SEDDON SHIELD

Grey River Argus, 19 September 1932, Page 6

SEDDON SHIELD

COAST WIN HANDSOMELY Buller Goes Down Fighting Buller’s long trail of successes in Seddon Shield fixtures was broken on Saturday on Victoria Square, Westport. when the West Coast representatives, in the final challenge of the season for the trophy, defeated the holders by nine points to three, in an epic struggle. The Buller team made a gallant effort to keep their laurels but they wore beaten in all departments by a vastly superior team and Coast thoroughly deserved their victory. and will at least have the satisfaction of holding the Shield for a considerably longer period than on the occasion when they wrested the honours from Nelson in 1923 and held the distinction only for a short period of three weeks. The day was beauti fully fine and the ground in excellent condition. There was a very large attendance, and not either on the grandstand or the immediate enclosure was there a vacant space. and included, amongst the big assembly were a considerable number of supporters of the Coast team. With a deficit of onlv three points at the interval, and Buller getting the equaliser before the second half was very far advanced, it looked as if the chances of retaining the trophy were rosy, but another try by Coast lowered Buller’s hopes and inspired the visitors with a determination which proved indomitable, and which resulted in Coast taking complete charge of the game and shadowing Buller in all departments. It was a magnificent game which was punctuated with many thrills, and in which there were few dull moments. It was the last twenty minutes of the game that constituted the psychological period and it was there that Buller failed. The side went to pieces and were completely routed and many opinions attribute their showing to that staleness which follow’s over-training or a strenuous season’s football. They were beaten to a frazzle in the closing stages and when the final whistle sounded the forwards were a very tired lot, but they must be given the credit of going down, fighting gamely, to a much superior team. Coast play-

ed like a winning side and there is no begrudging them their win. They did not carry a passenger and to a man came out of the tussle with distinction. Like Buller, the Coast fifteen included some old players and generally speaking the teams could not be referred to as youthful and next season may sec many of the participants in last Saturday’s match relegated to the football scrap heap. The rmport-

ance of the occasion may have had a tendency to spoil football but as far as Seddon Shield games are concerned the game was always bright and possessed many exciting features. It was the second rude check Buller’s hope for a monopoly of trophies received i this season, and incidentally was -the. second severest defeat inflicted on the team in the Seddon Shield games since 1925, when they were beaten by Marlborough by 17 points to 3. However. Buller has every reason to be proud of their record, having held the Shield since 1930, and in the eleven challenges which they took part, compiled 167 points, whilst only 54 points were registered against them. Tn the game unde? review the side which represented the province against Canterbury the Saturday previous underwent an eleventh hour change. Holder took the second five-eighth position. .Tones took Holder’s position at centre, and Greer played on the wing, Higgins being dropped. It was a matter entirely for the selectors, but the opinion was freely expressed that the al-

teration for the last challenge for the season was inadvisable. As a combining. thrustful lot they were all at sea and were not worth the proverbial tin of fish. The fault could be attributed to the failure of the inside men, and the biggest offender was Holder, w’ho handled badly, over-ran his passes and provided a link in a chain that was a| long way from being nine carat. The others, under the circumstances, played as well as they were permitted by* their opposites, but their defence was poor. Graham played fairly well and at times was applauded for his line kicking but when in a tight corner did not inspire one with confidence, and his tackling was weak. Loder did not play with his usual dash, but probably realising that his supports were, not dependable took the snappiness out of his play. Greer and Hill did not get much to do on the wings. The latter suffered from an injured knee and was never comfortable. The forwards met their match in the Coast representatives and this probably was a factor contributing to the poor showing of the backs which had the very rare experience of playing behind, at times, a beaten pack. G. Orman, McNeight and Goodall were the best of the forwards. McNeight spoiled his good work by a very unnecessary display of temper, and it was fortunate for him that an incident when he struck an opposing forward, escaped the notice of the referee. J. King, the Coast custodian, gave a sound display, and on the play J was superior to Graham. Though his touch finding may not have been as good, he did excellent work, and shaded Graham with his tackling. The visiting backs were easily the best and their team work and positional play was of a high standard. Fong was the hero of the day and gave a, performance rarely seen on Victoria, Square. He was prominent in every attacking movement and apart from his great solo effort in the first period which ended in a try, he was the pivot which led to all Coast’s points. Ho was ably supported by W. Hughes and Schroder. Gilbert and Martyn gave a faultless account of themselves. Scandrett got through his work with distinction and together with giving an excellent service from the legitimate and formal scrums, got down to anything, and pulled his side out of more

