DITTMAN SHIELD

Hokitika Guardian, 28 August 1933, Page 2

DITTMAN SHIELD

WESTLAND V. LAKE BRUNER

A DRAWN GAME.

Conditions on Uass Square were unpleasant tor the D'iitman Shield Aiatcli on Saturday afternoon, when Lake Brunner . Stih-Union challenged Westland Sub-Union, l'lie game resulted in draw, 9 points( three tries) each. Light rain fell just before the start, and the ground was sodden and heavy, the ball becoming very greasy, and soon showing up the faults of. the backs, who were unable to handle cleanly. Aiitcliell, Westland’s full .back was the only back on the side to handle consistently, and many balls in passing rushes were dropped. On the other hand, Brunner backs handled far more cleanly, and were always dangerous when in possession, their three tries being the result of clean passing runs that beat the opposition badly. The home team scores came from loose forward rushes, and in two instances were very lucky ones. Westland forwards had a little the better of the scrums, but in the breakaway tactics the visitors shone, and keeping the ball down more were very dangerous at times. In their failure to handle cleanly,- Westland inside backs made many let downs, and much ground was lost. Early in the gaine W. Hughes injured hjs leg and left the field, ■ and IRb absence Was much felt. The home for* wards gained the upper hand distinctly in the last quarter of mn' hour and their attack went very close on several occasions, but the defenders kept their line intact from further scores. Among v the visitors Taaffe stood out, and lie was easily the best back on the ground, doing a large amount of spoiling, and opening out-, his handling being very fine all through. Gn the game there was very little'between the teams. Had the ball and ground been dry it would have been a different, game, and the home team' would probably have had to work very hard to have retained the shield,* as they managed to do. Brunner kicked off from the south goal, and an' 'early penalty was given against them .for offside. A loose* rpsh took back play, where Wright went on, but Collins broke away (and a passing run Was spoilt, by a knock-on.. Collins kicked" to Mitchell, but his kick was stopped’ and" a" green rush, saw the bull gp over the line, a knock-op spoiling, a sure .score. From the kick out, King got to Hibbs,-and the, ball went out at the centre.- A ied. rush saw the ball dropped, but C. Schroder kicked through, hut his brother on the opposing wing neutralised, -i Then Brunner forwards went away in a loose rush, blit Mitchell was safe. From, a line out Bell kicked to Freitas, .whose, . return Was stopped, and the visiting, forwards took play to" Hokitika line. ■ A short' kick by Collins was returned to Bell j who .sent to Mitchell, who lined at the I quarter flag.. Pfahlert made a dash,' hut did not get far, and Caesar came back and kicked to. Mitchell, who lined. Collins stopped King find Kelly, and the bjill went to Pfahjert who cut in and sent to Muir, who wfis thrown out near the line. The ball dame-out to Diedriclis who was taken by Collins, and following a the line, Thiele picked ' up’ and dodged over, to score.. L. Hughes failed to improve. 3—o.

Taaffe o'anie away from the kick off, his pass was stopped by Muir, who got possession, and went through. His kjck went a little wide and found the 25 flag. W. Hughes here injured his leg and went off, being replaced by Connelly, who went on the wing, and Diedrich went up to five-eighths. Play went to Brunner line, and in a loose scramble Thiele handled smartly and burst through the opposition to poo re his second try. The kick at goal fell short. G—o. Birchfield burst through the next line-put., to Diedrich, hut Wright and C. -Schroder brought play back. Visiting forwards returned, hut Mitchell stopped them. Back they came, Collins I and Caesar .handling till L. Hughes stopped the latter. Davidson, Schroder King went back, but Rapley got the ball arid went back to Mitchell. Taaffe put- in a strong run but- Mitchell sent the hall hack. Then King went on, but L. Hughes dropped his pass. The ball went on a loose rush fo Brunner line where Taafe kicked through and Schroder (Brunner) went away but.B. Kelly got him. Schroder came away, but his brother Carl upended him. B. Kelly and Muir went hack but the Wall went across to Schroder and he came away across, field and lined. Taafe next broke away and kicked but Mitchell stopped the ball luckily, a fine opening being lost to the visitors. A, lot of cross kicking and poor passing followed, play going up and down rapidly in the mud. Then the home forwards went away to the line where Wright was almost over a force resulting. Out from the kick out Brunner attacked and a fine passing run in which Caesar, . Hibbs, Collins and Schroder bandied saw the latter taken on the"line. Play went across the field Schroder, Taaffe, Collins and Southorn handling the 1 latter scoring a fine try. Birchfield failed to improve 3—G. Half time was then called.

From the kick off tlie second spell, the home forwards went ia-way in a loose rush and then Schroder and King handling, the hall went to Freitas who scored near the corner. The kick was too heavy for L.Hughes: 9—3. The play went back to Brunner quarters but a nice passing bout of the visitors shw the defence crumble with high tackling, both bv backs and forwards, Caesar getting near the live. M ; tch?U, saved but Maugliao came black; but went out near tlie line. A line out saw Caesar give to Tnafe but his pass'nyas,taken by Afuir who kicked to ■ the, centre and Davidson lined

at - Brunner 25. Southorn; dame away passing -to Taafe and Caesar but Connolly wafi safe. Ae red run by King is el ly and Wright was stopped by Tfiaffe amd from a scrum - Collins Taaffe athd Southorn handled the latter kicking - and' Alitchell lined. From a scrum Brunner went away Taaffe Hibbs-. and Schroder beating the opposition/ badly the : latter scoring. Maugbah failed to improve 6—9. From loose play at the centre Taaffe made 'a~ great dash up the field heating mOst of the backs to score a fine try. Maughan again failed to improve 9—9.

A return' kick to Alitchell saw the latter"try to beat two . men and 'he was eaiight in possession, and Brunner attached" but King broke through with a dribble and won 60 yards be* fore he lost the hall, a force following. B. Kelly stopped a kick and -a loose rush took-play oyer the line a force resulting.' : The attack continued Diedrich and Schroder going away hut a scrum followed and Westland were penalised. ; A green rush saw Caesar and Collins relieve nicely but King came back. The attack continued, Hokitika pressing bal’d withput result and when. time came sdon after the score was, still 9—all, and Westland retained the shield by the narrowest of margins—a draw. Mr McCleary was referee. WEST COAST TEAM.

Twenty players will make the trip to Christchurch on Thursday, from which will be selected t-he team 1 to plajy Canterbury for . the Ran furl y Shield on Saturday. The only change in the representation is that F. Freitas (Excelsior) is included and the team to take the field against Canterbury will be announced on Friday night. ' A. Fong has bean appointed captain, and J. Kirkland vice-captain. The -players selected are as follows :

Backs: G. Gilbert, L. Martyn, J. B Taaffe, 0. Schroder. A. Fong, W Hughes, J. Beban, B. * Scandi’ett, M, Davidson. ,

Forwards: B. Kelly, !AI. Kelly, J Kirkland, E. Jones, AI. Thompson, L Hughes, R. King, M. Scandrett, F, Freitas, A. M. Jamieson, W. Buchanan,