RUGBY FOOTBALL

Grey River Argus, 17 September 1934, Page 2

RUGBY FOOTBALL

McLEAN CUP United beat Excelsiors The annual contest for the McLean Cun between the senior championship winners of the Woslt Coss’. Rugby Union and Westland Sub-Union was played at. Rugby Park o« Saturday afternoon under ideal weathei con i tions, before a large attendance. After a:: 1 exciting game, United won by eight points to five, having led by eight points to nil a,t half time. .In the second spell Excelsiors had the better of the play for the greater part and on the run of play were unlucky in not registering more tili:i<n one tiy. The efforts of tile hacks on both sides were too individualistic, and althoug 1 the visitors’ backs got more opportunities, due to tho successful hooking of Eager they- lacked p'enetration. The Excelsior forwards played good open football, and at. times swarmed over the opposing but the defence of (the United backs, particularly Costello, Gilbert and Collins, saved them repeatedly. AH Blatak. Roti King p'lavcd a fine game in the Excelsior pack, and wa s ably supported by Freitas, M. Kelly and B. Kelly. Roberts, the Excelsior full-back, played a good game, handling well and kicking for the tine with great judgment.- W. Hughes wan the outstanding back, and

scored the visitor’s (try, when he secur ed from a ruck near the line and dum mied his way across. Rose, Kear. Weir mid Rathbun played ex'dlonl games in the loose for United. Gil bort an,l Costello were a reliable pail at five-e'ighth.s. but. had few opyortuni ties on attack. The teams were as fol lows:—

United: Collins. F. Schroder, Me Nabb, Caldwell, Gilbert, “o tello, F. bell, Kear, Bell, Rose, Weir, Jamieson, Rathbun Long and Shuttewo-th Excelsior: Roberts, Connolly, Staines, Mitchell, Muir, Hughes. Daw.Dor,, B. Kelly, Eager, Heveldt, Parker. Freitas, Wright, R. King and M. Kelly. In the first minute of. play Gilbert had a clear run in from a pretty move ment engineered by Costello b”t Le knocked on, when ,almost over the line. Muir picked up offside., f’Hewing the serum at Excelsior's 2.-, and Gilbert goaled without diCenltv. United 3, Excelsior 6. Hard play among the forwards followed an! then King handed out to the ExceLior b'.'"k‘. but Gilbert (threw lolly into tone'll

at United’s 25. Bell placed United in a. good attacking position with !t good lino kick. Caldwell secured and made a dash, hut his inpass to Rose was low. Weir broke away from a ruck and kicked out Ito Caldwell who p'icked np and outpaced the opposition to score at Ithe corner. 1 Gilbert goaled with a great kick. United 8, Excelsior nil. McNabb retired hurt and was replaced by Ellis. Half-time soon after soundI. n the first few minutes of the second spell. Freitas sent on to King from a loose rush, and he in iw» handed to Mitchell. The latter sent Staines away down the sideline, and he was fo’ived out near the < ouner. inches from the line by Kear. Following tho line-out, Costello forced down. Gilbert made a spectacular dash, bu‘ was well tackled by Roberts. McNabb went on again replacing Schroder, who retired Wilth an injured shoulder. From a ruck on the United line, after Staines had nut in a good dash. Hughes secured and ’dummied his way aleruss almost under the posts, ami Davidson convert ed. United 8, Excelsior 5., Bell, Rose. Shutt leu orth headed a driobling rush, but Roberta cleared With a good kick’. At 'this stage, B. Kelly retired hurt and was-replaced by White. Davidson stall-kicked and Gilbert carried over 4o force.' Costello (breed down when he secured from the serum. King started a pretty movement in United s 25, handing on to Kelly, who sent Sta'ines &way, and he leaked .-eGain to get over at the corner, but failed to cut. ‘ in and Gilbert threw him. into touch. Gilbert (relieved dangerous situation when he broke away, but was well tackled by Roberts, and McNabb knocked Gilbert’s pass on. King again sent h'is backs, and agtvin, this time. Mitchell was foiled out at the corner tlag Hughes sent on to Staines, and he gave Connolly a ch-ance, but the tatter was held up under tho posts. Davidson dived for the line from two succeeding isc.rums, bull the defence stood the test. King was penalised for “rabbiting” and Gilbert kicked ouit at the 25, us full time sounded . Mr A. F. J.a.mieson wa<s> ret'eree. GRAHAM WISE CUP. WON BY ROSS JUNIORS. In the annual contest for the Graham Wise Cup, Ross Juniors defeated Cobden at Kumara on Saturday, after a brilliant exhibition of football. Cobden led by eight points to three at half time, but Ross, who received the ball from the. greatest number of the scrums, broke up quickly and threw the ball about freely to add a further eight points. Parker and Rochford scored tries for Ross, Mason converting one, and kicking a penalty. For Cobden, I). Eggleton scored and Minchin converted and kicked a penalty. Ross forwards played brilliant football. The curtain raiser betwene Cobden B and Kiwi (Hokitika) Juniors, resulted in a. win for Kiwis, by 12 points to CELTIC II (22) v. UNITED II (9). In the junior curtain raiser match at Rugby Park, Celtic played sparkling football to defeat United by 22 points to nine. McGinley (3), *Cullen (2) and Duffy scored for Celtic, McGinley converting two. D. Ellis scored three fine tries for United. BLAKETOWN II (15) V. STAR II (8). At the Technical School ground, Ukiketown juniors defeated Star by 15 points to 8, after a hard fought and even contest. Goodall (3) scored

