RUGBY

Gisborne Times, Volume LXIII, Issue 10095, 7 September 1925, Page 3

RUGBY

POVERTY BAY 24, EAST COAST 8. VISITORS’ DASHING FORWARDS. Tlie 1500 spectators who witnessed the match between Poverty. Bay and East Coast at the Oval on Saturday were sorely disappointed with the. rao-cmd exposition of the game that wasTgiven by both sides. The visiting forwards beat the home pack badly in the loose and in the lineouts with their dashing breakaways and short dribbling rushes in which they controlled the ball well and followed up every advantage, _ and tacklpd their opponents in their own twenty-live, not waiting for them to clear. The Poverty Bay back division showed better combination than the opposing rearguard, but even then their movements were far from satisfactory in that they generally broko down through bad handling, particularly by the wings. The East Cbast backs were clever individually, but there was no cohesion or combination, poor handling and had passing spoilt the majority of their movements. The teams were as follow: EAST COAST. Ivuikine

Tamcpo Bodmin Mack ay ■Gregory J ■ Lockwood Wallace Poi ! Leach Downs AVaihi (Rover) Noble Smith. Green Slierratt J. Leach POVERTY BAY. A. Wood It. Whaitiri A. Bennett G. Murland W. Langlands T. Kopua P. Smith Matthews Mortleman. Harrison (AVmg) Webb Whaitiri Uarhek Thomas Woodwi'd THE PLAY. The game opened sensationally when, just after the kick-off, Piki Smith panted high and Wallace Poi failing to take the ball allowed Mortleman to speculate a long kick downfield and, following up fast, ho brought the crowd to their l'eet yelling as he badly bustled Bodmin near the Coast line, but Kukume just forced down in time to prevent Poverty Bay scoring. It was early evident that the Coast pack was the heavier, and the visitors put every ounce of weight into the scrums but could not get°possession of the leather. Piki Smith then set the home hacks im action, but the movement went across field and collapsed through Bennett fumbling and dropping Ins pass. A blind pass by Whaitiri saw the East Coast forwards, with AVaihi, Leach and Green prominent, attack with a fine dribbling rush, and a, long kick by Mackay let the visitors attack strongly near the Poverty Bay corner. *&‘he crowd was on tiptoe with excitement during a period of exciting scrimmages on the Poverty Bay line in which the visitors’ pack were pushing the home forwards all over the field and a forcedown followed. The home hookers whipped the ball out cleanly to Smith, who sent the Poverty Bay backs racing upheld, but Kopua spoiled a promising rush by attempting to cut in and was smothered. Mackay and Leach then started a forward passing bout down the touch but it was stopped through Noble running out. Playing with splendid dash, the East Coast forwards, in which Leach, Sherratt and Whaitiri were prominent, then engaged in a brilliant passing bout in which the hall passed through the whole for-

ward and back line out to Tamepo, M'ho raised much enthusiasm, as he raced for the line, only to be collared within an ace of scoring, and Murland, gathering up to save, was caught offside in front of the posts. Leach missed an easy goal. Shortly after the dropout Piki Smith sent the leather out on the “blind” to Lang--1 nilds and Bennett, who raced down the touch nearly to East Coast’s 25, where Murland again badly missed his pass and lost a certain try. In spite of the weight which the East Coast forwards were putting into the scrums Poverty Bay’s hookers continued to get possession of the ball and hooked it cleanly out to Smith, who started a splendid back movement m which Bennett cleverly drew the opposing three-quarters and transferred to Whaitiri, who had a clear run tor the line. He galloped in easily but in trying to run round behind the posts he was tackled by Gregory and lost possession—and nearly a try, but for Langlands, who was following closely, falling on the leather .lust m, time. Bennett made a good attemptto goal hut failed. Poverty Bay 3, East Coast C. The reverse spurred on the East Coasters whose forwards then launched a hot dribbling attack, but Smith checked the movement by marking, and a minute later set the homo backs racing to the East Coast line, but again the movement collapsed through Bennett’s failure to take his pass. Harrison, showed consistently good form, in breaking away and cnanging his tactics by punting high and following up, enabling the Poverty Bay forwards to attack, but the East Coast backs individually were handling and kicking well and generally managed to avert trouble. From a forward rush by the East Coast, Waihi sent to Gregory, who Cleared splendidly, short punted and followed up fast, and thus caught the nonic defence unawares, and danger threatened until Murland gathered m and tried to start a counter rush but spoiled his effort by passing uildlv. The. East Coast backs, then swung into action, but Lockwood passed 1 out wildly and Poverty Bay bacKs threatened to breakaway, but Sherratt- intercepted a “lob” pass excellently and found the line near the I overty Bay corner. The crowd now became very excited as Gregory, secuiiMg from the throw-in, cut' .in beautifully

