TE KUITI v. WEST COAST.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4802, 26 June 1939, Page 5

TE KUITI v. WEST COAST.

KEENLY CONTESTED MATCH. Te Kuiti and West Coast, though both had been forced to augment their teams from the lower grades, staged an interesting match for the principal attraction on Rugby Park last Saturday. The score was 15—11 in favour of Te Kuiti.

The penetrative power of R. Barlow was principally responsible for Te Kuiti’s success, Coast finding it very difficult to cope with him as he cut in close by the scrum or twisted through the ruck. The fullback, McGregor, a junior player called upon to take the fullback position, gave an impressive exhibition of sure handling and kicking. Shaw played an exceedingly sound game. In the forwards Ray Martin and Wilton played well, and as a rover J. Barlow performed useful work in the open.

Of the Coast team Bob King was last Saturday the outstanding forwai’d, hoeing into the tight work, yet one of the best opportunists on the ground. The veteran Tom Vicary, on finding that his team was short, promptly donned a jersey and took his place as halfback, and stood up remarkably well to the hard game. Of the backs Matthews and Kjestrup were on form, with Dick Willison a solid fullback, especially when it came to tackling. The teams were as follows:

Te Kuiti: McGregor; Richards, Collins, Ngatai; Shaw, Barlow; Ransom ; Carruthers, Gardiner, Turner, Wilton, R. Martin, M. Waretini, Hourigan, J. Barlow. Coast: D. Willison; Burroughs, Kjestrup, R. Willison; Matthews, Kamana; Tom Vicary; Maikuku, Roach, R. Miln, Roy Vicary, King, R. King, Tuaku.

For much of the first half Coast held the advantage, attacking in dribbling rushes led by Bob King, following- up on useful kicking, and gaining by runs by Kjestrup, Roy Willison and Matthews. During this period they very effectively handicapped Te Kuiti by preventing the ball from going out to the backs, Coast obtained the first try. Kjestrup and Burroughs went down the line, the former short kicking. Good backing up resulted in the Coast team being awarded a try in the centre of the following forward melee. 3 —o.

When R. Barlow began to receive the ball the Te Kuiti team began to attack. After he had made an opening with a spurt through the ruck, a long pass from Shaw to Richards resulted in the latter being hauled down by Dick Willison right on the line. A few minutes later R. Barlow twisted his way through the ruck to score. His kick failed. 3 —3. Inside a few minutes R. Barlow was successful with a penalty kick. For the remainder of the half Te Kuiti attacked strongly, Richards and Collins being unlucky not to cross, but half-time came with the score still 6—3.

For a while after the interval Coast made the pace, but after successful raiding by J. Barlow the Te Kuiti backs handled, Collins crossingwide out. R. Barlow’s kick failed. 9—3.

Almost immediately Coast retaliated. Matthews, following up quickly on a kick, seized the ball and outstripped the opposition to cross under the posts. The ball rolled as it was placed and Matthews’ kick went wide. 9—6.

A similar try followed for Te Kuiti. A lightning dive for the line by J. Barlow following up a kick resulted in a try, R. Barlow failing to convert. 12 —6.

Exciting open play resulted towards the end of the game as the Te Kuiti backs opened up, but that team’s last .three points came from a penalty taken by R. Barlow. 15—6.

Within three minutes Coast led the way in a fine rush to the Te Kuiti line, where Bob King picked the ball from behind the ruck to crash over in the corner. With a splendid kick Vicary converted. 15—11.