tries for the winners, and also converted one try. Iggo drop-kicked a beautiful field goal from the side line just inside the halfway line. Watson and Cooper scored for Star, Cooper converting one. STAR IV (24) v. TECH. IV (11). Star fourth graders defeated Technical at Rugby Park by 24 points to 11 after a fast and open contest. W. Wilson (2), Kiely, Archer, McLaughlin and Wasley scored tries for Star, Kiely converting two and McLaughlin one. D. Wilson, Moss, and McLennan scored for Technical, Moss converting one. NEWMAN SHIELD. Westport boys’ team in the final of 1 the primary (8 stone) Newman Shield competition on Saturday at Hokitika demonstrated their superiority over the Hokitika team to the tune of 38 ( points to nil. The visitors showed initiative, combination and speed that would have done credit to a much older team, but they certainly had an opposition lacking entirely in team work, only three or four of the losers being worthy of mention. The rate of scoring increased as the play proceeded, the home team becoming tired. Thurlow, Smallholm, Gray, Jones and indeed oil of the Buller backs played cleverly, and all the forwards comniined in rushes most effectively, also getting the ball away at times very speedily to the backs. Ashley, Saxon, Markland and Freitas were the best of the Hokitika players. The visitors scored a dozen tries, only one being converted. Mr Collett proved a very capable referee.

WESTLAND KNOCK-OUT COMPETITION. In the Westland senior Knock-out Competition Kiwis on Saturday beat Pirates by 20 to 3. Both teams played a number of juniors. Kiwi backs were the speedier and their forwards also had some advantage in combination. Play was fairly open. Pirates withstood the winners in the first spell for most of the time, despite their being a man short, but in the second half had little chance of success. Tries were scored for Kiwis by West, Henderson, Morgan, Walker, Leslie and George, one try being converted, while Wills scored for Pirates. Mr J. Rutland was referee. WEST COAST TEAM TO PLAY WELLINGTON. The following team has been chosen to represent West Coast against Wellington representatives at Wellington,, on Wednesday: Full back: Gilbert. Three-quarters: E. Phaflert, A. Fong. C. Schroder. Five-eighths; R. Bunt, W. Hughes. Half back: B. Scandrett. Forwards: A. Bowes, M. Olsen, M. Scandrett, R. King, M. Thompson, F. Freitas (capt.), W. McNeight, L. Hughes. ROYAL HOTEL DEFEATS CLUB - * HOTEL. Playing yesterday at Cobden, the Royal Hotel team defeated the Club team in a fast open game by 19 to 13 points. Despite the fact that many of the players had not taken the field for a number of years, both teams combined well to produce good football and the play of Mouatt and Davis, of the Club Hotel and Eagan, Shuttleworth, Stewart, and O’Malley of the Royal, showed there is still a bit of life in the older players. For the Royal Hotel Stewart scored three tries, and Eagan, Shuttleworth and Carr one each, while Stewart and Carr each converted one. For the Club Mouatt, McDonald and Davis scored, and Mouati converted two. This was the first game for the “Hops” Cup, and it is hoped that, as the proceeds of the games are being devoted to the Mayor’s unemployment fund, challenges from the other hotels will be sent to the holders. WESTPORT, September 15. Played on Victoria Square this afternoon, the senior Rugby Cup final resulted: United 9, Old Boys 8. Auckland Beaten BY TARANAKI. AUCKLAND, September 15. After being overshadowed for the greater part of the game, Taranaki rugby thrilled a. cro-wd of 8,000 at Eden Park to-day in a whirlwind finish, enabling them to de feat Auckland by 28 points to 15. The Ranfurly Shield was not at stake. After Miss Jean Batten had kicked off, Taranaki forwards gained command, and maintained strong attack. Gud geon was playing an enterprising game, and about ten minutes after the start sent the forwards away in a great loose rush. The backs l joined ?n ; and Townsend took a long pass to dive across at the corner. Collins goaled. Then Auckland forwards settled down to sblid packing, and after a brilliant line kick by Caughey, Hedge cut through from a lineo.uit to .score a fine try. Heazlewood goaled. Auckland maintained the pressure, and after a ran across the field, Murdoch seat Kidgley away, Caughey keeping up w ; th the winger to take an in-pass ami score between the posts. Heazlewood goa.l--cd.

