RUGBY FOOTBALL HOKITIKA-SCORES CONVINCING WIN IN R.S.A. MATCH

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 October 1947, Page 8

RUGBY FOOTBALL HOKITIKA-SCORES CONVINCING WIN IN R.S.A. MATCH

Hokitika gained a decisive victory over Greymouth in the R.S.A. return Rugby match, at Rugby Park on Saturday. Playing under ideal conditions, Hokitika were leading by 11 points to 3 at half-time. During the second spell both teams endeavoured to liven up what had 'been a dull game, and* there were some bright moments. Hokitika still dominated play, and the final whistle went with the score at 24 points to 14. Solid rucking saw'Hokitika open the scoring when Neilson forced his way over. The kick failed. Greymouth were again in difficulties when a forward rush, led by J. Leslie and T. Haddock, advanced dangerously, and after some resistance by Grey, Neilson again secured, and in a great dash for the line scored a well-earned try. Adamson converted. The Greymouth forwards, led by Lee, Glen, and Oxley, carried play well inside the Hokitika z 5, where Oxley secured, and fending off several opponents, dashed across to score Greymouth’s first try. The kick failed.

Stoop opened Hokitika’s next scoring move, when he made a 40yds run for the line, tout lost the ball when he was tackled. Howard, who had followed up well, intercepted a pass from one of the Greymouth players and cut across between the goal posts to score', ) The kick at goal failed. Half-time came with the score at 11 to 3 in Hokitika’s favour.

Play livened at times during the second half. Hurren made one of the oest solo movements of the day when ne. cut through the Greymouth defence before passing to Eastgate, who crossed to take a try. Neilson converted. Hurren', securing the ball, appeared in dangerous combination with P. Eastgate, and in the only highlight of ine game, cut the defence to pieces. In the Greymouth 25 Hurren flicked a short pass to Eastgate, who scored and converted nis own try. From a position deep inside Hokitika territory, A. Howell gathered up the ball and, beating several players, crossed the line near the corner flag. In a blind-side movement, J. Robertson cut through to take a wellearned try. Panther converted from a difficult angle. Greymouth’s next chance came when Hokitika * was penalised in its 25, Panther placing the kick between the uprights. Open play now swept back and forward across the field, and just on time Stoop secured the ball and scored a oriinant try. The game, ended with Hokitika winning by 24 points to 14. AUSTRALIANS BEAT

SOJJTH OF SCOTLAND LONDON, Octf 11. In a Rugby Union match, the touring Australian team beat South of Scotland by 15 points to 6. The score at half-time w’as< 3-all. Ten thousand, people attended the match at Melrose. - . j . The home team attacked strongly in the first 10 . minutes, and the-Aus-tralians had to touch down twice in as many minutes. Allen, after each side had missed with penalties, scored with a penalty shot. McDonald then scored a' penalty for Scotland to level the scores. .

South of Scotland put up a great fight until the last .20 minutes, when the team appeared to tire. The Australians did not impress as a great side. They scrummaged well, and got any amount of the ball, but the handling of the backs and forwards was very uncertain. Allen and Howell were always potential scorers, but the South of Scotland defence was so strong that the Australians crossed the line only in the last few minutes.

In the second half, Allen kicked a penalty goal, scored a try and converted it, and Howell drop-kicked a goal for Australia. McDonald kicked a penalty goal for South of Scotland. FRENCH TEAM TO TOUR N.Z. NEXT YEAR PARIS, Oct. 10. The French Rugby Federation has announced that it has' received an invitation for a French team to' visit Australia and New Zealand in 1948.

The federation will pick 30 players after the finals of the .French Cup, and the team is expected to leave in the latter part of May.

“We shall be delighted to have them, particularly if they come early in the season,” said the chairman of the New Zealand Rugby Football Union (Mr S. S. Dean), commenting in Wellington on the cablegram. Mi- Dean said the* cablegram appeared to leave little doubt that the French team would, come. He added that trials for the selection of the New Zealand team for South Africa were scheduled to be held towards the end of next season.