To Play Canterbury Sub-Unions’ Team

Messrs R. R. King and M. Davidson have chosen the following. Wesl Coast team to play Canterbury SubUnions at Greymouth on Saturday:— Full-back.—J. Lindbom. Three-quarters.—L. Silcock, E. G Walker, W. Amberger. Five-eighths.—J. Gillan, A. Kitchen; Half-back.—H. Tainui.

Forwards.—P. Eastgate, K. Fisher. R. Eastgate; G. Nelson, R. Birchfield. S. O’Dell, A. Panther; R. Thompson. Emergencies.—Backs, P. Hurren, M. Thomas; forwards, P. Kirby, M Lambert.

BULLER DECISIVELY BEATS NELSON IN SEDDON SHIELD GAME Buller .successfully resisted Nelson’s challenge for the Seddon Shield at Westport on Saturday, on a rainsodden ground, winning by 8 points to 0. The visiting side looked dangerous on only two occasions, once in the first spell, when H. Kerr, the Buller full-back, was called on to make a brilliant save, and in the second half when the forwards, led by R. Connolly and G. Max, appeared to gain the mastery for a short period. Only superb cover defence at that stage by O. Smallholme, W. Dickson, and J. Blair kept Buller’s line intact.

A feature of the game was the splendid handing of the heavy ball by the Buller backs who, although receiving little advantage from the set scrums, were much superior to the opposition. At half-time Buller was leading by 5 points to 0, • the wing three-quarters, R. Hawes, scor-. ing after the first five-eighths, W. Dickson, had neatly cross-kicked. A. Neighbours converted.

In the second 'half, J. Blair, the Buller centre three-quarters, made a brilliant cut-through, and Neighbours followed up his kick to score. Besides the players mentioned, J. Bryant, a reliable full-back, J. Morton, first five-eighths, E. Mabin and B. Bethwaite, both forwards, were prominent for Nelson, and A. Luff, a brilliant half-back, W.'-Mumm and C. McHerron, two good forwards, were the best of the Buller team.

i Taranaki Defeats | Waikato At Hamilton ( (P.A.) HAMILTON, Aug., 31. j Taranaki gained its first representative Rugby 'victory of the season when it beat Waikato by 13 points to 6, at Rugby Park on Saturday. The Taranaki forwards had great mobility in the loose and were superior in the line-outs. The visiting backs were slightly superior to the Waikato rearguard in speed, and were dangerous at times, but their opportunities were limited. who showed great speed

on the Taranaki- right wing, scored two tries? Cameron converted both tries snd kicked a penalty goal. For Waikato, Btuhskill kicked ", a-' penally Barton scored a try.’ • Otago Touring Team Beats Hawke’s Bay (P.A.) NAPIER, Aug. 30.' In the fastest, and most exciting representative Rugby match seen in Hawke’s ’Bay this season, Otago beat Hawke’s Bay by 14- points to 9 at McLean Park, Napier 1 , today.A crowd of -between 4000 and 5000 saw the match. . ■ Hawke’s Bay led at half-time by 6 points to 3, the result of two penalties by Chapman: • Botting scored for Otago. . : ' ; Hay/ke’s Bay tired in the later stages'of the second spell, and -the Otago backs had no difficulty in keeping play in the Hawke’s Bay territory. Brownlie scored in the corner from a blind side move, but Moore kicked, a penalty from well out and Botting soon evened the score with a grand try, which Murdoch converted. Murdoch also kicked a penalty goal.

South Canterbury

Retains Hanan Shield

The second challenge of the season for. the Hanan Chield.was withstood by . South Canterbury at Timaru on Saturday, when it beat Ashburton by 19 points to 6 in a hard-fought, bright game. The Ashburton forwards held their own in the first half; while both sets of backs attacked strongly, but South Canterbury had the better of the second half.. M. Goddard scored a magnificent try to provide the high-light-of the match. This was. at the beginning of the second half after he had received the ball in his own twenty-five. Auckland Unlucky To Lose To Wellington

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, Aug. 31. A crowd of 15,000 at Athletic Park on Saturday saw Auckland give Wellington a Rugby lesson both back and forward, yet lose by 24 points to 18 because of the accurate goal-kick-ing of Wishnowsky and Dougan. • The Auckland pack, evidently benefiting from the southern tour, played more impressively than any set of Auckland forwards for some time, being superior in the line-outs and scrums. The backs were also much more effective than Wellington’s, scoring four tries to two. However, they were inclined to overdo the extra man up and reverse passing in rushes. One pass which went astray gave Wellington a gift try. Penalties were practically even, but Wishnowsky was back to his accurate goal-kicking form of last season, kicking four penalty goals, including one from half-way. Dougan potted a great field goal, his eighth this season, six being in club games and two in representative fixtures. On the other hand, O’Callaghan (Auckland), while converting three tries, missed at least two easy penalty goals. This did not complete Auckland’s missed chances-. Ewart had' a snap shot pot ar. goal,, the ball hitting an uprighr and bouncing in-field. On the run of the play, Auckland was decidedly unlucky to lose. R. Smith (centre three-quarter) scored Wellington’s two tries. Wishnowsky converted one and kicked four penalty goals, and J. Dougan kicked a field goal. Boggs (2), Deas, and Crowley scored for Auckland, O’Callaghan converting three tries. Canterbury Sub-Union Team’s Tour

(P.A.) NELSON, This Day. The Canterbury Sub-union touring team drew with Golden. BayMotueka, 8-all.