SPORTS TRUST CUP

Southland Times, Issue 20524, 28 June 1928, Page 8

SPORTS TRUST CUP

RETAINED BY EASTERN

VIGOROUS GAME AT GORE

CENTKAL FORWARDS v EASTERN BACKS

A large gathering of spectators saw the Eastern District representative Rugby team retain the Sports Trust Cup yesterday by defeating Central District by 23 points to 14. The match was played on the Gore showgrounds, and although there were a few bad patches the area was in fair order. The game was a fine, vigorous exposition of football, and although Eastern staved off the challenge they had to give of their best to do so. Central has justly earned a reputation for possessing a fine pack, but it is doubtful if they have ever risen to greater heights in this department than was the case yesterday. In all the tight work they were magnificent. It was their handling that was their only blemish. On the other hand the Red backs were lamentably weak both in attack and in defence, at any rate as far as tackling was concerned. The Eastern vanguard appeared to have had enough of the Red battering ram when half-time came, but in the second spell the Blacks stood up to their formidable opponents gallantly. It was the Eastern backs that proved the deciding factor in the match. With “Algy” Townsend’s brains to lead them his speedier colleagues were associated in many good rushes that bore fruit. It was most noticeable that while Central’s points came almost solely from their forwards. it was the Eastern backs who scored after their forwards had made the attacks possible. Eastern were the first to get going and before 30 minutes had elapsed they led by 11-0. Before half-time Central drew level with slashing forward play. Eastern had the better of matters in the second spell, notching twelve points to their opponents’ three. The Southland Rugby Union selector, Mr A. J. Geddes, was present at the match. The teams were: Eastern (Black) —Dempster; Walker, Davidson, Webb; F. Townsend, L. G. Townsend; Woods; Sims, Kirby; Scott, McLeod, Ashby; F. Fitzgerald, Shrimpton; Fraser. Central (Red and Black)—D. Galt; R. Horner, Anderson, W. McKenzie; Laing, Gray; Souness; Boyle, Horner; Watson, J. Galt. McNamara; Brown, H. McKenzie; J. Clark. Central won the toss and Eastern had to face a troublesome sun. F. Fitzgerald followed fast after Townsend’s kick-off, and the Blacks were hot on attack. A penalty gave the Reds relief. F. Townsend made a brilliant run from a ruck heel, but Anderson retaliated with a good burst. The Black forwards were over-eager and again were penalized. Watson and H. McKenzie by good footwork took play for the first time into Black territory. Bright passing among the Eastern backs gained a lot of ground and McLeod carried on well. D. Galt saved nicely, but the Blacks were not to be denied. Walker secured and badly beat Horner to score at the corner. F. Townsend could not goal. Eastern .... 3 Central .... 0 Watson and then Anderson were to the fore for Reds who were now pressing hotly. Eastern had to force. R. Horner picked up cleverly and got over after beating the Townsends, but he lost the ball. The Reds got a free-kick and Laing had a shot at goal. A good kick just missed. Central were going well but over-eagerness cost them a penalty. The Reds were getting the ball from the scrums, but their passing was ineffective. The game was fast and hard, with the Red forwards dominating play. Dempster was slow in getting to the ball and Anderson and Gray were able to get dangerously near the Eastern line. L. Townsend was injured in the head, but was able to resume, though looking dizzy. The Black forwards were loafing, but were hooking better in the scrum. Offside play by two Black forwards gave Laing a great chance of goaling. but his kick went wide. F. Fitzgerald twisted his ankle but kept on playing and was prominent immediately after the resumption. Misfielding by D. Galt made matters look dangerous for Reds and a pretty Eastern passing rush saw Webb nearly cross, Anderson bringing off a good tackle. Again the Blacks set up passing, “Algy” Townsend making a good opening. Davidson drew two men and flung out a long pass to Walker. The wing brushed off a feeble tackle by D. Galt and scored under the posts. F. Townsend converted. Eastern .... 8 Central .... 0 The Central tackling was their weakest feature. L. Townsend nearly got over when Gray hugged him and let him go. The Red forwards were still going great guns however. L. Townsend’s clever play nearly bore fruit when he came round outside Walker. Laing interrupted neatly, but lack of brains among the Reds nullified the five-eighth’s effort. Gray was weak and his poor defence gave “Algy” Townsend an opening which he exploited to the full. He sent F. Townsend over for a good try well out. Dempster failed with the kick. Eastern . , , .11 Central .... 0 The Red forwards kept battling hard despite the poor support they were receiving from their backs. After some close work on the Black line Brown battled his way over. Laing could not goal, though his kick was a good one. Eastern . . . . 11 Central .... 3 A bright, burst down the line by Webb evoked cheers, but his pass-in was not accepted. I. Galt led a retaliatory rush and McNamara followed up well and bagged Dempster. A mark sent the Reds back. Then came a pretty try by Central. The ball was hooked cleanly and shot out to Laing. He cut in sweetly and Clark who followed the five-eighths was rewarded by scoring a fine try. Anderson missed the kick. Eastern . . . .11 Central .... 6 Territorially the Reds were having the better of play, thanks to their lion-hearted forwards. Gray was playing with more confidence now. R. Horner nearly battled his way over at the corner and from the ensuing line-out Hunter McKenzie was awarded a try. Anderson kicked a fine goal and the scores were level. Half-time came immediately. Eastern . . . .11 Central . . . .11 Even play marked the opening stages of the second half. Hunter McKenzie broke away, but no one received his pass and F. Fitzgerald came away brilliantly, taking play right to the corner. “Algy” Townsend caught the Reds napping on the line-out and scored a soft try. No goal resulted. Eastern . . .14 Central . . *. .11 The Red forwards swept up field again, but again a pass went astray and Fitzgerald looked dangerous. The Blacks were playing with great dash. Walker received at halfway and although he had very little room to work in he ran right through the Reds for an amazing try, aided by weak tackling. F. Townsend missed the kick. Eastern . . . .17 Central . . . .11 Anderson was put at full-back for the Reds in order that the last link should be a good tackler. A fierce onslaught by the Red vanguard was pulled up by one of the attackers getting offside. W. Horner was playing with any amount of vim. Dempster was applauded for a great kick. After a heady punt by Townsend, Anderson mulled and was penalized for lying on the ball. F. Townsend missed an easy kick. The Red

