ENGLISH RUGBY LEAGUE TEAM’S VISIT TO THE WEST COAST

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 July 1950, Page 4 (Supplement)

ENGLISH RUGBY LEAGUE TEAM’S VISIT TO THE WEST COAST

The West. Coast Rugby League team will attempt to score its second consecutive success against a touring English side at Wingham Park on Monday. Four years ago West Coast made history for the code in this district by gaining a 17-8 win against the Englishmen. It was a win which astounded the League prophets, but the tourists were the first to admit that if-was a victory well earned.

The only yardstick by which to judge the relative strength of the 1,950 English • team is the game against Wellington on Wednesday. Wellington, one of the weaker unions, offered surprising opposition, but on that game it would be a bold critic who would at present offer judgment on the Englishmen’s chances in forthcoming matches. After tomorrow’s test at Christchurch, and Monday’s game, the true ability of England will be better known. ■ .

The West Coast team for Monday's match needs little introduction. It will comprise a.combination of brains and ruggedness in the -forwards, with youthfulness and speed in the back line, although there will be a doubt about some of. the backs being able to match the speed of their opposites.

In 1946 five members of the present team were selected to play against the Englishmen—R. Nuttall, J. Forrest, C. Mcßride, J. Mundy and J. Newton. "All five were among the leading lights of the day’s play, Nuttall being “superb” as a last line of defence, and Mcßride and Newton being' “trojans” in the tight. J. Forrest will again be on the wing, but

Mundy will be playing as breakaway instead of in the second row. It is on the forwards that the home team will pin its faith. The experience, strength and durability of men like Newton,' Mcßride, R. Neilson and R. O’Donnell, will be a big factor when the pressure is on, ;and they should not be found wanting. Newton and Mcßride will be wide awake to the familiar ruses cultivated by a touring international side such as the Englishmen.

O’Donnell struck top form' in the inter-island match and in some quarters he was considered unlucky to have escaped the eyes of the New Zealand selectors. F. Thompson is a robust and vigorous forward, also well capable of doing his share in the open play. But in the hooking department it will be surprising if he can master his opposite. J. Mundy will have the all-im-portant job of helping his backs to match the superior speed of the Englishmen. Mundy is a brilliant cover defender, with pace and a deadly tackle. Good in 1946, he should be a better forward on Monday with lour years’ experience behind him. Probably because he is an adept at using his forwards to advantage, J. Lee has been selected for half-back. It will be a big test for him, but the Blackball player rarely makes serious errors—-and errors will be expensive on Monday.

Sound Combination

G. Menzies and A. O’Donnell have paired well in the five-eighths, both in West Coast and inter-island matches. Menzies is the more spectacular, having pace off the mark and a quick eye for an opening. O’Donnell’s really splendid defence will be needed perhaps more than his attacking ability. At Auckland he completely bottled up M. Robertson, who is generally rescognised as the best attacking back in New Zealand League. At centre, L. Forrest also lowers his Yuan heavily. Forrest when he elects to go on his own, runs very strongly, and, given the opportunities, is a gpod scoring centre. J. Forrest and C. McGougan have completely opposite styles of wing play. Forrest having a dazzling, jinky run, where as McGougan relies more on straight running and determination to get him to the line. The Englishmen will have a taste of Forrest’s play in the test match tomorrow.

R. Nuttall, apart from his high standard of full-back play and international experience, is a match-win-ning goal kicker when the penalties go against the opposition.