Another fine run l?y Gudgeon put Taranaki on attack. Corner saved well, but Taranaki forwards won fi'om a line out, ,amd Clarke picked up in -the loose to score. Collins missed with the kick. Auckland attacked at the dtart of the second spell, but when a back movement broke down, Taranaki forwards took the ball .almost the full length of the • field, Clarke spoiling a golden scoring chanice by kicking too hard. Auckland returned with a lighting dash by Corner, and when the halfback wa-s sltopped, Hedge picked up to dodge over for a. try. Heazlewood goaled. Taranaki forwards, led by Clarkx continued to play magnificently in the loose hut. the backs lacked cohesion. However, in a blindside movement Kinsella badly beat Heazlewood, and ran round for a try under the posts. Collins goaled. Taranaki immediately bustled Auckland to its goal line, and Brown and Sangster ran through strongly for the latter to score near the posts. Collins goaled.

Another great forward rush took play to Auckland’s line, and Brown dived over from a scrum. Collins goaled. It hed been a whirlwind burst of scoring, which had temporarily demoralised Auckland, and just at the clo>e perfect handling by the back< and the forwards saw Pastier score between the Collins goaled and tin* game ended—Taranaki 28. Aut-kland 15. WELLINGTON V. CANTERBURY. (Per Press Association.) .CHRISTCHURCH. September 15. Wellington beat Canterbury at rugby to-day by 25 points <to 17. For Canterbury tries were s'eorcd by Tweedie, Hooper, Wilson and Mann. Nolan converted one try and kicked a penalty goal. Eoir Wellington, tries were scored by Nees. Barry, Lilburne, Leary. Fuller converted two tries and kicked a penalty, Dustin potted a goal and Sadlier con ver', cd a try. The annual Rugby match Police v Press, played ns a. curtain raiser to the inter-provihcial game, was won by the Press by 8 to 3. MARLBOROUGH WALLOPED WELLINGTON, Sepiemlej Ki. Marlborough rug I> v re p rose uta 11 v were, defeated by Wellington by 36 points to 6 yesterday. The attendant was small 1 . The weather was fine, but there was a strong southerly wind, which favoured the visitors 'in the first spell. Despite the hamli.i-ap, Wellington who were superior in all departments of the game, led a; the interval by 15 points to 3, tfies being scored by Griffiths and M'cGreeyy and Lam bourne, Laanasou converting them all. Roberts scored Marlborough’s only try. Scorers in the second spell for Wellington were Lynch (2), A. Wright. Lamason and Ken riy. Lamason converting three. Grant scored for Marlborough. Wellington backs ; hived a bright, open game, but the defence of Marlborough bu ,; 'ks was deplor ably weak. AUSTRALIAN REFEEES. (Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.) SYDNEY. September- L"5. The New South Wales Rugby Unron has received a letter from Mr Geddes, explaining the reported attack on Australian referees. Mr G'eddes says: “Upon arrival in Wellington, we were rushed by reporters. T told them of difficulties we had had ihi candy games in regard to various inten/pretations which puzzled, us in connection with the offside and front rule, more particularly in the first Test. I wanted, them strictly to understand that w»re not making any complaint or excuses for our defeat, as we were well and truly beaten by a bntter side.” Mr Geddes concludes: “I sincerely trust I have cleared the air. and that the good opinion the people of Australia had of the team will all'll b" retained. ’ ’ SYDNEY, September 16. In the Rugby Union final Rand wick defeated Manly 13 to 12 after a tremendously fast and hard gr.i/e.