than one awkward situation. Freitas lived up to his reputation and was the best forward on the ground, and Jones, Kelly and Deere were only very slightly better than the remainder of a pack composed of scrummagers above the ordinary. An aeroplane, with a pilot and his wife, from Hokitika. encircled the playing area prior to the game, and landed on the North Beach, the visitors later attending the game. Radio Station 3ZR broadcasted an account of the match, and it is understood both the reception and story were excellent and were enjoyed by listeners-in, especially in Greymouth. and district Mr A. Thompson (Christchurch) gave entire satisfaction with the whistle. Tn the opening five minutes the forwards monopolised the play with a decided advantage to the visitors, and 1 Graham pulled up a determined rush with a good line kick to midfield. Coast got possession from the opening scrum and Scandrett sent a good pass to Fong, who gained ground with a useful kick. Hughes a few moments later smothered Reed’s attempt to open the game. Schroder intercepted a pass and made an electrifying dash but was stopped by Hill. Loder tried to open a bout of passing, but was well taken by Fong before he could transfer to Holder. Reed received from a line-out and sent to Loder, but the movement was not allowed to develop as a result of Holder being well tackled by Hughes. From a maul Scandrett sent. Hughes away, but the latter’s transfer was not accepted by Martyn. Orman broke through with the ball at his feet, but King snapped it from his boot and sent to Schroder.

who was bundled into touch. Coast forwards up to this stage were having the best of the loose work. Coast backs indulged in a passing rush, but a forward pass pulled up a dangerous movement. Coast got possession from the ensuing scrum and Fong kicked to Hill, who marked, and sent play to Coast 25, where E. Jones was penalised for hanging on, and Graham, taking the kick, missed a golden opportunity to put Buller three points up. The cardinal and blue forwards returned to the attack and for a time severely tested the defence. Reed was forced . to retire with a head injury, but re- ’ sumod about five minutes later. Whilst . receiving attention on the side line

Loder took his position as half and Doherty played as first five-eighth. King marked a high kick and his return was well taken by Reed, who opened a neat passing bout between Loder. Holder and Jones, but the lastnamed was well tackled by Hughes. | From a line-out in Coast 25 Jones pull-| ed up a Coast attack in which Kelly, Freitas and Hughes were prominent. Schroder, with another characteristic, solo effort, skirted the side line for about 30 yards before being stopped. Hughes snapped the ball and on being challenged crossed to the centre, and | Greer failing to gather, allowed Fong to score a spectacular try. The nippy Coast five-eighth zig-zagged his way over from the 25 yards line, and his effort was cheered by Coast supporters to the echo. Martyn’s effort to add the extra points failed. Buller forwards rallied and again the defence was called upon to bring all their re-1 sources into action which resulted in a, great duel between the packs. Doherty ■ and Gilsenan made a desperate effort to wipe out the deficit but lost possession and Fong forced. Graham a little later was deservedly applauded for a great line kick. The Bui lei hooker, Orman, sent the ball cleanly from the scrum which followed a lineout infringement, but Reed’s pass found Loder out of position. Buller forwards were having the advantage territorially and at the interval were pressing with the Shield three points from their grasp.

On resumption Coast attacked but Holder broke away, but was whistled up for a forward pass. Goodall was caught offside and Martyn missed narrowly to increase his side’s lead and not long after Orman with a great kick just missed a three point goal. The Buller backs, not to be denied, | again attacked, and only effective work by J. King kept them out. However, their repeated thrusts were rewarded with a try which the referee indicated had been secured by Hill. Holder failed with the kick. With the score even excitement was at a high pitch. Gilbert sent a great line kick to Buller 25 and Graham returned to Schroder, but the latter mis-kicked and the mistake nearly proved costly, the ball rolling into touch just as Goodall got up. with no one to pass

but King, but in view of the latter’s great display of tackling in the early part of the game, it is doubtful if the hefty Buller captain would have got past him. W. Hughes was well bottled up but got out of a difficult position with a clever kick over his head. The Coast backs made another great thrust, and as a result of good work by Fong and Hughes, the ball went to Gilbert, who with a determined dash got over far put. The angle proved too difficult for Martyn. Coast, with visions of the Shield going to Grey mouth, played with great vigour to hold their three point margin. With about fifteen minutes to go, Coast looked every inch a winning team. Fong kicked through and E. Jones gathering well, sent to Martyn, ■who capped a good piece of play by scoring Coast’s third try, which sealed Buller’s fate. The same player failed with the kick. The visitors had the best of the play in the closing stages of the game, and the whistle wont, as also did the Shield, with the score:— West Coast . • • • 9 Buller 3

SEDDON SHIELD RECORD. 1906: Marlborough 3, Buller 0. 1907: Marlborough 9, Buller 9. 1907: Marlborough 14. ,Nelson 4. 1908: Marlborough 13, West Coast 13. 1908: Marlborough 6, Buller 3. 1909: Marlborough 13, West Coast 6. 1909: Marlborough 6, Buller 3. 1910: Marlborough 14, Buller 8. 1910: Marlborough 10, West Coast 8. 1913: Buller 3. Marlborough 0. 1914: Buller 25. West Coast 8. 1914; Buller 17, Marlborough (’.

