RUGBY FOOTBALL

Hokitika Guardian, 20 September 1937, Page 2

RUGBY FOOTBALL

CANTERBURY WIN COAST BEATEN BY A TRY. (Per Press Association —Copyright;. CHRISTCHURCH, Sept. 18. West Coast alter leading during the greater part of the game were defeated at Lancaster Park to-day by U points to 11. The first had' was tame, but the second spell had not been in progress two minutes before the game assumed the spectacular thrills usually associated with a Canterbury-West Coast Rugby fixture. Finally Canterbury scored the deciding try just on time and walked off the field winners by 14 points to 11, their first victory over West Coast tor two years.

Canterbury won the toss and set up a strong forward attack almost immediately, but were pulled back by the whistle at half-way. A little later there was a free-kick to West Coast and after an exchange of kicks Noonan, the Coast full-back found the line near the Ca liter bu ry twenty-five.

Here good work by Hattersley; Williams and Miliiken, won the ball for Canterbury and the back line sliot into action on Chinnery’s wing. He made a smart run but was checked by Roberts and the ball went out.

Ron King, Kirkwood and Thorpe came through the line-out and wer e only stopped by good work on the part of Mortlock.

There was laughter later when eight men from both teams staged a mimic battle under the Coast posts. Tile referee kept pace with them, but all tin. time the flag had been up on the otno; side of the field and play had to go back to where the rest of the players were waiting.

At this stage Agnew had gone to the full-back position for Coast and Noonan was centre. Logie was on the left wing marking Eathorne and Robert-; was on the right wing marking Chinuery.

In subsequent play Kirkwood, Tainui and Pascoe showed up for the Coast. At this period they were not getting sufficient support from their backs and Nolan again had time to get in a quick touch-finder. More sound kicking by McAuliffe just as he was being tackled, averted danger for Canterbury. Coast, splendidly led by King, Paly and Wieblitz kept up a vigorous attack and battered the Canterbury line for five minutes on. end. Once Roberts was toppled over the corner flag and just missed a try by inches.

An attempt at a pot by Nolan from forty yards missed and Coast forced for the first time after twenty-five minutes play. Faulty passing checked further Canterbury attacks. The play in the last ten minutes of the first spell was ragged, but one reason tor the failure of. frequent Canterbury attacks was the deadly Coast tackling. When the Coast backs swung into action Costello’s pass to Mann was of the lob variety, and Chinnery came up in time to boot out across field with a wonderfully-judged kick. After Herman had just missed going over, Rankin was presented with a gift try. A ("oast back mis-kicked right into his arms ten yards from the dne and hi s speed carried him over without much trouble near the cornel on the embankment side. Herman missed a hard kick.—Canterbury 3; West Coast 0.

There were at least ten men in the next Coast rush, which was cleverlystarted by Mann and there was wild excitement as the bunch of them went over the line in a heap. They just- miss ed a try through a Canterbury man (living 011 the ball first.

At last a real Canterbury back attack bore fruit. Raw soil improved the opening by breaking away from the opposing centre and ran Chinnery into position. The winger ran to the fullback and iu-passed to Rankin, who secured an easy fry by racing round un ler the posts. Herman converted and the half-time score was: Canterbury 8; West coast 0. Playing from the south end against lie sun in the second spell, Canter >ury were first on attack with Flem uig, McPhail and Williams showing up. they got to within five yards of the Coast line before Agnew pulled them ip with a long and accurate kick. Pawson broke away to Noonan, the Joast centre. Noonan, off the mark in a flash, streaked down to the left corner. When he got there he turned quickly inwards and (Nolan and .iathorne were caught on the wrong oot.

Logie took a pass cleanly on the inode and then tossed the ball out tc Mann who partly evaded Rankin and touched down near the posts for a splendid try. It was the result of speed ind clever co-operation. Mann c-.n '-erted his own try.—West Coast o ; Canterbury 8.

With the score so close play became even more exciting, both sides throwing in every ounce. There was a real •.parkle about the game now and Coast supporters eheei'bd afresh a. s Pascoe put over a wonderful penalty goal from an awkward angle at least 40 yards jut.—West Const 8; Canterbury 8. Several solo bursts in succession kept the crowd on their toes and a thrilling five minutes ended when Nolan, desperately pressed, marked in front of his own goal. A beautiful kick put the ball out at half-way. Another infringement bv Canterbury saw them penalised in front of the posts, but well outside the twentyfive. Mann took the kick, and again put over a beautiful shot, which was

cheered to the echo.—West Coast 11; Canterbury 8. The alert Williams took a pass going at top and went over hex ore Agnew could lay hands on him. This was tjhe beslj scoring movement to date. Herman’s kick was a poster, and bounced infield. —Canterbury 11; West Coast 11.

Play continued at a rattling pace, with the crowd twice as excited as Hi the first spell.

With play at half-way Rankin bolted at the head of his supports to follow up a punt. This was just oil time. He reached the ball with the aid of the bounce a second before the Coast full-back. Continuing at top, he swept it out to Eathorne, who had backed him up, and Eathorne went over for a fine try not lar from the corner flag. Herman missed and the game ended: CANTERBURY T* WEST COAST T 1 NEWMAN SHIELD. RETAINED BY BULLER, WESTPORT, September 19. Buller Primary School team defeated Hokitika by Id points to nil, and retained the Newman Shield, a trophy open for competition to primary schools in the Seddon Shield districts. The game was played at the Trotting Track and proved a bright exhibition of the code. S. CANTERBURY 29 V. WELLINGTON B 13. WELLINGTON, September 18. The touring South Canterbury team overwhelmed Wellington B in the second half to win by. 29 to 13. The. visiting forwards early showed speed and keenness and were superior in the first half, though Wellington scored from two counfer attacks and a brilliant solo run by Sargisson. Tries were scored for South. Canterbury by Ryan (4), Adkins, Gilmoro and Morrison. Strang converted four. For Wellington Cassidy, Carter, amt Sargisson scored tries. Baldwin converted two. WELLINGTON 25 V. AUCKLAND 19. AUCKLAND, September 18. The annual Rugby match between Auckland and Wellington, played at Eden Park on Saturday afternoon resulted in a win for Wellington by 25 points to 15. The game was played in fine weather on a hard ground, in the presence of between ten and twelve thousand people. It was an interesting contest in which the forwards worked hard throughout, with Lambourne securing much greater possession of the ball from the scrums. Wellington had the advantage of the wind and sun in the first spell and led by 17 points to 5 at the interval.

Caughey was the best Auckland back, while Pearce. McLean and Beilis were the leading forwards.

For Wellington, Onglev (2), Wells and Thomson scored tries, O’Brien kicking a penalty goal and converting three tries, while O’Halloran potted a goal. For Auckland Caughey and Solomon scored a try each. Hare converted two tries and kicked three penalty goals.

OTAGO 17 V. NORTH OTAGO 3. OAMARU, September 18. In a blight exhibition of Rugby, before a large attendance at the Show Grounds, Otago defeated North Otago by 17 to 3. The score did not indicate the merits of the teams for the North Otago forwards played a dashing game to hold a. territorial advantage ror most of the game, whereas Otago secured a monopoly of the ball from the set scrums, the backs making the most of their opportunities. The goatkicking by North Otago was poor, seven penalties from handy positions going abegging.

Scorers for Otago were Barnes, Qua id, Howden (2), Black converting one, and Boulton kicking a penalty. Carrodus scored a try for North Otago.