RUGBY FOOTBALL

Grey River Argus, 12 September 1935, Page 6

RUGBY FOOTBALL

WEST COAST DEFEATED By Wellington Colts A decisive defeat was yesterday inflicted on the West Coast representatives by Wellington touring team by 25 points (seven tries and a potted goal) to 3 (a try). The game attracted a fair crowd to Cass Square, Hokitika, where the conditions were good, except for a strong wind from the south-east, which gave a definite advantage to the team playing towards i the northern goal. Thus the visitors had the luck of it when they won the toss, but it must be said that they had also the ability to make good use of it. They were in every respect the better side, and even if Nolan, Hughes, Schroder and Olsen had not been missing (and they were missed) from the home side, it could not be said the visitors would not have won in view of their play. They reckoned there was no comparison between the team they played yesterday and the one they met on Saturday in Westport. Leading 16/0 at half time, Wellington never let up, and when their lead was expected at least to be reduced in the second spell against the wind, it was only increased by 6 points. Their only evident weakness, on the day, was in goal kicking, seven tries going unconverted; but the opposition kicked no better. Where West Coast failed most was obviously on defence, for, allowing the winners to have been fast off the mark and concerted, they got through at times very luckily, due to tackling that was often at sea ot half-hearted. The visitors have a tall even set of forwards, none yet brilliant, but all honest. The backs include more than one who will go further, especially Langdon and Cresswell, while Hudson, McGurk and Greenbank are also clever, fast and reliable Of the forwards, prominent men were Waite, Reid, Wright and McLean (2). Cresswell showed versatility and initiative as custodian, while Langdon found openings in a brainy way. and both evaded opponents and developed movements in faultless style. Hudson at centre was a strong link. Greenbank showed speed and tactics behind the scrum. Hooper did a lot of good work for West Coast, and Pfahlert showed his usual vim, while Mann got in a few characteristic dashes, and tackled usually with effect. Vincent defended fairly well and was quick in his passing, but not always discreet. The Coast backs might, have exploited kicking more in the second spell, whereas they kicked more in the first against the wind, when they gained no ground. Wellington used reverse tactics. Of the forwards M. Seandrett, Thiele, Cox and Freitas were the most prominent. They pushed the visitors, but had the worse of both ling-outs and scrums. West Coast le’ked to have a chance only for a while after changing ends, when Pfahlert. made a few dashes, but the impression thus given was not accurate, as the side lacked combination and method. Mr. C. T. Harper was a fair and efficient referee.

The teams were as follows:— Wol!ing‘.on: FuP-back. Cresswell; three-quarters, Walling. Hudson, McGurk; five-eighths, Manders, Langdon; half, Greenbank; forwards Pringle. Wright. Saulbrey. W. McLean, R. G. McLean, Reid (captainGhesterman, Waite. West Coast; Full-back, Collins; three-quarters, Pfahlert;, Mann. Diedrich; five-eighths, West, Hooper; half, Vincent; forwards, Martin, Buchanan. A. Ruandretit, M. Scandrett. Freitas (captain). Walker. Thiele, Cox. The visitors won the toss, pteying with the wind. and the kick by Freitas wa# returned by Langdon to Collins, whose kick McGurk sent to touch. Play then went to Coast 25. where Hooper sent a pass to Diedrich, who was eollared at half-way. Walker got offside, and Cresswcll found touch at Coast 25. Collins stayed a Wellington rush with a line kick. W. McLean was prominent i n a forward attack, Hooper relieving with a line kick, after which he. West and Mann figured in a passing movement, but Langdon. Manders and Hudson took p’ay back, and Cresswel] n ex<t made a dash. Hudson followed with a run, and then Cresswell kicked over Coast line, Collins refusing to force, and kicking out. A good dash by Waite paved the way for a try. Pringle tak ing his pass back, and scoring far out, Waite failing to convert.—Wellington 3; West Coast 0.

