LOST AT DUNEDIN BY* THREE POINTS West 'Coast Beaten After Dominating Match

Greymouth Evening Star, 22 August 1949, Page 8

LOST AT DUNEDIN BY* THREE POINTS West 'Coast Beaten After Dominating Match

[SPECIAL REPORTER) DUNEDIN, This Day.—Though West Coast lost the second of its three games on the southern tour to Otago Sub-Unions at C.arisbrook on Saturday, it has probably never This season been more superior to the opposing side?- The forwards produced some of their best play for years, winning a big share of the ball, and, though the backs often crashed through the defence, the team was unable to score.

Besides good tackling by Otago, mishandling cost the Boast winning, chances, while Lindbom had a further day off as far as goalkicking is concerned and missed two relatively-easy shots. There was an attendance of about 3000 for the match,.which Otago won by six points to three (a penalty goal and a try to a penalty goal). With the members of both sides strangers to the spectators, there was little/-en-thusiasm.

, High Standard Football Without being brilliant the game produced some hard football of a high standard with rushes covering almost the full length of the field. The loss of Walker and Fraser was keenly felt in this match. The speed and passing of Tainui could not be emulated by Richardson, who nevertheless gave a' game display. The Coast backs played well but only sporadically. The forwards, opposed by five six-footers, rose to the occasion and gave the best exhibition of forward play by, a Coast pack.this year at least. They monopolised the scrums and more than broke even in the rucks—formerly a weak feature of the play—and the line-outs, but y even the forwards spoiled their display by poor handling. Tries went begging after forward and back rushes had left the line exposed, passes being dropped, sent low or forward or knocked on. Lindbom, who at least had an equal in ,W; Wilson in field, work, failed with’ two penalties which might have decided the. game. After goaling from the- sideline against the wind, he missed two easy shots with the wind

| near the posts and then just missed l with a shot from half-way. His linei kicking was irreproachable. | Gillan has made a fine reputation I for himself in Otago as a three-quar-ter. Playing at centre, he could not be stopped inside 20 yards in the first half, repeatedly making big stretches of ground in exciting bursts. Well-marked in the second half, he unfortunately still elected to make a bid on his own and the wingers and i the team suffered as a result.

The first passing rush almost brought a try. Stoop swerved inside

his opponent and passed infield to Hunter,'who was caught short of the line. Then Gillan and Stoop combined, and Gillan broke through. An Otago man refused to rise from the ball when Coast attacked hotly and Lindbom turned this to account with a fine goal from the sideline, 35 yards out. .

Wilson, who had missed an easier shot earlier, then equalled with a good kick when a penalty was awarded for shepherding- The score at half-time was 3-all. . ’. .

The speedy winger J. Falloon

threatened danger when Stoop missed him, but Lindbom grassed him. Otago kept attacking and Gillan, in attempting to clear, gave a- grubber kick which left the way open for an easy try by a forward, D. /'Kemp,;' who dribbled the ball over the exposed Coast line. ' ' Referee, knocked Over

Coast did everything but score in the next half-hour. G. Nelson did race over, but the referee was; knocked over and did not see the 1 movement. He called for a scrum... Lindbom came up into back rushes, the forwards dribbled through and.staged short passing rushes, but repeatedly the final stage found a weakness or costly mistake and. the game ended with the score 6-3 in favour of Otago sub-unions.