RUGBY LEAGUE Australians Score A Comfortable Victory Over The West Coast

Greymouth Evening Star, 22 September 1949, Page 8

RUGBY LEAGUE Australians Score A Comfortable Victory Over The West Coast

Fast, tricky backs, who threw the ball about with abandon and seldom kicked, even under pressure, proved too much for the West Coast team in yesterday’s Rugby League match at Victoria Park, and Australia won the first game it has ever played at Greymouth by 39 points to 14. i Territorially the West Coast team did better than the scores would indicate, and it was only in the last 15 minutes that the Australians were really on top. At all times, however, the visiting backs cut big holes in the defence from all positions on the field, and the result was never really in doubt.

Played before a .record mid-week crowd, estimated at about 5000, the game had none of the thrills usually associated with international matches. West Coast scored first, but Australia soon overcame the deficit and remained more or less in control of the game, which was open and clean. Conditions were ideal for football, with brilliant, sunshine, only a light breeze and a hard ground. No fault could be found with the display of the Australians, apart perhaps from some of the scrummaging, which was generally below international standard, but the West Coast team disappointed somewhat —not because of the result but because some members of the team appeared to be completely overawed by the occasion and played below their true from. Good Exhibition The Australians, however, played good Rugby League. Their forwards were used merely as cogs in a welloiled machine to get possession for the backs, except when, in turn, the backs returned the ball to the forwards for passing movements. Apart • from the full-back, the Australian players did not kick more than half | a dozen times in the course of the whole game, and then only when under serious pressure. Australia won the scrums, 22-19, but its possession advantage was much greater than these figures would indicate, as the hooking back from the play-the-balls was much more efficient than that of the home team and many successful Australian back movements began in that way, or merely from loose balls picked up and swept back cleanly. In backing-up, also, the visitors had a big advantage over the home team and it seemed that there was always a man available to take a pass, irrespective of sudden changes in the direction of the atof the Australian attack was a brilliant five-eighths, or standoff half, W. O’Connell. “Slippery as ah eel” adequately describes his play and he initiated many of the passing rushes which the West Coast players found devastating. Both Menzies and Pascoe, found him impossible to cope with and although Pascoe is usually an excellent defensive player, O’Connell beat him frequently, with swerves and sudden changes of pace. The centre, M. P. McCoy, also showed penetration, with tricky changes of pace and direction, and he also was responsible for -gaining big slices of territory. R. A. Roberts, a rangy type of winger, with plenty of pace also made many fine runs and these three players were probably the best of a backline which was most impressive as a whole. V. Bulgin at fullback was always sound and frequently ran up to his backs to start attacks. The Australian forwards were too speedy for the West Coast in the loose but the home forwards held their own in the tight and generally defended extremely well. N. G. Mulligan, a second row forward, impressed with determined running with the ball, but his partner, R. Rayner got through a great deal of useful work, as did the breakaway, L. Cowie. The West Coast team completely lacked the “snap” and precision of the visitors and only rarely was it impressive on attack, due to mishandling and poorly-directed passes. These were fatal, with the fast-mov-ing Australians always on hand to pounce on a loose ball.

Menzies Impressive Star of the West Coast backs was again the young five-eighths, G. Menzies, whose speed off the mark and appreciation of an opening matched that of the visitors. The Australians soon awoke to his capabilities, however, and in the second half he was given little scope. With the exception of Menzies, and also V. Meates and J. Curragh, who tackled well at times, the West Coast backs disappointed and some of the tackling was weak. J. Soster, at fullback, was not at his best and was frequently caught out of position, while at times he waited for the bounce of a tricky ball, and was in trouble. G. H. Ord, at half-back, made a few unexpected errors in his passing from the scrum but was otherwise sound. Outstanding among the Coast forwards once again was C. Mcßride, whose tackling, backing-up and general play were an example. ■ The other West Coast Kiwis, R. Aynsley and J. Newton were his strongest supports and Newton occasionally showed surprising bursts of speed. The other three forwards were below the standard set by these more experienced players. Due to the handling mistakes, and the play, of the Australians, who moved up very fast when on defence, the Coast wingers had few chances on attack. Meates made several good runs but Curragh only once managed to get the ball cleanly when he had any room in which to work. For the last 15 minutes of the game, West Coast was a man short. Pascoe was injured and retired and by the time he had received attention and returned, Meates had received a bump and had to leave the field. This did not influence the result, however, as Australia had a 12-point lead when Pascoe retired, but it no doubt, assisted to make the final margin bigger. The only incidents out of the ordinary run of play, were when the referee twice ordered kicks from penalties by Soster to be taken again, as the Australians on the mark had moved. On each occasion, the first kick missed, but the second'succeeded. There was a last-minute change in the West Coast team, R. Neilson having to drop out of the scrum because of an injury. His place in the second row was .taken by P. Mulcare (chosen "as breakaway) and R. Baxendale. went in at the back of the scrum. The teams were:—

