WIN FOR BRITISH

Taranaki Daily News, 12 June 1930, Page 11

WIN FOR BRITISH

DEFEAT OF WEST COAST SUPERIORITY NEAR THE END THIRTY-FOUR TO ELEVEN BRIGHT PLAY BY THE BACKS 1 ' By Telegraph-—Press Association. " Greymouth, Last Night. 1 An interesting and for the greater - part an even game between Biitain and the West Coast and Buller combined Rugby team was witnessed on a damp field and in fine weather by 5000 spec- ! tators to-day. The British won by 34 ! to 11, compiling two-thirds of their points in the final quarter, till when I the scores were equal. Coast played well till then, the forwards being supe- '■ rior in the loose to the British, who, I however, had most of the ball, the ; backs very frequently advancing in a , fine which was broken only by good , tackling. > The British packs objective was to ’ e ive Spong the ball, and he pivoted the i attacks, winch made full use of the opportunities only in the final stages, as the movements pi’eviouely broke down, often through faulty handling by the outside men. The visiting backs chang--1 ed places several times, but the tide was definitely turned only when JonesDavies went up from full-back to the winw and gained three tries in quick when the Coast men were tiriu o ** The home backs, without getting many attacking chances, essayed these only individually, failing mostly by lack of cohesion. The visitors were plainly anxious when the scores were 11 all well into the second spell. Of over a dozen penalty kicks Coast was allowed but three, one being a goal. The most creditable tries were probably two which Morley gained by dashes in the first spell, while Wilkinson gained two later by keeping well up with • the backs, he being the outstanding British forward. The teams were as telegraphed, except that Martyn replaced King for Coast. The wind blew across the field. STRONG ATTACKS BY COAST. Coast kicked off and the- visitors made several passing runs, -Novis being once collared by Fong just in time. Prentice missed with a penalty shot. Coast then penned the British, whom a penalty relieved. Spong started the backs in a pretty movement, Wilkinson also getting in line, but losing possession. Graham, the Coast full-back, later threw Novis out at the corner. Then the Coast forwards, led by McKnight, Freitas and Goodall, outplayed the opposition in the tio-ht and put them on the defensive, but from a line-out Spong passed to Murray, who sent Morley away to dash over at the corner and score. A dash by Jamieson took him near scoring, nobody backing up. Coast pressed and Jones-Davies’ kick hit an opponent near the line, Fong securing and sending McCabe away to give McKnight a pass? McKnight scored. The British backs immediately attacked from a lineout, Morley, with a fine dash, getting over to score in the corner. Other similar attacks saw Novis forced out, and then Morley fumbled a pass. Even play ensued, till half-time, when the scores were: — Britain « Coast J Not long after resuming Jones-Davies went to the wing, Poole, who had been hurt, going to full-back, while Spong and Murray were scrum and fly halves respectively. Coast opened an attack, Jamieson making a GO yards run and nearly reaching the line. However, a handy penalty saw Martyn equalise the scores with a goal. Th© same player broke away soon afterwards and the British \ were penned on the line for some time with a series of scrums. Davidson (half-back) very nearly scored. Twice a penalty relieved. The British backs passed well till Knowles missed the ball. A good centre by Poole, however, saw Novis secure and pass to Wilkinson with the opposition out of place, and he scored easily, Parker converting. JONES-DAVIES PLAYS WELL. The visitors’ lead was short lived, as the home forwards made a determined rush in which Goodall dribbled well, enabling McKnight to secure and score, his second try, which Martyn converted, Parker tried* a penalty shot unsuccessfully from midfield. Graham came through well when tested and got in a useful kick, but soon afterwards JonesDavies came into the picture, making a fine run to the line, where he was dispossessed of the ball. Hodgson tried a pot from far out, and then JonesDavies made another dash, Jamieson ‘’stoppinw him. In a further attempt, however, Jones-Davies just got over, Parker failing to convert. Jamieson made a cross run, gaining but little, and a British rush forced the Coast. Midfield play saw Martyn break away with only Poole to pass, but he kicked and a force resulted.

The British took the upper hand and Jones-Davies once more streaked up the side line, scoring under the posts, Parker converting. It was “all Britain" from then on. Spong and Murray sent their backs away repeatedly, and soon Jones-Davies and Wilkinson got through the opposition, the former passing to Wilkinson as they reached Graham, and another try under the posts was obtained which Parker converted. Immediately the British backs, who monopolised the ball, swung play so that the tired Coast team was caught out of position and Jones-Davies dodged through the remainder to score, Parker converting. Spong next beat several men, and when he reached Graham Novis was there to receive the pass and score the final try, Parker converting. Spong, Jones-Davies and Morley were the best of the British backs, while Wilkinsc--, Prentice and O’Neill were the most noticeable forwards. Fong, Jamieson and Graham were the best of the Coast backs, while McKnight, Freitas and Grogan were prominent in the forwards.