CANTERBURY BEATEN

Southland Times, Issue 22994, 14 September 1936, Page 8

CANTERBURY BEATEN

WIN FOR WEST COAST BETTER FORWARD PLAY (United Press Association.) Christchurch, September 11. By eight points to nil West Coast beat Canterbury to-day, the fast bustling Coast forwards playing all over the home pack in the loose and harrying the Canterbury inside backs unmercifully. West Coast, which scored in each spell, did not try much back play, being content to let Canterbury get the ball and then crash through when dropped passes and other mistakes, of which there were many, gave them the opportunity. The Canterbury forwards until the last quarter of an hour showed little aptitude for hard rucking and fast work in the loose while the backs spoiled chance after chance by wild passing and poor handling. Nolan, the Canterbury full-back, was the outstanding player on the field, saving his side time and time again. Brooks (five-eighth) played a fine attacking game while Hattersley was a great worker in the pack. The West Coast backs defended splendidly and backed up the flashing work of their forwards, of whom A. Scandrett, Pascoe, Cox and Birchfield were in every movement that occurred. The game, though marred by many mistakes, was fast and interesting all the time and West Coast fully deserved the victory. The West Coast score in the first spell came after Nolan had twice saved with fine line kicks. Then Milliken, who ran back and got in Nolan’s way, dropped the ball and presented West Coast with a try under the posts. Cox secured to hurl himself over. Davidson converted. In the second spell a bad pass in the Canterbury back attack let Mann secure. He raced away and centred and Nolan had to carry over and force. From a scrum on the line Davidson snapped up and, with a lightning dash, was over. He failed to convert his own try.