NELSON DEFEATS MARLBOROUGH

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 16 June 1930, Page 6

NELSON DEFEATS MARLBOROUGH

THREE POINTS MARGIN AFTER EVEN GAME IX HOME AXD HOME MATCH AT BLENHEIM .Nelson won tlic former of flic annual liome-aml-home lmitelies played between the Kelson and Marlborough Rugby football representatives, by 11 points to S after a very evenly eontested game. The match was played on Saturday in line weather at Lansdowne Park, Blenheim, before a large crowd of spectators. After twenty-five minutes p lay Marlborough scored the first points in the form of a try, their centre, Seatev, making a wonderful solo run. Immediately afterwards Kelson retaliated with a try —the reward for being able to handle the ball and pass accurately. Towards the end of the first spell a Marlborough forward finished off a movement by the home team’s vanguard the try being converted. Kelson immediately evened the points. The play in the second spell was poor compared with the display given in the first half. The forwards had a number of hard tussles in the tight. Towards the end Kelson scored the winning try through a splendid piece of work by Newman, who was assisted by Street. Frequently the Kelson backs opened out in pretty passing rushes, the handling and backing up being a feature of the game. However, the movements were of the orthodox type, the ball travelling from half to winger. The Marlborough defence being sound the movements were of little account as far as points were concerned. Kewrnan was the only one in the line of backs to vary his play, twice using the “dummy” pass to advantage and on several occasions reversing the play inliekl to-tlie forwards. Newman was the outstanding player on the field, and had it not been for his efforts the Kelson team would have left the field with a points total much under Marlborough’s. He played the leading part in each of the three movements which produced points for Kelson, and also kicked a goal. F. Fowler played a splendid game, winging the ball away to the backs on every possible occasion. Alexander must have appreciated the snappy, well-directed passes from the scrums. Alexander's anticipation on defence and his backing up was noticeable. The Kelson forwards did not put as much sting into their play as then lighter opponents. They were seen at their best in relieving the situation when hard pressed. In the line-outs Kelson was superior, mainly through the efforts of Snow, but Marlborough hooked the ball from about 70 pet cent, of the scrums. The home backs were very weak on attack most of their attempts at combined movements breaking down or being stopped in the five-eighths. Phillips put a little sparkle into their back play on several occasions when he dashed in from the/ wing to take a place between the five-eighths. The Kelson backs had to contend mostly with individual play when Marlborough attacked. Thompson came to light on numerous occasions to save for his side and fully justified his inclusion in the team in the absence of Reed, but the Kelson backs would be much more formidable if the five-eighths could provide more “fireworks” by varying the attack. During the game, which was refereed by Mr I. Murphy, of Blenheim, the Marlborough team was penalised 11 times and Kelson on 7 occasions. Kelson were allowed to carry on some offside play around the scrum which would not be tolerated by • many referees. The .teams faced each other as follows:

NELSON—BIue arid Blue. Sexton' Snodgrass Newman Wells Thompson Alexander Fowler Fitzgibbon McLean Max Murphy Snow (captain) Todd (w.f.) Young Bird —o— (w.f.) Satherley Persson Cameron Hammond R. Woolley G. Woolley Gill Roberts Poteete McLaughlin Phillips Slater Bartlett Cameron MARLBOROUGH—Maroon. DETAILS OF -THE PLAY Nelson won the toss, Marlborough kicking off with the sun behind them, long kicks being exchanged until Cameron found the line at half-way. Nelson hooked the ball from a loose scrummage but the Marlborough forwards broke up quickly and carried play into Nelson's 25 where Alexander held up the movement temporarily, allowing Thompson to save with a kick to the line. Fowlej; went on the "blind" side of the scrum but was held up. Alexander then made a dash on the •'Wind" side but Snodgrass failed to gather in the pass. The Nelson backs weal away twice in quick succession. On the second occasion Newman cut in S and attempted to reverse the play to the forwards but there was none there to accept the chance. Sexton made a nice kick to touch at the corner and Newman unsuccessfully attempted to "pot" a goal. Snow gained the ball in a line-out, back to Alexander who shot it away to Thompson, Newman and Snodgrass and Thompson again who kicked well into Marlborough's 25. A Marlborough back kicked well into Nelson's 25 where the bounce beat Sexton. and Phillips, who shot after the ball caught the Nelson full-back in possession and the position looked dangerous for Nelson until Young broke away in the loose and cleared to half-way. Slater fielded the ball splendidly and passed to Bartlett who broke away imtil upset by Newman. From near the 25, Nelson's backs went away, Thompson spoiling the movement by running into three Marlborough backs. Snod grass missed narrowly with a penalty kick from a few yards outside the 25 Roberts made a brilliant dash away from the scrum but Alexander grassef' him. From a line-out near the corner Hag the Nelson backs went away, the