forwards took play right to the Black line and were awarded a penalty. Laing took the kick which was short. L. Townsend made a mistake in not marking it. He was forced over the line and in the ensuing scrum a Black hooker was premature with his feet. Laing kicked an easy goal. Eastern . . . . J 7 Central . . . .14 A brilliant pick-up by W. McKenzie was the next incident, but a penalty checked the movement. Fast following-up by Fitzgerald then brought a try to Blacks, the speedv Gore player catching the Reds asleep. L. Townsend failed to goal. Eastern . . . .20 Central . . . . 14 F. Woods was carried off after receiving a nasty kick on the head. Richardson came on in his place. The Black forwards dominated play. A good break away by Watson and a punt over Dempster’s head cheered Central supporters, but the bounce favoured Dempster who cleared well. A gallant Red attack resulted in a series of scrums on the Black line. Gray took a neat mark and almost goaled. Further pressure by the Red pack was staved off by Dempster and L. Townsend. The latter was injured and retired. A good kick by Webb put Blacks on attack, but Anderson came to light with a slashing run which was checked by Webb. After a burst by Watson, Fitzgerald secured from a stray Red pass and sent Walker away for a good try. No goal resulted. Eastern . . . .23 Central . . . .14 Mr F. Daubney (Invercargill) refereed. SCHOOLS MATCH. GORE HIGH v. SOUTHLAND TECHNICAL. The first and second fifteens of the Southland Technical College travelled to Gore yesterday to play their annual matches against the Gore High School teams. In both cases the visitors sustained severe defeats, particularly the seniors, who were beaten 44-nil. The Technical College is having a lean year, while the Gore boys are exceptionally big and fast. In fact their first fifteen has the making of a side that should hold its own with much larger schools. It will be interesting to see how the team fares when it plays the Southland Boys’ High School first fifteen, for this year it is playing that team and not the second fifteen as in past seasons. SENIOR MATCH.

Technical commenced briskly, but were soon repulsed and a hot attack by the Gore backs resulted in Blaikie being pushed out at the corner. The Whites were kept defending and Bond was given a good chance of goaling from a penalty but his kick struck an opponent. The Whites cleared through Smith and had a turn at attack. The big Gore forwards transferred play with Aitken doing good work. The ball went over the line and Cooper pounced on it for the first try. No goal resulted.—Gore 3, Technical 0. Gore kept up the pressure but good tackling by Malcolm kept them out till Blaikie raced away for a good try under the posts. Smith saved a goal by fast following-up. —Gore 6, Technical 0. Blaikie not long in adding to the total, the big centre touching down at the corner for a try that was not converted.—Gore 9, Technical 0. The next score to Gore came from an opening by Shave which was finished off by Aitken. No goal resulted.— Gore 12, Technical 0. This was the score at half-time. Technical opened with dash after the interval, but the weight of the Gore boys told and Ritchie scored in a handy position. Heaps goaled.—Gore 17, Technical 0. Blaikie by fast following up was the next to score although he was almost over the dead ball line when he touched down. Heaps goaled.—Gore 22, Technical 0. After a rally by Whites Shave set up a bright movement that changed the complexion of the game and ended in Piper scoring. No goal resulted.—Gore 25, Technical 0. Shave came to light with a brilliant run in which he beat half the opposing team. The try was not converted. —Gore 28, Technical (X Aburn figured in two good bursts for Technical and Gore had to force. Technical were soon defending again, however, and Ritchie ran across near the posts. Heaps converted.—Gore 33, Technical 0. The Whites were not packing and the Gore boys had it all their own way. Bright passing was well finished off by Shave who crossed and ran round under the posts. Heaps goaled.—Gore 38, Technical 0. Before the whistle went Shave and Aitken added unconverted tries, the game ending with the score— Gore High. 44; Technical College, 0. JUNIOR MATCH. Gore were superior both back and forwards and dominated the game, although the Technical boys stuck to their task pluckily. At half-time the score was 11-0 in favour of Gore and thirteen points were added in the second spell, the game ending 24-0 in favour of the local boys. Tries were scored by Burns, Parker (3), Gardyne, Milne, and Herron. Milne converted one try.