RUGBY FOOTBALL BULLER OUTCLASSES COAST FOR SEDDON SHIELD IN UNINTERESTING GAME

Grey River Argus, 20 September 1948, Page 8

RUGBY FOOTBALL BULLER OUTCLASSES COAST FOR SEDDON SHIELD IN UNINTERESTING GAME

Few of the 2500 spectators who saw West Coast’s challenge for the Seddon Shield fail by 21 points to 6 at Victoria Square on Saturday, could have come away from the ground satisfied With the game. It' was not Rugby of representative standard, and the silent crowd watched a dull and uninteresting exhibition, in which forward play was predominant, with few good passing movements amongst the backs. Heavy, and, at times, unnecessarily heavy tackling by both sides was a disappointing feature of the game. Buller have thus retained the Seddon Shield for another season, and Saturday’s result brought their total score for the season to 97 points, with ionly 12 points scored against them.

West Coast, in the first twenty minutes, appeared to hold a strong advantage, but it was obvious that the Euller backs were capable _of much better work than they preferred to display early in the game. This factor was largely a deciding one, together with the pressure exerted by the virile forwards of the home team.

Probably the most classy player on the day was the Buller first fiveeighths, V/. Dickson, whose two tries in the first spell were grand efforts. He showed his opponents many points about opening up play, and in this he and the half-back, A. Luff, combined excellently. Luff’s display was one of the best of the day. and it was noticeable that he was always on hand. This was invaluable from a defensive viewpoint. A. Kerr, proved a fine centre, and although he missed a few easy kicks, it could be said that his kicking generally was of a high standard. On the wing, A. Cummings played a more than useful game. Although he was noticeably offside on many occasions, W. Mumm proved a solid leader for the forwards, of whom G. Anderson was probably the pick, with J. Nicholson and M. Ryan figuring prominently in many aspects of tight play. It was perhaps the better balance between forwards and backs, and their understanding of one another’s movements which gave Buller a solid victory. But for some really good defensive work on the part of the West Coast backs, particularly J. Gillan, D. Steel, and W. Amberger, Buller could probably have doubled their score. WEST COAST PLAYERS Giving their worst exhibition of the season, the West Coast players all had major failings. Until he had to leave the field, J. Lindbom at fullback had little work to do, nor did the backs see much of the ball. The change made in the Coast team with Gillan going to centre and R. Stoop to full-back had the instant effect of strengthening the defences, for Gillan tackled surely and soundly, and was less inclined than the other backs to get into the play. His performance was high class, and he could be said to have been Coast’s best back.

Showing some fine turns of speed. D. Steel, the Coast winger, had a useful day. Some of his solo efforts were pretty to watch, but unfortunately there appeared to be no other back witli any measure of speed.

The backs saw little of the ball for the service given by P. Hurren from the scrum was fautly nearly all day. Too frequently the fast moving Buller forwards caught him in possession on the occasions when Coast hooked the ball from the scrums. W. Amberger and R. Breeze both played useful, if not brilliant games. At full-back R. Stoop was a failure. He was shaky and. his kicking brought tons of trouble to his side. When playing at centre, he did not show out, and his removal to fullback was probably greatly to Coast’s advantage. In the forwards, B. Mettrick shone out for a hard day’s work, although he did not get his full share of the ball from the scrums he hooked, mainly due to the all round superiority of the Buller forwards. With him A~ Panther and R. Eastgate impressed for the amount of hard work they did throughout the day. As the first half was mainly a forward battle, the Coast forwards had plenty of work to do, but they proved ineffective in the second spell when Buller did much as they liked. This nullified many of the prospects of the backs to open up play. In the last quarter, the Coast forwards appeared jaded and they did not stand up to the. pressure of their opponents, who seemed a much fitter side. Before the game and during the interval the Westport Municipal and Birchfield Pipe Bands played selec- j tions. THE PLAY The teams were:— West Coast.— J. Lindbom; D. Steel, R. Stoop, M. Stoop; R. Breeze, W. Amberger; P. Hurren: M. Wells. B. Mettrick, A. Panther, W. Hornby, J. Hagen, M. Herrick, R. Eastgate, G. Nelson. Buller.— | F. Neighbours; R. Hawes, A. Kerr, A. Cummings; O. Smallholme, W. Dickson; A. Luff; R. Doncliffe, J. Nicholson, W. Mumm, M. Ryan, D. Neighbours, W. Cunniffe, G. Anderson, J. Beveridge. With a fairly strong westerly wind in their favour, Coast soon broke into Buller territory, R. Stoop kicking through after a good run, but Cummings secured and cleared for Buller. Securing in the loose after a lineout, near Buller’s line, Hornby dashed over for a try right on the corner flag, but he was ruled out by the line umpire. Coast kept Bulk-r defending desperately on their line, but a penalty against Coast brought relief. Buller advanced into Coast territory from where A. Kerr failed with a penalty kick well out. Plenty of bright loose play was seen for a. short period, both sets of backs being' prominent, and Buller missing a good opportunity of scoring. A promising Coast movement ended in a penalty r against them, after which Kerr made a brilliant dash which took the Buller backs to Coast’s line for the first I time after nearly 25 minutes j of play. Coast, however, gained the 1 upper hand in a scrum, and later when Wells was penalised on the twenty-five yard line, Kerr missed, the easiest of kicks. Buller’s first try came after a dashing effort, in which Luff gained ground and sent Dickson away. The latter in-passed again to Luff who returned the ball to Dickson to touch down for a fine try near the posts. Kerr converted. Buller 5, West Coast nil. ! Dickson, Mumm, Anderson and s Ryan figured in a fast movement, which ended in Dickson scoring an-1 other fine try after out-pacing the | West Coast backs. Kerr again con- j verted. Buller 10, West Coast nil. ! Receiving a knock, Lindbom had I to retire with slight concussion, and the back-line was altered by J. Gillan replacing R. Stoop at centre, the latter goinn into the full-back position. Half-time came with the score 'unchanged. Second Spell R. Breeze and Eastgate took play to Buller’s line immediately after the resumption, but lost possesion and F. Neighbours cleared. The easiest of possible tries went amiss when

