RUGBY FOOTBALL

Hokitika Guardian, 15 May 1933, Page 2

RUGBY FOOTBALL

THE WESTLAND COMPETITIONS

Matches played on Saturday

The Westland Rugby Sub-Union’s com. were continued on Saturday (afternoon. There was a fair attendance at Cass Square where one senior and {two junior matches were played.

EXCELSIOR,34, PIRATES 5,

Excelsior , proved Their superiority on ifche nay’s play in no -uncertain manner, j defeating pirates by 34 (8 tries, fivefeeing converted), to one converted try. The match throughout was full, of] interest, land the Excelsior victory was Idue to the sterling work of • their forwards combined with accurate handling among the hacks who 'threw the ball about and made the game as open i possible. The match opened more Or dess quietly •with Excelsior holding Pirates inside fealf way. The former’s Jhaicks made several attempts to get away but the Pirate forwards were quick to get in among them breaking up the movement. gained brief respite when Pfahlert and Ingles headed a rush into Excelsior

Davidson. and W, ■ Hughes checked their advance and good kicking and W. Hughes saw the ground regained and play went to the ofcher,end. After about twenty minutes’ play W. Hughes secured from' the ruck and . went over, the kick 'being unsuccessful. Soon after the back# all handled in a nippy rush, and Freitas gdtjhering in went through . for L. Hughes to convert. Good kicking by Agnew and a determined. ..run by .'E. pfahlert took Pirates to Within striking distance but Mitchell gathered in well and b r °ke rthrbugh and found 'th% line. Free, 'fahlert and A'gnew handled again > but a sweeping rush by. the Excelsior pack with King, R. Kelly, and Growcott •well to tile lore changed the scene again /and Pirates had to defend strongly. Excelsior set up another rush, and

with the 'ball at their toes went, down the line where King scored. Pirates to defend,.' arid just before half time King again dived , over, L. Hughes FiXcelsior 16.

[Pirates 0. • • , /;; j The second spell opened quietly with r attackinjg. '(Pie /Excelsior backs w Tail handled ■ in ia neat movement, and from a aerum - irtsidt 'theopposition area the forwards went away B. Kelly adding a try to the ■ score. Schist, Osborne and, C. Pfahlert head, fed a dangerous looking rush which was stopped 'by George'; arid Excelsiors were called on to defend for rail they were worth, but the Pirates forwards were not to be denied ‘ and 'in/ a scramble on the line Larcombe scored,'Agnew adding the major points. Soon after the Excelsior backs Went into 'action and the ball went out to George on the wing, The; jlitW centred,, and there were tjh|ee men waiting for the hall, Gf° w " cofyeeouving to run over for Davidseu fb convert. Connolly was next to score, securing from & passing rush and run-

Jiiug jsfaongfy. topap the movement. He

q'onVerted big town try. It was ;ft score, C°nnolly beautifully ” the . full back. Excelsior had been continually on the • offensive, c-^-nd-were having things mostly their own way. A few minutes before time Davidson dodged- through the'ruck to Bcotre and oonveTt, Shaking the final gcor| 34—5. The first spell was more even thin the score would indicate, and both ,sides ■were quick to seize opportunities. Early in the match the Excelsior backs showed they were on their game; Davidson was: disappointing at t : he start but quickly-got into his stride, and , behind the better'pack, was able to feed, his backs when he got the ball, The backs band Jed ■ well generally, . some iawkward passes being well snapped up. W. Hughes was called on for a lot of ■work, and often came round to handle, twice in the same rush, while his kicking was a l , decided rsset. The other inside .(hack#.; Muir end Freitas made good uge of the ball when it came their way .'.Connolly saw mote 'of. the -bait than' the other winger, George, but Ibqtih .were Willing to give things a go. was not called oh for much de. 4tl|pdVei work, but he' was safe' in hi's ’N^ding. Y’The Pirates backs also showed a lendoncy to throw the ball among jthemf elves, but their movements were liat so 'effective fls their opponents, there being, too muoh mishandling, Boyd played ai good game bebind the pack, although he received . a ;*st of attention from 1 the opposing forwards. Free and iPfahlert were well marked although the latter w.r® seen in numerous i determined runs which usually gained good ground. Agnew’, Si kicking was also welcome, and he did useful work when in possession. The wingers say very little of the ba 1 ' 1, and Whiley TeceiVed injuries necessitating bis retirement in the first spell,' he being replaced by M. Houston after half time. Tin Excelsior packmen' pinved a strenuous game and often controlled t h e wbo'-e of the proceedings, being dangerous in tbe loose especially when anywhere near the line. They we' e seen to ad vantage- in line-outs wJ-cre Teacn enabled them to whip the ball out to the back's. '.’Each played, his fai r share land their combined efforts T in scrum and -loose was a deciding factor in the 'jssue. v,\ Their efforts, however, did not completely overshadow the Pirates vangu i’d who also added much of the interest to the game. Lign-sr than

their opponents, they held their own —tin—the scrums, and were constantly on *’e' go. It was fettrenuous efforts on their part that kept Excelsior out on

in any occasions. J,‘ M&kw. m

JUNIOR MATCHES

Playing at Kokatahi, the home team defeated Pirates by 8 points to 3. Excelsior and Kiwi played a drawn match at Cass Square, each team scoring three points. At Ca«s Square, Ross defeated School by 9 points to 0.

GREYMOUTH GAMES.

GREYMOUTH, May 13. The following are to-day’ s Rugby results:—

Seniors—Star 4 (a. drop, kick by Ainsley), Cobden 4 (a drop kick by Lindbom); United 9 (tries by Schroder and Collins and a penalty goal by Gilbert), Blaketown 3 (a try by Olson). Juniors—United 12 (tries by Kear, Shuttleworth, Adams and Cox), Star 0; Cobden A 6, Cobden 86. Third Grade —Cobden 19, Blaketown 6.

Fourth Grade—Blaketown 18, Star 0.

CHRISTCHURCH RESULTS.

CHRISTCHURCH, May 13 Old Boys 11, Sydenham 6. Albion 11, Christchurch 3. Merivale 6, Linwood 3. Varsity 25, Athletic 6.