MARLBOROUGH BEATEN 8-0— Brilliant Tries Gave Coast Shield Victory

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 August 1950, Page 3

MARLBOROUGH BEATEN 8-0— Brilliant Tries Gave Coast Shield Victory

Striking form in the second half, when the backs staged expert movements that carved great holes in a' team that was showing rocklike defence, West Coast defeated Marlborough by 8 points to nil to hold the Sedclon Shield at Greymouth on Saturday. No points were scored until. 12 minutes from time, the first half being a rugged battle between two even sides. It was marred, however, by too many stoppages.

West Coast won by virtue of superior back combination, for almost until half-time the Marlborough pack shaded the Coast forwards. The Marlborough backs, however rarely functioned as a dangerous attacking combination, though well supplied with the ball. The lack of thrust was near the scrum, for the passing of the half-back, P. Moran, was inaccurate, and this emphasised the “off” day being experienced by A. Kearney. It was obvious as the game progressed, however, that Kearney was suffering from a leg injury and could not keep up with the play. As a spectacle, the game was disappointing until the second spell, though conditions were perfect for football, the ground having recovered from its soaking of the previous week, while the sun shone throughout the day. There was a attendance of more than 3000.

Neither side in the first spell could settle down, and the display then of R. Stoop, who gave an outstanding exhibition in the second spell, was typical. In the first spell he dropped pass after pass, almost every time when a back movement had been initiated. The Coast forwards kicked too hard to give away scoring chances, but they were overshadowed in this period by the visiting pack which appeared to play with more purpose and direction.

Rousing Football When, towards the end of the game, both sides showed then? real ability, the football was rousing. Back after back and even some of the forwards figured in thrilling efforts, but, to get its two tries, West Coast had to overcome first-class tackling, and did so only by producing clever football of a standard comparable with any produced by a provincial side at Greymouth for some time.

Side-steps and swerves just left the opposition without a chance, and E. G. Walker and R. Stoop showed their class when, with their individual ability, they capped off splendid movements.

J. Gillan, who effectively kept D. Kingi under control, was the all-round star of the Coast backs. He pushed off his man time and again to make determined, but unsuccessful bids for the corner, and by coming from the “blind” wing to first five-eighth, he made the overlap repeatedly. He was in every worthwhile West Coast movement. J. Lindbom was again flawless as full-back, but his goal-kicking record suffered a severe reverse, for he failed with two comparatively easy penalty kicks and then failed to convert a try scored between the posts. Kearney and Kingi made Lindbqm’s task easier by kicking direct to him. M. Thomas always had the edge on his opponent, Kearney and again played a serviceable game, with J. Robinson also responsible for some good work. Marlborough's Weakness Apart from Kearney and Moran, the Marlborough back-line looked dangerous, and it was unfortunate for the challenging team that the weak link was a vital point. Young Norton spearheaded several promising back thrusts, while G. Robinson capably handled the powerful Walker for most of the game. G. Smith was a determined three-quarter who was unlucky once or twice not to touch down-, while J. Smith gave a particularly good display at full-back. He was Marlborough’s best back. His tackling saved several tries, and his line-kicking was excellent. The forwards were hard to sort out, but E. Haines, S. Woolley and A. Pacey were all prominent for Marlborough. R. Jensen also played well until he retired hurt in the second spell, being replaced by N. Bragg. W. Hornby, R. Eastgate, A. McLean and M. Herrick were frequently at the head of Coast attacks, while A. McCone also played well. ~ ■ . , The statistics for the game showed Hammond won 24 scrums for Marlborough, against West Coast’s 17, but West Coast won 45 line-outs to 30. Penalty kicks to Marlborough numbered nine and to Coast six. The teams were as follows: — West Coast.—J. Lindbom; J. Gillan, E. G. Walker, M. Stoop; R. Stoop, M. Thomas; J. Robinson; M. Wells, D. McKendry, R. R. Eastgate, G.‘ Nelson, A. McLean, W. Hornby, M. Herrick, A. McCone. Marlborough. —J. Smith; G. Smith, G. Robinson, Duncan KL.gi; T. Norton, M. Kearney; P. Moran; R. Boocock, I. Hammond, A. E. Haines, B. Schwass, R. Jensen, S. Woolley, A. Pacey, G. Timms. The referee was Mr R. Marshall, of Westport. Lindbom, after putting Marlborough on defence with long kicks, spoiled his goal-kicking record when he missed with a penalty kick awarded, after one minute, on the 25-yard line. R. Stoop and Gillan figured in two quick back attacks, which came close to piercing the defence, but J. Smith saved. Gillan In Form