West Coast: J. Soster; V. Meates, M. > Thomas, J. Curragh; J. Pascoe, G. Menzies; G. H. Ord; W. McLennan, R. Aynsley, J. Newton, C. Mcßride, P. Mulcare, R. Baxendale. Australia: V. J. Bulgin; P. McMahon, M. McCoy, R. A, Roberts; N,

J. Hawke, W. P. O’Connell; W. H. Thompson; L. G. Cowie, N. G. Mulligan, R. J. Rayner, E. R. Bull, R E, Griffiths, J. F. Holland. Referee: Mr J. Griffin, Greymouth. Incidents In Play A splendid interception by Menzies gave West Coast the lead in the first five minutes of play. Australia won a scrum just outside its 25 .and when O’Connell attempted ■ to change the direction of the attack, Menzies nipped in and took the ball at top to brCak through. He sent on to Mcßride who also gained ground and passed to Aynsley, who went over between the posts. Soster converted. O’Connell gave the first taste of his class when he broke away from midfield and sent McMahon over but O'Connell had put his foot out as he was tackled by Soster. West Coast was penalised in the scrum which followed but McCoy missed a fairly easy kick. Shortly after, from a play-the-ball just inside the Coast 25. Rayner threw a long pass to O’Connell, to Cowie, who ran round for a good try half way out. McCoy failed to convert. Play was fairly even for 10 minutes, during whichi period Soster missed two long kicks at goal. Again it was O’Connell who began the movement which i produced Australia’s next try, he sendIj'ng on to Hawke, to McCoy to Roberts, who ran round Soster to score well out. McCoy failed to convert and half way through the spell Australia led 6-5. Two minutes later McCoy pushed off Pascoe and again beat Soster to score between the,exists. He also converted. Newton was unlucky with a long grubber kick, which, beat Bulgin, but the bounce did not favour the big Coast forward and Australia cleared its line. Australia was penalised on its 25, wide ] out and Soster, at the second attempt kicked a good goal. Hawke initiated the next Australian scoring movement in which direction 1 was changed perfectly by O’Connell, i and Thompson, to send Roberts over wide out. McCoy converted. A good run by Mcßride and fast following by Menzies put Coast in an attacking position and Meates looked likely to score after a breakaway, but his pass to i Baxendale near the line went astray. ' Australia was penalised in a handy position and Soster, again given a second chance through the markers “baulking,” kicked another goal. Halftime was called with the scores, Australia 16, West Coast 11. Again in the second half West Coast opened the scoring. Curragh, Mcßride and Newton took play almost to the Australian line, and, although Newton’s pass out went astray, West Coast, won the following scrum and Ord flashed round the side of the scrum to send Baxendale over for a try half way out. Soster failed to convert. McCoy. failed at two attempts to kick goals, but made amends by cutting through beautifully to send McMahon over for a try between the posts. Mccoy converted. A few minutes later, Hawke slipped past Thomas at halfway and ran 25 yards before transferring to McCoy who scored wide out. Bulgin converted and Australia led 2614 after 22 minutes of play. Shortly after Pascoe received a bump and retired and Australia, throwing the ball about more than ever, began to dominate the game. O’Connell, McCoy, and McMahon joined in an excellent movement for the last named to score between the posts and Bulgin converted. In the last five minutes, some excellent passing was seen and Cowie and Roberts both scored tries. Bulgin converted the first, but his second kick, after the final bell had sounded, hit the upright and bounced back infield. The final score was, Australia 39, West Coast 14. In the curtain-raiser, the West Coast fifth grade representatives beat the senior schoolboy representatives by 17 points to nil.