RUGBY FOOTBALL

Grey River Argus, 28 July 1941, Page 7

RUGBY FOOTBALL

GAMES POSTPONED. Owing to heavy rain on Saturday morning, all West Coast Rugby fixtures were cancelled. Seddon Shield Team SCOTT NOT AVAILABLE. Only one change has been made by the Selectors (Messrs T. P. Ryan. T Mclntosh and S. Moore), in the team' to play Marlborough at Rugby Park on Saturday next, compared with the team which drew with Buller a week ago. R. H. Scott, the centre three-quarter, is not available, and his place has been taken by Albert Vaughan, who is replaced at second five-eighths by J. West, of Hokitika. The team is as follows: —- Full-back: J. Gillan. Three-quarters: J. Wareham, Albert Vaughan, C. Monk. Five-eighths: S. Hendry, J'. West. Half-back: L. S'weetman. Forwards: J. Sinclair, K. Pedder, R. Godfrey, W. Blair, R. R. King, R. Birchfield. J. Weiblitz, W. Croudis. Emergencies—Backs: T. Butler, C. Amberger. Forwards: P. Sinclair, J. Hadficck.' JUNIOR REPRESENTATIVES. The following have been chosen tc plav Westland juniors at Greymouth on Saturday next:— Full-back: Tully (Celtic); threequarters: Carr (United), Sam,.-..e..; (Magpies), Richardson (Cobden); five-eighths: McDonnell (Cetic), Davidson (Cobden); half-back: Horrack (Celtic, vice-captain); forwards: Hibbs (Magpies), Lawry (Celtic) Jeffries (Cobden), Beardsley (Magpies, captain), Honey (Magpies), Pomeroy (Celtic), Beck (United). McKendi’v (Star). Emergencies: Backs: McLean (Cobden), Dixon (Star). Forwards: Kent (Star). Grant (Celtic).

All players are to meet at the Cobden Gymnasium on Wednesday night.

WESTLAND GAMES. In the third grade matches played at Hokitika on Saturday Excelsiors (defeated Kiwis by 12 points to 6. ir S. Stuart was ' referee.. Kokatahi forfeited to School. The final ol the competition will be played between Excelsiors and School. Playing at Ruatapu on Saturday Ruatapu defeated Harihari by 19 points to 6.

OTAGO v. SOUTHLAND. INVERCARGILL, July 27. In dull, overcast weather the Otago Rugby team yesterday beat Southland by six points to three. The ground was sodden and heavy, and soon became a sea of mud, making the ball difficult to handle. Southland forwards were superior to their opponents, but Otago backs enjoyed a definite superiority. However, the conditions were against) back play. Otago’s score came from tries by Kearney and Churchill, and Stewart scored a try for Southland. The first half was dominated by the Otago backs, who were potential scorers all the time. Otago led by 3 to nil at half-time. In the second spell Southland forwards set out to keep the piay tight, and starve the faster Otago backs, but the Southland backs were caught out of position an.l Churchill scored. Southland hookea’ the ball from a scrum near the line, and the ball went to Stewart, who dummied his way over.

IN OTHER CENTRES. OAMARU, July 26. North Otago beat South Canterbury by 11 points to 4 in the first representative match of the season. Conditions were good. North Otago appeared to have the advantage in weight, in backs and forwards, and by securing the ball from the great majority of set scrums, held the initiative. Their backs ran determinedly, but showed little finesse. A feature was fine line-kicking of the full-back, R. Hamill. I. Paterson, another North Otago player, showed fine judgment in and it was a loss when he had to leave the field at the end of the first halt with an injury. PALMERSTON N., July 26. Manawatu beat Wanganui by 8/3. The forward play wa's fairly even, and Manawatu were better in loose rushes. For the winners, Clarke kicked a penalty goal and also converted a try by Fitch. For Wanganui, James scored an unconverted try. The ground was a quagmire. INVERCARGILL, July 26. Despite heavy ground and a greasy ball, Otago v. Southland, provided a

bright display for five thousand spectators. Otago won by 6 points to 3. Paewai and Churchill were the most prominent in the visitors’ back division. AUCKLAND, July 26. Rugby: Army 16. Grammar 12; Takapuna 12, Marist 6; Ponsonby 7, Technical 3; Manukau 17, Grafton 11. League: Manukau 18. Ponsonby 5; City 12, Mount Albert 11; Richmond 19, Marist 9; Newton 13. Papakura 5. *- WESTPORT, July 27. Rugby games were played on the trotting track, which was sloppy. Westport-Star beat Old Boys by 13 points to 8, after a hard battle among the forwards. Old Boys led at half time bv 8 points to 3. Granity High School 9. Old Bovs 3; Star 6, Technical School 3. were the other results.

N.Z. WIN IN FIJI. (Rec. 7.0). SUVA, July 26. A New Zealand Rugby football team defeated a European team here by 32 to 9. The New Zealand scorers were: O’Connor (ten), Hooper (four), Chester (three), Gable (three). Ensor (six),, Clothier (three) and Brimble (three).