Gillan brought the crowd to its toes when Kearney, kicking for his backs, sent the ball to the Coast three-quarter, who pushed off Kingi on the Coast 25 and ran down the sideline until J. Smith upended him on the Marlborough 25. When Lindbom slipped Marlborough had Coast in trouble and Norton endeavoured to slip through, only to be lowered from behind. J. Robinson got across to get G. Smith as he raced for the corner. Coast advanced from its own territory when Hornby kicked through, and McCone, Herrick, and Nelson took the ball off Norton and got to the goal-line, where the ball was kicked over the dead-ball line. Nelson claimed a mark from the drop-out and took a place kick at goal from almost 50 yards out, the ball hitting the Marlborough forwards on the mark. J. Smith put in a long kick, to put Marlborough in Coast territory and Coast was penalised in the ensuing line-out. G. Smith took a kick from 42 yards out, but the ball fell well short. After a long spell on defence, Coast went to the attack and Smith

forced. Gillan made an extra man when Coast won the ball, but R. Stoop was caught in possession without the attack having gained ground.

Nearly Scbred The best movements of the half came when Gillan came in again as an extra man. He broke through and passed to Thomas, who dived for the line, only to be brought down short. A similar move saw R. Stoop get the ball and he “dummied” and dived, with Gillan outside him, but he slipped as he dived and lost the ball as he hit the ground a foot short of the line. Half-time came almost immediately with no score. As in the first half, Coast was given a chance of opening its account within a minute of the first whistle. Offside play gave Lindbom an easy shot on the twenty-five, but he missed again. Lindbom was then wide with a drop-kick from about 40 yards out. McLean, Thomas, and Gillan got Coast into the Marlborough corner, but a penalty gave the visitors relief. Norton stab-kicked to give G. Robinson and Kingi a run and Lindbom just got the centre 10 yards from the line. McCone and Herrick found a gap to change defence to attack, but J. Smith was again the rock on which the attack broke up. Then Thomas and Walker combined perfectly to let Walker up the centre of the field, and M. Stoop shot for the corner, only to be bowled over inches away, again by J. Smith. Gillan pushed off Kingi after another bright movement and it in a liigli kick, but Marlborough forced.

First-Class Try Coast’s quick back movements finally brought a result, when, with 12 minutes to go, Gillan made an extra man after Coast won a scrum 40 yards out. Robinson sent the ball on, Thomas handled, and gave it. to R. Stoop, who raced downfield with Walker and M. Stoop in support. When the defence converged on the outside men Stoop came, infield on his own and, side-stepping in full flight, gave J. Smith no chance of stopping him. He dived over near the posts for a try, which capped a first-class effort. Lindbom added the extras and West Coast led 5-nil. Marlborough made an all-out effort and the forwards ' looked like surging over. Coast was penalised, but G. Smith missed the kick. Coast then took control and Robinson and Gillan came close to scoring. Norton carved a big hole in the defence and went up to the twenty-five before sending on to G. Robinson, who failed to hold the ball. There was a- surprising change immediately, when Coast won a scrum near half-way. Gillan again made the extra back. Thomas sent on to R. Stoop, who side-stepped inside a man and passed to Walker. The big centre raced, downfield, sold, a “dummy” us he approached G. Smith, and then, with M. Stoop still outside him and a try looking certain, he curved infield, crossed the line, ana ran behind the posts. Lindbom s kick was charged down, and Coast led 8-nil. Eastgate was hurt and was replaced by K. R. Fisher just before the final whistle, and, as the clock showed time, G. Smith took his third penalty kick at goal, only to tail again.

TRIBUTES WERE PAID AT FUNCTION AFTER SHIELD GAME Tributes to the standard of football and to the closeness of the game were paid by speakers at a brief reception at Rugby Park after the representative match on Saturday. .Several speakers particularly mentioned the Quality of the movements that produced West Coast’s tries, one Marlborough speaker comparing the efforts of E. G. Walker and R. Stoop with the style of the Welsh centre, B. Williams. . , , Speakers at the function included the president of the West Coast Union, Mr F. W. Baillie, the Mayor, Mr F. F. Boustridge, the manager of the Marlborough team, Mr A. Dick, the visiting captain, Mr M. Kearney, the president of the Marlborough Union, Mr A. Washington, and the manager and captain of the West Coast team, Messrs W. O. Blair and G. W. Nelson. Mr A. Fong proposed the toast to the referee, to which Mr R. Marshall replied, congratulating the provinces on the outlook on the game of the two coaches, Messrs R. R. King and B. Constable. “If, in the Seddon Shield districts, we can open up the game as it was opened up today, our Rugby will be back on the pedestal it occupied a few years ago,” he said. The team coaches, Messrs Constable and King, also spoke, Mr King stating that West Coast was trying, to take an example from the British Isles team, which had won moral victories in the test matches against New Zealand. He thought the minor unions should get together to plan a type of open football that should be followed irrespective of victory or not. The type of football being played was disappointing, he said, even New Zealand being content to play defensive football to win games.