1919: Buller 3, Nelson 3. 1919: Buller 13, Marlborough 5. 1920: Marlborough 21, Buller 13. 1920: Marlborough 6, West Coast 3. 1921: Marlborough 19, West Coast 3. 1921: Marlborough 8, Buller 5. 1922: Nelson 16, Marlborough 3. 1922: Nelson .17, G.8.-Mot. 0. 1922: Nelson 13, West Coast 6. 3 922: Nelson 6, Buller 6. 1923: West Coast 12, Nelson 8. 1923: West Coast 3, Buller 3. 1923: G.8.-Mot. 3, West Coast 0. 1923: G.B. 9, Marlborough 9. 1924: G.8.-Mot. 33, West Coast 3. 3 924: G.8.-Mot. 13, Buller 6. 3924: G.8.-Mot. 34. Nelson 12. 1924: Marlborough 6. G.8.-Mot. 0. 1925: Marlborough 17, Buller 3. 1925: Marlborough 14, G.8.-Mot. 12. 1925: Marlborough .16, Nelson 0. 1926: G.8.-Mot. 10, Marlborough 3. 1926: Nelson 17, G.8.-Mot. 14. 1926: Nelson 16, Buller 9. 1927: Nelson 23, West Coast 15. 1927: Nelson IS, Buller 11. 1927: Nelson 12, Marlborough 8. 1927: Nelson 16, G.8.-Mot. 5. 1928: Nelson 22, West Coast 13. 3928: Nelson 11. Buller 6. 1928: Nelson 10. Marlborough 10. 1928: Nelson 3. G.8.-Mot. 0. 1929: Nelson 19, West Coast 9. 1929: Nelson 11, Buller 6. 1929: Marlborough .12, Nelson 6. 1929: G.8.-Mot. 8, Marlborough 0. 1929: G.8.-Mot. 18, Nelson 11. 3930: G.8.-Mot. 13, West Coast 9. 1930: Buller 6. G.8.-Mot. 0? 1930: Buller 15, Marlborough 3. 1930: Buller 21, Nelson 8. 1931: Buller 8, Marlborough 8. 1931: Buller 11, G.8.-Mot. 0. 1931: Buller 21, Nelson 8.

1931: Buller 11, West Coast 6. 1932: Buller 18, Marlborough 6. 1932: Buller 40, G.8.-Motueka 3. 1932: Buller 13. Nelson 3. * 1932: West Coast 9, Buller 3. GRAHAM WISE CUP. KIWI BEAT BLACKBALL. In fho Graham Wise Cup match, be. tween Blackball, winners of the junior competition under the West Const Union and Kiwi, -winners of the West land Sub-Union’s competition, at Kumara on Saturday. Kiwi s p'roved win ners, after R fast, open and interesting game, by 10 points to 9. Mr McLaughlin was referee. FOURTH GRADE FINAL. BLAKETOWN’S FINE WIN On No. 1 ground at Rugby Park on Saturday, Blaketown and Cobden met in the final game for the Knock-Out Competition, which resulted in a win | for Blaketown by 18 points to nil The gam e was full of interest, and by winning Blaketown hav e shown that they are capable of real good football and should prov,. a big asset to their Club next season. This team was formed about half-way through the | competition and their wins of late have been well merited. In all their games they hare had to concede a great deal ,in weight, but hav P made up for it by I combination, and playing th P open game, and from the showing on Satur dav some of the boys should have a : bright future ahead of them in Rugby football.

Blaketown won the toss and after the kick-off their forwards took the [ball to Cobden’s line, but overeager J iioss spoilt many promising movements Cobden -were called on to force three j times in quick succession. From a drop-out, Dando secured and after putting in a fine run passed th e hall to Furness, who scored between the pos*s and also converting his try. Blakctown 5, Cobden 0. From the kick-off Blaketown with a forward rush, took

lr-lav to Cobden’s 25. where Millet secured and drop-kicked a fine fie LI goal. Shortly after the same player • attempted another “piot”, the ball going just outside 1h P posts. Blaketown wer e . swarming all over Cobden ami fro;'n a scrum they hooked the ball and a nice movement among the ■ backs resulted in Goodall scoring between the posts. The kick was taken jby Dando. but was charged down. Sonip good defensive work was being ! put in by Cullen and Wilson for Cobden. but overeagerncss by Blaketown and forward passes kept them from scoring on several occasions. In a forward rush by Blaketown the ball was kicked over Cobden’s lin n anl Anderson and Dando pounced on it for a try. The kick by Kroening wont under the bar. and half tim P -was called with the scores Blakctoiw’n 15, Cobden 0.