and whipped the hall out to Taroepo, but Woods just saved Poverty Bay s line by forcing. Exciting scrummaging ensued on the line, and lor some minutes the East Coast forwards exerted every effort to cross, and ultimately Kopua relieved the pressure bv forcing down. Tamepo, the Coast winger, electrified the crowd a minute later with a brilliant da.sh down tlie touch line but he was tackled jus..in time bv Murland, and a ., IC_ turning kick by Woods enabled Poverty Bay forwards to attack again. The home hacks then started a line movement in which Bennett, with a brilliant ent-in, left the opposition standing, but his wing faded to ro.low him and he was just tackled on the line after a fine effort to cross by himself. However, Poverty Bay forwards were quick to seize the. opportunity and from a> scrum on the line Thomas dived over. Woods cou-veited with a fine kick. _ ' Poverty Bay 8, East Coa«t The East Coast forward”- in wmch J. Leach-, Slierratt- and Wailo were outstanding for th.eir fast following up and hurrying up the home hnc.ss, now r started to infuse # extraorr . rm iy vigor into their dashing dribbling movements, which completely nonplussed the home rearguard tor a time, and Woods had-an plenty To do on oceas : ons checking ie J lO ,^‘ a tacking; Coast forxitofa for the. home full-back’s handling was not oC+he best at. times. A dashing onhblin - movement bv the East Coast foiwaids sn\v : Murland caught in '-possession a little, later, and the- visitors verj nearly got over. Several tunes the Coast hacks tried ' to vooom the - wme. but week' hnrdh’ng dud hndlv f . - ' ed passing spoilt their o.noortumties. and Mortlcman eventually ie u e 1-. be nres°.m*e on the home ni ° . 1 • breaking arav and- puntmg up p ' . Here the Poverty ; Bo* swung into action, hut the s , . * 'tactics of their, opponents and the

weak passing did not allow the home backs to go far. . In the ruck and the loose there was a good deal of indis criminate kicking, particularly ,by the Cbast .forwa'rds, who at .times constituted 1 a real danger to the opposing, players, but the referee allowed these ..tactics to. go unchecked! Just before half-time Matthews broke away 1 with the ball at his toe, itud Kopua, following up, whipped the ball out to Webb, to Bennett, who again displayed cleverness by drawing the opposing wing and sending the leather on to Whaitiri, who raced down the line for a splendid try. Wood failed to convert from a difficult angle and the bell sounded with the scores:

Poverty Bay 11, East Coast 0. In the second' spell. Sherratt followed up 1 a long kick, badly bustled Woodward and very nearly got, over, but for Kopua snapping up. and finding the line just -in time. The East Coast forwards' then attacked hotly and their short dribbling and fast following up tactics had the home backs badly bustled until Harrison “speeded” out near the corner. From the throw-in tlie Coast forwards again packed well 'and their weight and determination began to affect the home forwards, who could not hold the dashing Coasters, and from ai scramble on the line Green dived over. Leach made a good attempt to goal from ac difficult angle, but his • kick fell short.