ball travelling out io Snodgrass and on In A. Newman who received the ball again, but he went, into touch. Young broke away from the loose in Nelson's 25 sending the ball to Alexander and Thompson who knocked on. McLaughlin fielded the ball and passed to Ski felon Marlborough's 25 line. Then the Marlborough centre scored the try of the day with a great run over three parts the length of the field. He ran round a bunch of Nelson forwards near touch, swerved infield past the Kelson full-back at half-way, and i outpaced the field for a try near the posts. It was a splendid solo effort. McLaughlin's kick was very poor. Marlborough 3, Nelson 0. A minute afterwards Newman inter- '. cepted a pass in Nelson territory when the Marlborough backs looked danger- ■ ous, thus reversrhg the direction of the attack. He sold a "dummy" pass to . Phillips and after a run sent the ball ' infield to McLean, Fowler and Max who dived over for a try. It was a very ! snappy movement. Snodgrass's kick was a poor one. Nelson 3, Marlborough 3. 1 Cameron marked to save from Todd, • Max and Fitzgibbons. Satherley and Woolley broke away with the ball at ! toe and Alexander saved momentarily 1 for Nelson, but Roberts fielded the ball, ' and passed out to Poteete who made a ' great dash but hung on too long, being grassed by Fowler. The Nelson backs set off a passing movement from their owit 25, Newman ' kicking to touch when he should have passed to Wells who had practically ! a clear field in front of him. Poteete put Marlborough in a splendid attack- ' ing position but off-side play by McDonald spoilt a chance of scoring. A minute afterwards the Marlborough forwards wore again nearly over the line when off-side play spoilt another chance. Alexander's kick from the 25 went to Phillips who swerved past one Nelson forward and passed to McLaughlin who put the ball in touch at the corner. Twice the Marlborough backs were held up by Thompson but on the second occasion Cameron dashed in, fielded the ball in front of the posts and dived over for a try. McLaughlin goaled. Marlborough 8, Nelson 3. Immediately the Nelson backs retaliated with a movement which F. Fowler set off from the scrum, Alexander handing on the ball to Newman who beat the opposing centre and raced nearly half the length of the field to within a few feet of the line where Bartlett held him up. However, Newman got the ball away to Wells who touched down for a try which Newman converted from the sideline. Nelson 8, Marlborough 8. The score was unaltered at half-time. In the second spell Street replaced Wells, the Nelson winger, Avho had received a kick in the leg. A minute after the commencement of the spell Snodgrass made a good but unsuccessful attempt to goal from a penalty at halfway. In the second spell Marlbrrough elected, to have scrums in preference to line-outs. Snodgrass put in a mighty line kick which" travelled for a full 00 yards before it landed in touch a yard or two off the corner flag. From the line-out Snodgrass opened the play across the pack to Alexander, Thompson and Newman who was caught in trying to cut through, and H. Cameron made a nice clearance to touch. A Nelson back's movement went from Fowler to Snodgrass who was stopped by Phillips, but the ball was sent back to Newman. The Marlborough backs lost a certain try with a passing rush

which actually lost ground with only two Nelson backs to' stop them. From a. scrummage where the movement was held up, Nelson hooked the ball and with all the Nelson backs in line and two Marlborough backs to stop them, McLaughlin intercepted and reversed the play Io Ihe corner. The Kelson forwards were biird put for a while until finally Snow bobbed up out of the tight and passed to Alexander who had a clear field (o kick from. The ball travelled smartly along the Nelson backs to Snodgrass anil on to Newman who kicked to the line. The Marlborough backs then took a turn with a nice rush but McLaughlin was caught trying to cut' in. Newman snapped up the ball at half-way and raced the field to within a few yards of the goal line where he passed' to Street who dived over for a try in the corner. Newman missed with a good kick from the sideline. NELSON 11, MARLBOROUGH 8. A forward rush by McLean, Young and Max, helped along by Snodgrass, put Nelson in an attacking position but Phillips cleared for Marlborough. J. Cameron made a great dash away from the ruck outside the 25, and Todd, by a feeble attempt to tackle, allowed him to go on nearly to the goal-line where Fowler flashed in to make a good tackle. McLean and Street cleared for Nelson. The closing stages were fought out between the forwards, Nelson having a little the!better of the deal. WELCOME TO VISITORS

On the team's arrival in Blenheim on Friday night the players were welcomed by Mr C. H. Mills', president of the Marlborough Union, Mr E. F. Healy, M.P., Mr McKenzie, Mayor of Blenheim, and members of the. Marlborough Rugby Union. On Saturday morning the visiting players inspected the Marlborough Union's new grounds at Landsdowne Park where the appointments and grounds provide an example for minor unions. The grandstand accommodates 000 spectators and three playing areas are provided. Mr 11. Brough, manager of the Nelson team thanked the Marlborough Union, Mr Healy and Mr McKenzie for the welcome given the team and their entertainment while in Blenheim. The team stayed at the Masonic Hotel, returning to Nelson yesterday. A break was made in the journey at Caiivastown for lunch.