Dando kicked off in th e second socll and the ball was returned to touch at half-way. From the line-out Smith (Cobden) secured and rushed play to Blaketown’s line whore Kroening was penalised for lying on tli P ball, Jni* the kick by Clancy failed to find the posts, as did another penalty kick by him just after. Cobden kept up the pressure but were unable to push home their attacks, and Blaketown forced. From the drop-out Blaketown rushed play to Cobden’s lino where Cullen cleared with a fine ru n to ha.lf-way. 11. Anderson and Dando led a forward rush to Cobden’s line where Furness secured and forced his -way over, but failed to convert, and time was called shortly after with Blaketown winners by 18 points to nil. For the winners all the team played well with Kroening, Goodall, M>l- - and Furness outstanding in the backs, and Dando and U. Anderson in the forwards. Cullen and Clancy were the pick of Cobden’s backs ami Smith of the forwards. Mr D. A. Kilgour was an efficient referee.

THIRD GRADE. REP. A V. REP. B. This gamp was played on No. 2 ground at Rugby Park, between the third grade re P s a ® team, but was not productive of very- good football. Both packs were very evenly matched but .the A’s had decided superiority ! in the backs. The Blaketown com-' bi nation of Goodall, Aiderton and R. Olsen worked like a machine, and threw the ball about in great style. Al half-timie the Rep. backs were put behind the B forwards and once [more showed their superority. The 'final score was A’s 24, B’s 8. For the A’s Blair (2), Matheson, W. Minchin, Leitch and R. Minchin scored, two of

which wore converted bv Goodall ano one by Pound. For the B’s Leitch and Bruh u scored tries, one of whicn was converted by Goodall. Mr M. B. Chatteris had charro of the game. OTAGO V. NORTH OTAGO. OAMARU, Sept. 17. At Rugby Otago decisively defeated North Otago in the Showgrounds this afternoon by 28 points to 8. The home fifteen drew first blood wilh an unconverted fry by Lillburnc. Thereafter the visitors outclassed their opponents in all departments, the half time score being 17 to 3. North Otago, with the advantage of the wind, held their own for fifteen minutes in the second spoil, but fho Otago forwards’ superiority gave fheir backs the chance put the finishing touch to the attack. Eleven more points came (he visitors’ way, to a try by Sim. converted by Granger. For Otago, tries wore scored by Alien, Wilson (2), Henderson, Smith, Cusack, and Simmons. Two trie s were, converted by Allen ami Simmon, and a penalty goal was also kicked by Allen. Eariy in the game th p home full back Cooper. left the field with a knee injury, the hom c side thereafter playing four teen men. WELLINGTON V. MAN AW HEN U A PALMERSTON N., Sept. 17. I n the best representative match wit nessed locally this season, Manawhenua and Wellington drew on Saturday. 18 all. Tries for Wellington were secured by Hislop (2), McLean and McDonald, Masters converting three. For Mana. whenua, fries were scored by Cook, Me Donald and Hight, all being converted by Roddick, who also kicked a penalty goal. .j WANGANUI V. HAWKE’S BAY. j NAPIER, Sept. 17. Wanganui Rugby fouring f-ani were defeated by Hawke’s Bay at Napier this afternoon by ten points to -eight. For Hawke’s Bay. Varto n kicked » field goal, Satherley a penalty goal, and Smith scored an unconverted try. Wanganui’s points were mad c up by a penalty goal, one conversion by Mor gan, and a tr v by| Maitland. CHRISTCHURCH, Sept. 17. The result of the Naval Reserve match played to-day was: A Company; 8. B Company 3. MASTERTON, Sept. 17. ' Rugby.— Red Star 8, Carterton 8. OAMARU. Sept. 17. Rugby: Otago 28, North Otago 8. WELLINGTON. Sept. 17. Rugby: National Mutual Cup.—Ponekc 25, Eastbourne 12. A'UCKLAND, Sept. 17. Rugby. — Tonsonby 24, Ma f ist 6; University 20, Grammar 20; Training College 16 beat Manukau. ENGLISH RESULTS. LONDON. September 17. Rugby Union matches today resulted: — • Blackbeath 26 v. Rosslyn Park 10. Bradford 11 v. Manchester 27. Bristol 3 v. Swansea 3. Cardiff 0 v. Bridgend 0. Gloucester 17 v. Mosley 6. Llanelly 13 v. Abertillery 6. Leicester 13 v. Plymouth Albion 8. Nuneaton 0 v. Coventry 0. Newport 0 v. Crosskeys 7. United Services 5 v. PortsmouthBath 21. Glasgow High School 21 v. West of Scotland 12.