Poverty Bay 11, East Coast 3. In the next' minute Langlands scored a sensational try. Scarcely had Poverty Bay kicked off, but the leather came back to him, and with a line jerky run he changed his tactics and stab punted, followed up fast, kicked the ball from under the opposing full-back’s hands, and in a great race he touched .down under the posts amidst much enthusiasm. The Coast forwards charged before, the ball was . down and a no-charge kick was allowed, Bennett easily converting. Poverty Bay 16, East Coast 3. The home backs and forwards were now infusing more dash into their play but the effort was only a “flash m the pan” and though the home’ side showed better combination they still persisted in punting overmuch. Soon the East Coast forwards rallied and resumed their' dashing loose rushes, which harried the home backs coi> siclerably, and SVaihi, Gregory and J . Leac-h roused the crowd to enthusiasm with a clever passing oout which penetrated the Poverty Bay defence, .Leach, who had cut in beautifully, being caught just on the line. Eor the next few minutes it seemed that the East Coast forwards would score again, but, Garliek broke away in a line run and punted well dowia, but Kuikine marked and saved’ the position. A| minute later he again marked to check the Poverty Bay forwards. The visitors’ forwards- were now playing a brilliant game in .the loose, in utfiich they displayed rare dash and determination, and it was after one of these movements that the leather came out to Lockwood, who executed a brilliant cut in, but lost his supports and threw wide out to Maclcay, who gathered in and was tackled on the line and lost possession. Woods in stopping the rush was penalised. Smith made a line attempt to goal but was unsuccessful. Webb, M. Whaitiri and Matthews

then broke away in a dashing dribbling movement to the visitors’ 25, where the home pack persistently assaulted the Coast defence but could not penetrate it. A minute later Lockwood broke away in a fine run, punted high, and when Woods failed to go down to the rush the visitors nearly scored again, Bennett saving the home line brilliantly. A little later, Alurland, whose handling was bad throughout, secured possession and cut in well and raced for the posts, but he passed wildly to Mortleman and so spoilt another scoring chance. A minute later M. Whaitiri picked up in the open, and after a short run sent to Bennett, who gath>ered in a difficult pass and with three men to pass, “dummied” in beautifully when there was not a Poverty Bay man in sight and raced on for the line, where he was tackled by Kuikume, hut rolled over tor a beautiful try. Mortleman failed to conPoverty Bay 19, East Coast 3. Again the East Coast forwards attacked, and snapping up the leather J. Leach, who was playing a. brilliant game in the loose, cut in cleverly and sent to Gregory, who also executed a neat eut-in, at the same time gathering a difficult pass, and dived for the line but was held up. He just managed to get the leather to Green, ,who got over near the posts. Bodmin converted. . Poverty Bay 19, East Coast b. The play now became fast and furious and the game see-sawed from, one end of the field to the other. 1 lki Smith, securing possession from, a scrum, raced downfield on his own, and sent out to Whaitiri, who baidly missed his pass and iost a sure try. A little later a fine rush was started among the Poverty Bay backs in which Harrison, Ivopua and Bennett participated, the latter fending, on several tacklers reverse passed to M. Whaitiri, who raced in and touched down under the posts. Bennett easily converted. The game ended a little later with the scores: Poverty Bav 24, East Coast b. Hr E. Corbett was referee. CURTAIN-RAISER. The curtain-raiser between Hign School and Celtic thirds resulted in a draw—9 points, all.

N.S.W. MATCH

COMBINED EAST COAST-POV-ERTY BAY TEAM.