After. Collins found touch at balfCnx tonk the ball through the opposition at his boot, but W. McLean from a scrum made a run and kicked out at Coast 25. The wind made the visitors’ kicks effective From a scrum near half-way, Wellingfion heeled, and Greenbank sent his backs away, but the movement broke down. Coast then secured from a serum, and Hooper, when tackled found the line. Wright and Saulbrey broke from a line out. Vincent, receiving from a scrum, gave a bad one-handed pass out. We’ling+on pack going to West Coast quarter, where West intervened and made a run. Reifl was here hurt temporarily, and on resuming, a Wellington serum infringement gave M. Scandrott a placet kick, with which he failed from well out. visiting forward? were doing better in the loose, and looked dangerous when M. Scandrett stopped them. GTeenbank made a smart dash along the side line, passing then to McGurk. and the winger scored. Waite facing to convent from far ou/. —Wellington 6; West Coast 0.

Thn, next item of note was a fine run from about half-way to near the goal line by Mann, who had intercepted, buti Hudson caught him when there was nobody hacking up. The ball went across Wellington line, but when M. Scandrett reached it the leather was over the dead ball line. Pfahlert almost got away with an interception. but went down though West Coast got on a. fresh attack, ’reading to a forep. down in the corner. A clearing kick by Langdon was then missed bv Collins, and Wellington pack went to Coast 25. Good form ’•wias being shown by Langdon, whereas Manders missed his passes. However, West Coast were then penned down, and were lucky when a force was awarded where a try looked sure. Collins then stopped a dash

by Hudson, but Langdon, backing up, secured and went across beneath the crossbar, only to see Waite again miss the conversion.—Wellington 9; West Coast 0.

Wellington backs, who were getting plenty of the ball, wer e passing until Pfahlert intercepted, knocking on, and then West Coast backs engaged in passing, but lost possession, and a Wellington kick was carried over the line for Collins to force. M Scandrett then was seen to advantage in several effeettive breakaways from scrums when the visitors had secured. A Wellington forward rush saw Collins find the line, but Reid from the line out. smart’y passed to Grcenbank. and Wellington backs wont away. From :i free kick at West Coast 25, Hudson failed to goal. Vincent passed to Freitas, who failed to use an open ing. .and after a fr- kick to Coast, Wellington heeled and the ball came out, hut Manders mis "1 his pass. A dash by Pfahlert. and a kick by Hooner put Const on attack, and four handled in passing for Walker to gel nearly through, but a mark by Langdon eased the pressure. Coast camo again, McGurk’s clearing kick bein'! marked by Collins, but Freitas had got offside. Greenbank and Cresswell gained ground, the latter showing judgment in coming up for a pass. Wellington forwards then came away. Co'lins saving. Later Coast backs passed Mann being caught. Hudson nnd McGurk returned play. Crcsswe” then secured and coming in. potte.l „ joal.—WeTlngton 13; West Coast 0. Wellington were now right on top. their backs going to the corner in a passing run. and from rm ensu’ng ruck Saulbrey scored, no goal being kicked— Wellington 16; West Coast 0. The West Const tackling was very defective, and the rush stopping wns oqunl'y bad. A dash by Cresswell, who got past Collins, saw Wellington almost over. Mann coming fast across to make a fine tackle, and half-time soon followed

