RUGBY FOOTBALL LAST WEEK’S PLAY

Grey River Argus, 20 August 1949, Page 6

RUGBY FOOTBALL LAST WEEK’S PLAY

The highlight of Rugby for West Coast supporters last Saturday was the win by the touring team over North Otago. Having proved their worth against Buller, high hopes Were held for this team on its southern tour, and they were sustained by this win over a team which had not been beaten on its own ground foxthe past three years. Unfortunately several injuries caused a weak team to be fielded against Southland SubUnions on Wednesday. After this game more casualties in Mathieson, Fraser, Fisher and Gillan were added to the growing list. Things have become so bad that D. McKendry of Blaketown and W. Curtain of Star, have been sent for to reinforce the forwards.

However, on previous form this season, another win should be envisaged on Saturday, when the team plays the Otago Sub-Union team at Dunedin.

The local games in both senior and junior competitions last week were hot inspiring to say the least. None of the teams played with any dash or cohesion and many glorious opportunities went begging through jjoor handling. Blaketown. fully deserved their win over Celtic as they were very much below strength. With another of their players going south to join the touring team they will be still further weakened for their game against Star in the final of the •competition round. With the senior, junior, third and fourth grade competitions ending this week-end, future interest until the arrival of the Australians will be maintained by a series of seven-a-side competitions, one of which is to be held at Kumara on August 27. At Hokitika, Westland will play Inangahua for the Dittman Shield. Unfortunately ,the Greymouth fourth grade team will not be able to play its much-posjtponed fixture, against the Westland fourth grade representatives as the Junior Advisory Board decided to make their club games/ take precedence. The fireside critics I will be able to listen in to the Buller v. Nelson match, played at Westport for the Seddon Shield. TEAMS FOR TO-DAY. Blaketown eighth grade: Olsen (2), Lark, Inwood, Coll, Collins, McEnaney (2), Preston, "Fong, Forbes, Howe, Becker, Curtain, Dennedy and Mathieson. Blaketown seniors: J. Goodall, J. Benyon, R. Morgan, K. Walsh, N. Ellery, J. Smith, T. Stewart, T. Leggoe, R. Hunt, K. Tomlinson, N. Webster, M. McDonald, R. Offard, L. Burling, D." Bright and J. Willis. Blaketown juniors: V. Rudd, C. McGuire, D. Spender, K. Smith, D. Graham, A. Dawson, G. Dick R. Leach, J. Jarvis, H. Leach, M. Beams, R. Leach, J. Preston, M. Ranger, G. Curtain, G. Dawson, K. Dow and A. Zampesi. Grey Traffic Prove Too Good For Westport Railway Team Last Sunday in -beautifully fineweather at the Cobden Domain, Greymouth Railway Traffic deieat&u Westport Railway by 26 points to nil. Westport din .not infuse the same dash into their play that has characterised previous performances, nevertheless they were up against a formidable combination that scored six tries after some bright movements. For the winners I. Antonovic, H. Dixon, E. Patterson and J. Campbell were the pick of the forwards and in the backs G. Henderson was safe at full-back. E. Colville at half started many promising movements while W. Scalmer and K. Biddington ran straight and hard to gi\ e the wings every chance. D. Adlam made the most of his chances by scoring two good tries. In the forwards for Westport M. Duncan, R. Douglas and J. Dent were the best. G. Parkinson and J. Diskin had a good understanding in the backs but the outsides were no match for the home backs. B. Flynn at full-back played his usual safe game and got through a hard days work with credit. THE PLAY Right from the kick-off Traffic attacked and the visitors were penalised. Henderson’s kick at goal missed, A. Kearns failed to clear and E Colville snapped up to dive over. Traffic 3, Westport 0. Five minutes later from a ruck the home forwards started short passing for E. Patterson to score a good try. Traffic 6—Westport °’ From the kick-off Traffic again went into Westport territory, W. Robinson was caught off side. 1. . yi'illiams kicked a penalty, traffic 9, Westport 0. H. Dixon was nert to score and D. Adlam missed a penalty kick. When half-time was called the score was 12—0. Some brilliant passing was witnessed in the second half. From a scrum Colville to Horrock to Scalmer to Biddington for the latter to score. Scalmer 'fielded a mis-kick to. make a good run before transferring to Dadi am to outpace the opposition and score pcai l the corner.. Colville next made a great run to kick ahead but was bealen by the bounce. Flynn forced. H. Dixon picked up from loose plav and passed to Adlam who scored. Colville converted. G. Henderson kicked a penalty to make the final score, Traffic 26, Westport 0. Referee. Mr T. Henlev.