A. Wood (P. 8.) R. Whaitiri (P. 8.) A. Bennett (P. 8.) Tamepo (E.C-.) W. Langlands (P. 8.) Gregory (E.C.) Piki Smith (P B.) Woodward (P. 8.) Thomas (P. 8.) Harrison (P. 8.) „ v Sherratt (E. 0.) M. Whaitiri (P. 8.) W. Waihi (E.C.) Matthews (P. 8.) J. Leach (E.C.) Reserves : -Backs : J. Lockwood (E.C.), G. Murland (P. 8.) p loiwards: Webb (P. 8.), Garliek (P. 8.). The team is requested to be on tne Reserve every evening at .> o cioclc for training, when the coach Mi. 4. Edmondson will be in attendance.

NS W BEAT TARANAKI-WANGA- ’ ' NUI.

fPRESS ASSOCIATION.) NEW PLYMOUTH, Sept. ->. After a thrilling game which, at, times, reached a brilliant level N.S.W. narrowly defeated a combined Taranaki- Wanganui fifteen here to-day by 13 points to 11. Each scored three tries, the visitors gaining victory through two conversions to one. ■. . ■ . t The game was watched by a large crowd., The ground was rather heavy, but both sides handled the ball jaiil - lessly and play was bright, fast and open throughout. , The forward teams ~ were wellmatched, but the visitors were superior in the scrums, hooking well and enabling their' backs to set out on many danyerous excursions, which solid tackling alone stopped. lie visiting forwards also handled Jibe the backs and.were exceptionally last; and elusive, though too much inclined., to off-side tactics; The local for war :Ib' pi ayed "w it ji r d ash’ throughout, . but on . the gaire.i.were slightly overshadowed by the, visitors. The - 'New South Wales backs were a set of strong, powerful runners, Foot and Lawton shining particularly, and threw the ball alx-it in a i breezy, confident style.

The home team, backs excelled themselves, especially an the first spell, and gained afl three tries from splendid movements.’ On tlie run of play there was littio between tlie team* aud the result was in doubt right to the end, For New ooutn Males, Foote scored two tr.es, Morrissey one, ana Rawtuii converted two. i'or combined, Moulton, Johnston and Comer scored tries aiiui Brown converted' one;

CANTERBURY BEATS OTAGO. <! U?ttlsSS ASSOCIATION.; CHR'lolCjtiUTtU4, Sept. 8. Canterbury defeated Otago by, 17 to 14 on u. heavy ground and. in cola, showery Weather. lu die early stages Otago appeared outclassed but, m trie second liair, tncy more than, held thenown ni both back and forward piay. Nine points were scored against utago in me first quarter 01 an hour and me half-time score was: Canterbury 14, Otago d. in tne second iia.lt, tne Otago forwards, showing good pace and Handling well, kept Oanteruury busy, while their three-quarter fine was always dangerous. Otago equalised at 14 and Canterbury secured the deciding points wren a score by McGregor, who picked up in the loose. Otago was attacking to the end.

HAMILTON' DEFEATS AUCKLAND

(PEESS ASSOCIATION.) HAMILTON, Sept. 5. Considering the state ol the ground the Kugby representative match, Auckland versus Hamilton, played comay, provided an interesting game, in which the local men proved superior by 17 points 12. MANAWATU BEAT HOBAWEENUA. (PEESS ASSOCIATION.) PALMERSTON N., Sept. 6. A return match at Foxton between Manawatu and Horowhenua (which now constitute one union) resulted in a win for the former by 10 points to 5. Manawatu was superior in all departments on the day. TEAM AGAINST AUCKLAND. IPBESS ASSOCIATION.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 6. The N.Z. test team to play New South "Wales at Auckland was selected after the match as follows: • Full-back: Nepia. . Three-quarters: Svenson, Cooke, Lucas. . . , Five-eighths: McGregor. Nicholas. Half: Mill. Wing-forward 1 : Porter. Front Bow; Irvine, Lomas. Lock: Masters. Supports : M. Brownlie .and I *nlayson. , . „ Back Bow: J. ltfthardson and B. Stewart. . Emergencies: Bobilliard, Dailey, Kirkpatrick and C. Brownlie.