RUGBY FOOTBALL

Grey River Argus, 5 August 1940, Page 2

RUGBY FOOTBALL

WIN FOR BULLER Seddon Shield Game WESTPORT, August 3. Buller retained the Seddon Shield to-day against Marlborough’s challenge by 22 points 13, in a line game. The match at Victoria Square attracted a large attendance. Weather conditions were ideal and tne ground was in perfect order. The teams were:— Buller: Dunn, Hill, Weenink. Neighbours;’ Alexander, Porter; Luff; Moseley, Phipps, K. Corrie, Mason, Jackson, D. Neighbours, Robertson, Fox. Marlborough: Jackson; Sadd. Strachan, Bonsall; Neal, Forsyth; Ireland; Brown, Maskew, Stables, Woolley, Miles, Rainbird, Shannan, Crawford. , , ... The Buller backs showed up brilliantly in the early stages, but good tackling kept them out. Then Weenink scored a try behind the posts, following dashing play by th e backs ten minutes after the commencement. Dunn converted. Buller 5, Marlborough 0. Later the Marlborough forwards, headed by Crawford and Brown, attacked strongly, but Dunn cleared. Luff was applauded for a smart breakaway, but was stopped. Then Porter picked up from loose play and kicked a field goal. Buller 9, Marlborough 0. Th e Buller backs continued to play dashing football, with Porter, Alexander and Luff dangerous, but keen tackling kept them at bay. Bonsaii had a run on the wing for Marlborough, but was well collared by Neighbours. Dunn sent Buller on attack again with a long line kick, but Strachan cleared. Then Crawford, the visiting skipper, made a great effort to break through, but Sadd, who was following up, was brought down in possession. Shortly after, Strachan opened the scoring for Marlborough with a penalty goa.. Buller 9, Marlborough 3. Buller went further ahead with a try by Porter, who received from Alexander near half-way to cut through the opposition. He passed i > Neighbours on the wing, who mp. sed to Porter, who went over. Dum goaled from the side-line. Buller '-v- Marlborough 3. Mailborough attacked with « thrilling forward rush headed by Maskew. and Woolley and nearly scored. X’ mis stage Bonsall ret;rea injured, Gibbs taking his place. Just on half-time Forsyth kicked a smart field goal iQv Marlborough. Hahtime score: Bi ._. v 44 Marlborough, 7. . \ Shortly after >. q le resumption, Dunn stemmed a f > rous f orwar d rush by the headed by Rainbird and Brown,, Jackson, the full-back for Marlborbugh, repeatedly saved his side with wiring linekicks. Neighbours streaked down the side-line, but was sma. bv Gibb. Play swung up , lfP . vn field when Alexander, who the pivot of the Buller backs, gottoway, but was pulled down alter a 'Vu■>. mined run. Dunn had a chancko; sending Buller further ahead, W narrowly failed with a penalty,

lowing snappy back play by Buller. Weemnk kicxed to the corner, but Jackson cleared. Not to be denieo. Porter, as a result of bright play b> Alexander, shot away from th e field and scored between thu posts. Dunn converted. Buller 19, Mariborougn 7.

Weenink then made a brilliant, run, but was pulled down inches from the line. Buller were now superior in all departments and gave the challengers a busy time. Buller got another try when Weenink sent the ball to Hili', who dashed over. Buller 22, Marlborough 7. The visiting side made many attempts to get a try and were rewarded when Sadd crossed near the corner flag. Strachan failed to convert. Buller 22, Marlborough 10. Just on full-time Strachan kicked a penalty for Marlborough, and the game enucd with Buller retaining the shieto. The final score was: — Buller 22 Marlborough 13 Referee: Mr. H. C. Coulter. McLean Cup KIWI DEFEAT COBDEN. Proving themselves th e premier club team of the season in the district of the West Coast Rugby Union, Kiwi at Hokitika on Saturday won the McLean Cup from Cobden, whose two years’ unbeaten record thus reached its end. The scores, 12 to 8 rather flattered Cobden, who gained a converted try right at the ena, whereas Kiwi until then had led py 12 to 3 throughout the second spell, in which the play was certainly more even than in the first. But. th e winners looked to have the better chance all the way, proving decidedly the faster combination, and making up for a weight deficiency in the foi-j wards by tireless tackling and milowing up, Cobden got the ball from most of the scrums, and did the better also in line-outs, but their half, Kiely, was often caught in possession, while their second five-eighth had the same experience in the first spell', whereas the tactics in the second were changed to rely on a closer, forward game, and it was not till the final stage that Birchfield was able to score in the corner. Roberts was prominent in the opening play, showing initiative. Lindbom failed with a penalty kick, but Mason, the other full-back soon after succeeded, and the Kiwi forwards, led by Piefson, who shone in the loose all dav, look play back to the others’ quarter. Four Kiwi backs, Hurren, West, Roberts, and Burns passed smartly, th e last named being pushed out at th e corner by Henderson. An exchange of kicks saw Lindbom ’ find touch, and this he did accurately throughout tne game. He also .evened, the score, with u second free kick. Soon after Kiwis hooked the ball at the 25 and Hurren, West, Roberts and Jordan handled for the last named to gain a spectacular try. In doing so, however, his head came hard against the hip of Vaughan, the opposing winger, ana Jordan had to leave the field with a serious head injury, requiring his entry to the Westland Hospital, where h's condition, though improved was yesterday reported to be still very serious. McLean replaced him. Kiwis continued attacking, Lindbom often sending them back. The referee pe/iI alised Kiwis for line out infringements, from one ,pf which Lindbom l just failed to goal. Roberts and West