Mumm received from Ryan after Anderson had dashed through the Coast defence to within a few yards of the line, where Mumm knocked on. D. Steel, who played consistently throughout, made a brilliant solo effort when he received from Hurren inside the West Coast half, ran through to the Buller full-back, kicked over his head, but was prevented from following up, the ball going out at the corner.

Buller were penalised for a scrum infringement about twenty-five yards out, and G. Nelson missed an easy three points, the ball coming off the side of his boot. A second penalty against Buller a few seconds later saw Nelson open the West Coast score with a good penalty after eight minutes of play. Buller 10, West Coast 3

Torrid forward exchanges followed, but the greater weight and speed of the Buller forwards, and their ability to hook the ball in the set scrums gave Coast little chance. After fifteen minutes of play, Buller looked to be clearly on top, and Coast had largely to remain in their own territory, defending desperately. A penalty against D. Neighbours near the twenty-five yard line was missed by Nelson by a few, inches. After a determined effort by the Coast backs, M. Stoop was forced out on the side-line. Smallholme secured in the loose and easilv beating R. Stoop scored a line try well out. Kerr missed the kick. Buller 13, West Coast 3.

Luff retired hurt and was replaced by G. Smallholme who infused more life into the Buller backs. Nelson missed a long penalty kick and the one bright spot in a long spell of dull play was Mumm’s smart run when he handed on to Nicholson who was forced out at the twenty-five yard line. Cummings failed with a good effort at a field goal. Anderson, Nicholson, Mumm and Hawes figured in a breakaway, but Hawes was forced out in the corner by D. Steel. Securing the ball from the scrum just inside Buller’s half, G. Smllholme dashed round the side of the scrum and scored an easy try unopposed. R. Hawes missed the kick. Buller 16, West Coast 3.

Only about five minutes of play remained and when the Buller defences hold solidly, W. Amberger gained three points with a useful field goal. Buller 16, West Coast 6.

Play at this stage was becoming too hard, and its hardness led to an “incident” in which Mettrick and D. Neighbours were ordered by the referee to shake hands in front of the crowd and the other players. One minute before the. end, Smallholme, the Buller skipper had to retire, and was replaced by H. Eckersley. Buller’s last points came after Anderson kicked through following a scrum and scored well out. Dickson’s conversion was the finest effort of the day, and the game ended with the score

Buller 21, West Coast 6. Mr A. G. Patterson, of Nelson, was the referee, and some if his interpretations did not meet with general approval.

Buller Juniors

Beat Westland

Playing much better football than was seen in the main match, the Buller junior representatives defeated Westland by nine points to three. The game, although largely a forward struggle," was brightened by some fine movements in which both sides took part. Scorers for Buller were K. Crackett, E. Rodger and T. Grace, tries, and R. McKenzie scored Westland’s try. North School 6, beat St. Canices’s niL —