A. Scandrett, who had been earlici rendered dizzy by a knock was re pieced bv Aitken in the second spell, which (the visiting forwards opened with a rush. Pfahlert was now playing five-eighth in p’aee of West, who had gone on the wing before halftime. Pfahlert took p’ay to the op posing corner, and later another da.->h of his took him nearly over. A scrum followed, from which Vincent jumped across to gain the only West Coast score, Thiele failing to convert.—Wei lington 16: West. Const 3. Martin kicked through. Crosswell returning the ball, nnd then Manders sent a pass to Wn’ling, who mulled. Offside play gave Freitas a free kick which gained 50 yards, and a line out in Wellington quarter led to a force down. Th’c'e was now prominent in loose play. Wellington were pressed but Langdon got in a relieving kick. Vincent came round a scrum, but sent out- a pass too high to West at Wellington 25. A Wellington forward rush was stopped by M. Scandrett, who screw-kicked to touch. Greenbank showed np in good work on both defence and attack. Thiele got away in the loose again, but Greenbank saved. Langdon was a thorn in the Coast side, finding holes in the backs, some of whom tackled poorly. Repeatedly, Vincent sent passes from the loose, but it was usually to men who were marked. Fol’owing a dash by Thiele, West made a run. and wen* close to a try. Then Buchanan ran nearly over Wellington line. Wellington backs passed freely, but Freitas and Walker made up the- ground, and a pass went to Diedrich, who was thrown out at the corner. West then made a dash. McGurk catching him. Greenbank from a serum made a run along the side line, but Mann then made n- dash upfield, his pass being intercepted. Greenbank relieved with a line kick. Hudson then broke clean through, and with a elear field hesi tated for support. Wellington later rushed to the Coast end, wher e smart passing from Greenbank and Hudson to McGurk enabled the last-named to score a nice try, which Hudson failed to convert from the side line.- Wellington 19; West Coast 3. Cox took the ball to the Wellington line, where Greenbank kicked to touch. Walling made a run along the side, and kicked. Collins returning the ball, but West got offside. Hooper got. in a useful kick, but Coast pack returned, though it was to see Langdon put in a sprint, which gave a scoring chance that was missed. Wellington backs picked holes in the defence, and the scrums were going in their favour. One Coast passing movement saw Pfahlert run too much to the side. Tn the line out likewise, the visitors were best, especially Reid and the McLeans. Cresswell, p’aying a fine game, '•paled through the opposition, but his pass was fumbled. More Wellington passing put Coast in difficulty, and then Wright dribbled through, the bad being taken to the line, where R. McLean scored,! though no goal resulted —Wel’ington 22; Coast. 3. Cox, who followed up well all day. nearly scored when Cresswell overran the ball after it was kicked across his line. Manders made a. dash to Coast 25. where his pass was intercepted. Greenbank showed up repeatedlv in heady p’ay. Davidson, w.io h"d replaced Diedrich, kicked across field allowing Wellington to get pos session, when they dribbled to the -ine and Pringle scored, the kick again fa’ling as with the visitors’ six other tries. Play, then ended with the scores: WELLINGTON WEST COAST WAIKATO v. OTAGO. AN EVEN GAME. HAMILTON, September 11. Playing improved football, Waikato in their first and only appearance in Hamilton this season, put up a fine display to hold Otago to an eight points margin at Rugby Park to-day, the visitors winning by 15 points to 7. Otago gave a great display of fast open Rngbv. Waikato held them in the forwards, while the backs tackled solidly throughout. Trevathan. playing first five-eighth for Otago, played an outstanding came, scoring all but three of the points, and opening the way for another try. McFarland, the visiting [full-back, was reminiscent of Hemi ;of the Maori team, his perfect hand-

ling and long kicking being an im portant factor in Otago’s success. Russell (Waikato half) played a more solid game than his vis-a-vis, Saxton, although he lacked the latter’s polish. Carlson was always prominent in the Waikato attack. Leeson was the outstanding forward on the ground while Green, McDonald and Quaide also impressed. Waikato were first to score when Cameron drop-kicked a great goal from near the half-way line. It was not long before Otago retaliated. Trevathan “ dummying” cleverly to cross under the posts. The kick was ch arg ed down. The game was fast and exciting, with both teams throwing the ball about Waikato went close twice, but Trevathan intercepted and kicked clear. Waikato scored at last, when Cameron ran downfield and passed to Griffiths, who cut inside to score a great try. Carlson failed to convert, x fast pace was maintained, and just before half-time Otago scored again, when Trevathan broke through and smartly centred to who vas pulled down on the line by Da*« both. Saxton then came up smartly, nicked up and dived over. Trevathan failed to convert. The half-time score was 7/6 in favour to Waikato. Tn the second spell, which was also fast and exciting. Trevathan a goal, while Green scored for Trevathan to convert. SOUTH ISLAND TEAM. TIMARU, September 11. South Canterbury players nominated for the South Island team are: T. Morrison, E. Ryan (three-quarters); C. Cartwright, O. Gaffney (five-eighths). G. King (half), G. Gidding and J Strang (forwards).