got in kicks that put Cobden m trouble, a force resulting. Play was hard. Kiwi backs being superior, Sproule proving a reliable centre. Cobden onc e got away, but Kiwis soon returned, and from a scrum Hurren, West, Roberts, Sproule and McLean handled, the last named scoring but Mason failed with a long kick. Midfield play followed for some time, and then Kiwi backs again handled, Burns being finally tackled. Vaughan, second five eighth made a dash for Cobden, but Roberts with a well judged stab kick, caused the ball to bounce for Burns, who beat Lindbom and scored, the try again going unconverted.

In the second spell the play was slower, Cobden playing closer, and making a better showing.- Kiwis then forced. A lot of play was confined to the Kiwi half of the grouna, and it was les s interesting than m th, e first spell, Cobden making it a closer game. Their big forwards were well, marked, and seldom looked dangerous, but Kiwis were not able to repeat their fiest aggression. Towards the end Cobden put on a inward attack, and from a scrum m the corner Kiely dived for the h’ ne - He was caught, but tried again, and this time Birchfield came along with him and as h e lost possession grabbed th e ball' to score. With a splendid kick from the I'ine Lindbom goaled, making the final scores 12 to 8 in favour of Kiwis. For the winners the back s all played W eil, Roberts, West, Hurren, Sproule, and Burns especially. In the forwards again all were good, PierAdams and McHaig, catching the eye* Lindbom was Cobden’s best back while Collin s and Henderson also did well'. The other backs were not on their game thanks to the speeay tackling of the opposition. King (2), Birchfield and Moss, were grafters m the forwards. Mr Brown refereed with his customary efficiency. Grey Games WINS FOR CELTIC AND UNITED. Two even games, in which forv’ard riay was of a high standard were witnessed at Rugby Park on Satuicay, when the new senior competition was continued. Although Celtic scored a seven-point win over Blaketown, che lexers put up a strong challenge against their opponents, and some fine football was witnessed. Stars and United fought it out all the way. United winning by one point in a thrilling finish, with nothing between the teams. UNITED 11—STARS 10. Stars had the better of the second spell against United, who led by 8 points to 5 at the interval. The Star forwards put plenty of dash into their play during the first spell, but United held them better after half-time. D. Wilson, Smith and Mclvor wore the pick of the Star forwards, whilst Hamilton and Walton played good

games for United. Of the backs, Gillam played a safe game for United, whilst D. Dewar and S. Hendry opened up play in good style. L. Sweetman, at half-back came in for much attention from the Star forwards, who successfully prevented him from getting the ball out to his backs. C. Furness was Stars’ outstanding hack, and played probably his best game tills season. McKenzie played a steady but safe game at full back. F. Dixon, the half, was more successful than

Sweetman and got the ball away in approved fashion.

