HOME BACKS BETTER

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20275, 17 June 1940, Page 3

HOME BACKS BETTER

CLEVER PASSING RUNS SOLID COAST FORWARDS Poverty Bay 13pts. East Coast .... 3 Undoubtedly the success of the Poverty Bay team in the representative match with the East Coast was due 'in a large measure to the superiority of the home backs, who handled the ball' with confidence and kept the visitors on the qui vivc ail through the game. Three tries were scored for Poverty Bay, against one for the Coast, and two of the Bay’s tries were the result of fast play by the backs. The Coast made their best showing in the forwards, some of their scrummagers being very powerful and speedy. They did not get much of the ball from the set scrums, but they rucked hard, and had the major share of success in the line-outs, while in the loose they were the equal of Poverty Bay’s forwards, on the whole. Play was even for a time after the start, and Coast opened the scoring account with a good try by Overton at second five-eighths, who supported a smart dash by Lockwood and Tuheke. and beat the Poverty Bay defence in a race for the ball after Tuheke'had centred it from well out on the wing. The try was in a comfortable position, but Overton, who took the kick, missed the goal. Long Passing Bout Gels Results

Poverty. Bay were not long in overtaking the arrears' on points', thoughthey had io make several good efforts before at last they found a way through the solid Coast defence. The ball was coming out on the Poverty Bay side of the scrum with regularity, at this time, and repeatedly the backs started promising movements, but they were pressed closely by the Coast backs, and as a result their attacks broke down as often as they started.

Finally, however, the Bay got a really well-concerted movement going, the ball passing from the base of the scrum through the hands of Lee, M. Smiler, Carroll and Read, and then infield again to Smiler, Malone, Wrightson, and McGuffie, in a series of short passes which got. the Coast badly bustled. McGuffie was a few yards from- the line when he took' his pass, from Wrightson, and he made a bold dash and got over. O’Brien converted the try, and Poverty Bay led fivethree. There was no change in the score until ’the-second half was well along, and then Wrightson broke away in a strong dribble from a line-out near midfield. Rogers backed him up well, and was on the spot to score in good style. O’Brien again added the extra points. Bay Go Further Ahead Misjuclgment on the part of Smith, one of the Coast wingers, gave the Bay its next success, for when Carroll stab-punted over the Coast pack, and then followed up fast, he gave his own forwards a chance to bustle Smith, and M. O’Rourke snapped up the ball as it rolled loose, not far from the goalline, and scored his first points for Poverty Bay as a district representative. O’Brien this time missed an easy kick, and no more scoring was done. Both sides were weak in one or two positions, but the spectators did not expect a better standard of play, and found plenty of interest in the game as it went. One of the best features of Poverty Bay’s play was the good covering done by Wrightson, in particular, this player being in position several times to prevent the Coast gaining ground with long clearing kicks. A similar role was played by Lockwood, in the Coast team, though not with as much success. Pace in the forward divisions was not featured until late in the match, when both sides stepped up the speed of their play a good deal. The two back divisions were always quick off the mark, and the visitors showed that with a better share of the hall from the scrum they might have troubled Poverty Bay more. In White and Overton, their five-eighths, they had two backs equally good in offence or defence, Overton being the best of the Coast backs, with Tuheke also prominent, and Tuhoro putting in good work on his wing. Coast Full-back's Display J. Milligan, a former Poverty Bay representative, gave a good display at full-back, and got plenty of length and direction with his kicking, though his tackling did not show the old certainty. D. Tuhoro, A. Lockwood, A. Lincoln, and B. Pahuru were the pick of the Coast forwards for all-round work, and W. Bright put in a good game, being especially prominent in spoiling play. The pack as a whole worked well in the line-outs. For Poverty Bay, C. Wrightson

carried off the palm for all-round forward play, with Rogers, McGranniclian, O'Rourke and Hayes the ’most consistent of the others. S. Lee showed that he has the making of a first-class half-back, though he still lacks the necessary weight for a rugged game; and M. Smiler and Carroll worked well in the five-eighths positions. W. Sniiler’s attacking work was always valuable, and his handling was good. Of the two wings, D. Short had most opportunities, and he had a good day, breaking even at least with the winger opposed to him. Mfilone’s work at full-back, though characterised by lack of dash, was consistent and good. Both teams could improve on Saturday's display, and there should be some good football in prospect for patrons during the balance of the season. Mr. A. E. Ingram refereed the match.