REPRESENTATIVE RUGBY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 12 June 1939, Page 9

REPRESENTATIVE RUGBY

HOME AND HOME MATCHES NELSON SECURES DOUBLE WIN OVER MARLBOROUGH INTERESTING GAMES ON SATURDAY Nelson Rugby secured a double win on Saturday when the first of the season's Home and Home matches with Marlborough were played. At Blenheim the Nelson senior representatives defeated Marlborough by 12 points to 6, thus winning the Cecil Shield; while at Trafalgar Park the Nelson junior representatives also had a win, the visitors being defeated 19-11. In this latter match the Ryder Cup was not at slake. This trophy is played for only on the ground of the holders, who arc at present the Marlborough juniors.

A GOOD WIN FOR NELSON SENIORS AT BLENHEIM FOUR TRIES TO TWO PENALTY KICKS At Lansdowne Park. Blenheim, on Saturday, before a good though far from record attendance for such matches. Nelson started their representative Rugby season on the right foot by easily defeating Marlborough in the first home-and-home match between the two provinces this year. The day was fine, with the sun shining at intervals, but a cold wind blew at an angle across the ground Marlborough, winning the toss, accepted the advantage of the sun and wind in the first half, which was good tactics, of course: but when half-time had arrived and they had been unable to cross Nelson’s line, having to be satisfied with the points brought from two penalty kicks which their full-back turned to account, while Nelson had scored two tries, it was apparent that Nelson stood an excellent chance of taking the Cecil Shield Nelson put their best foot forward in the second half and the**? was really only one team in the argument in this period. Their backs and forwards threw the call about in delightful style and generally called the tune. Marlborough defended tenaciously, but found themselves beaten by heavier forwards, and their position was made very difficult by certain weaknesses in their five-eighths line Karsten was not long to discover this latter fact, and as the game progressed he exploited it to the full. In the Nelson team Hippolite and Kotua owing to having been unable to train with the team last week, were replaced by Field and Grindle for this match.

While not disregarding the good performance of the Nelson team, it must be recognised that Marlborough's team on Saturday was well below the stan-, dard of former years. The teams were as follows NELSON ' Full-back: Taylor. Three-quarters: Chapman. Stallard. Todd. Five-eighths: Karsten. Grindle Half-back : Costello. Forwards: Garguilo. McKegney. Field: McLean. Glenn, McKay. Lovell: Andrew MARLBOROUGH Full-back: Jackson. Three-quarters: Bonsai I Sou man. Wilson. Five-eighths: Orr. Smith. Half-back: Ireland. Forwards: Mason. Maskew. Gale: Woolley. Clark Rainbird. Gitb. Hoare THE i/AY Marlborough won the toss and played with the wind Marlborough attacked when the pass went behind Grindle. and Taylor cleared. Lovell took the ball past half-way for Nelson for the first time Taylor fumbled and his kick was charged down. Nelson were penalised, and Jackson then opened the score with a fine kick from a difficult angle. Marlborough 3. Nelson 0

Nelson's backs got moving, but Stallard s pass went astray. Bonsall then gave the crowd a thrill when he nearly got through between tu'o defenders. Karsten in a bright run kicked to beneath the posts, where a scrum formed Marlborough’s backs came away and Todd had to come right to the other wing to lower Bonsall just as he was gaining speed for the line. Sowman showed scant respect to Karsten. bowling him out of the way as he tried to pick up the ball Grindle then highkicked from half-way: Costello secured and sent to McLean who, almost through, threw a long pass to Field, who was unmarked, but he fumbled and Jackson sent t! e attack right back with a great line kick Nelson, by the aid of line kicks, attacked to the right wing; from a scrum Costello had a misunderstanding with his backs a d threw the ball wild. Ireland chasing it fast, but Taylor relieved Jackson with the aid of the wind put Marlborough on attack in the corner From the same spot where Jackson had converted first penalty he kicked another beautiful goal. a"owinp for the wind nicely.

Marlborough 6. Nelson 0 Chapman was hurt and Langrope replaced him. 4 Karsten went brilliantly through and made a beautiful opening, but decided to short kick instead of passing to his supports and knocked on as he went across. Securing again, however, a tnopieot later he ran between the fiveeighths swiftly and d -» over by the posts. Grindle missed Nelson 3. Marlborough 6. • Jackson was injured, but resumed • Nelson right on half-time staged a forward rush which McLean initiated. Grindle linked up with the movement, and raced over by the posts He hit the upright with the kick Nelson 8. Marlborough 6. THE SECOND HALF Nelson brilliantly hand-passed at the commencement of the second half; and scored in 45 seconds after most of the side had handled. Stallard finally picking Karsten’s high pass out of the air and scoring an easy try Taylor missed Nelson 9. Marlborough 6 Jackson left the field, being replaced by 1. Ireland. With the sun and wind behind them Nelson settled down to batter the defence. and get a feast of the ball Karsten struck a patch of bad handling but he cut in brilliantly twice, sending Langrope on a run right to the corner but he lost possession at the last second Todd and Andrew then missed a try narrowly in the corner. Nelson maintained the pressure. McKegney following over under the posts, but a force down resulted. Costello a moment later

dived for the ball in the corner, but was also a moment late. Lovell then chased the ball over the line and scored. Grindle’s luck was out with the kick, the ball hitting the upright on the wrong side. Nelson 12, Marlborough 6. Towards the end Nelson staged the last of several good back movements. From a break by Costello, all the backs gained ground. Stallard running straight through. He was a little too fast for Todd, but the latter got his pass and was just hauled down in time. Marlborough were dangerous in a loose forward rush at the end of the match, but there was no further scoring and the game resulted : NELSON 12 MARLBOROUGH 6 Mr F. Pauling was the referee.