The teams were: — Stars: McKenzie, Fagerlund, Cron, Blocksage, Martyn, Furness F. Dixon, Brown, Cook, Jackson, Cha.twick, Smith, Mclvor, D. Wilson and W. Dixon. United: Gillam, Sellars, Dewar, Garde, Hendry, Costello, Sweetman, Dimond, Walton, Rose, Simpson, Hamilton, Cooper, Taylor and Smith. Stars pressed early in the game, Martyn mising two penalty Kicks from the-25 in the first ten minutes. Off-side play spoilt United’s chance after they had pressed for a period, and Stars came back for Costello to secure. Furness converted. —Star 5; United 0. Shortly afterwards, Dewar gcaled from a penalty.—United 3; Stars 5. Dewar missed a penalty Horn 50 yards out, but the United forwards went through in a brilliant loose movement, Hamilton scoring. Dewar converted.—United 8; Stars 5. Stars were pressing in a forward movement at half-time, with the score unchanged. Early after resuming, United pressed and the ball came from a forward rush to Costello, who sent Sellars over in the cornen. Dewar missed the kick.—United 11; Stars 5. Costello left the field with injuries and was replaced by Nesbitt. The Star for-' wards took a turn, and after a thrilling rush, W. Dixon secured from the ruck near the line to go over for a good try. Furness converted. — Stars 10; United 11. The last ton minutes of play provided lively forward rushes, but neither side was able to score, the final result being.--United 11; Stars 10. The referee was Mr A J. Fulton. CETIC 22—BLAKETOWN 15. Fast back movements were a feature of the Celtic-Blaketown game, won by Celtic by 22 points to 15, after an even struggle in which the Celtic backs held the upper hand. Blaketewn showed considerable improvement on its earlier form and kept Celtic at bay until towards the end of the game, when each side scored converted tries. Scott, Boswell and W. (Nancy were 'the pick of the Celtic backs, with Butler, Roulston and A. Scandrett always prominent in the forwards. The best Blaketown forwards were A. Panther and Foster, whilst in the backs, Smith at half, played a heady game, and Pilling and Samuels were always prominent In the first spell, Warehan sco cd two tries for Celtic and Scott kicked a penalty goal. Tries by Shannon and McDonald comprised Blaketown’s total ,the half-time score being 9—6 in Celtic’s favour. Early in the second spell, C. Panther scored a try for Blaketown, whilst Scott goaled from a penalty for Celtic De Freatus dropped a goal from a penalty for Blaketown, and later kicked a penalty. Boswell scored under the posts, Scott converting, and Scott later converted a good try by Warehan, making the final ’ score:--Celtic 22; Blaketown 15. The referee was Mr N. Eggleton JUNIOR GRADE. Playing at Rugby Park, Star juniors had a good win over United by 17 points to 3. For the winners, H. Dixon scored two tries and kicked two penalties, whilst Perry scored and converted. H. Bellis scored a try for the losers. At Kumara, the home team defeated Te Kinga by 11 points to 4. FOURTH GRADE. Blaketown fourths had another fine win over Technical B, at Rugby Park,

winning by 33 points to 3 in an uneven game.

OTAGO-SOUTHLAND DRAW.

DUNEDIN, August 3

Before a crowd estimated at fifteen thousand, Otago and Southland met at Carisbrook to-day in perfect weather, in a match for the Donald Stuart Memorial Shield, the only representative fixture to be played at Dunedin this season.

A battle royal was staged between two evenly-matched sets of forwards and, with the backs frequently swinging into action, interest was maintained at a high pitch. The game ended in a draw, the score being 10 alt leaving the shield in the possession of Otago.

The first spell ended 5—3 in favour of Southland, for whom Urwin scored a try which McCurdy converted. Otago’s try was obtained by Werner at the end of a loose forward rush. In the second spell, Werner potted a goal and scored for Otago, while Mackrell scored for Southland. McCurdy converted. The best of the Southland players were Purdue, Ward, Herron and Urvfin in the forwards, Grace and Sutherland in the backs. For Otago, McDonald, Vorrath, Foote, and Smith in the forwards, and Simpson, Berghan and Black in the backs were outstanding.

ASHBURTON WIN. ASHBURTON, August 3. A representative Rugby match between Ashburton and North Otago was won by Ashburton, 19—6, this afternoon. There was a good _ attendance. In the curtain-raiser, Country beat Town, B—6.8 —6. CHRISTCHURCH, August 3. Senior. —Technical 17, Southern 13; Sunnyside 19, Territorial 9; Merivale 7, Christchurch 0; Linwood 12, Albion 6; Athletic 24, Army 14; Varsity 20, Air Force 9; New Brighton 14, Old Boys 11. AUCKLAND, August 3. Technical 9. Grammar 3 MASTERTON, August 3. Final senior championship: Carterton 9, Gladstone 7. WANGANUI, August 3. Pirates 14, Wanganui and Ota Boys 9; Marist 12, Technical Oia Boys 3. PALMERSTON NORTH, Aug. 3. Feilding 28, Kia Toa 11; University 16, United 3; St. Patrick’s 18, Air Force 3; Old Boys 30, Feilding Did Boys 8. WELLINGTON, August 3.

Senior, first division: Wellington 23, Petone 17; Athletic 34, Johnsonville 5; Eastbourne 20, Poneke o. Hardham Cup: Wellington College Old Boys 8, Hutt 8; University in. Marist Brothers Old Boys 9; Oriental 18, St. Patrick’s Old Bovs 15. Senior, second division: Petone 8, Athletic 0; Miramar 20, Poneke 3; Marist Brothers Old Boys defaulted 10 OnsloW;

TIMARU, August 3. In the South Canterbury Rugby competitions Zingari beat 10—8. This was the surprise of the season, Zingari not having previously won a game, while Temuka were the leaders in the competition.