FOOTBALL

Hokitika Guardian, 2 July 1928, Page 4

FOOTBALL

WEST COAST V. BULLER. The first inter-Union match of the season was played at Victoria Park, Greymouth, on Saturday afternoon and resulted in a win for AVest Coast by 19 points (three tries, two being converted, and two penalty goals) to 3 points (a try). The ground and weather conditions were perfect for the game, there being no wind and very little sun. Duller defended the southern goal and McCleary kicked off. Stuart (Duller) at once showed up breaking away from the first scrum and Johnston carried on. A Coast rush led by Mclntosh took play to the centre and AfcCalie got offside. Return kicks saw Houston collared in possession. Then a Buller rush went to Tainui who failed to go down to it, and the ball went to near the Coast line where Nicholson kicked to the front of the posts and Graham marked within easy range but bis kick at goal went wide. J. King found the line. Then Maxwell broke away to the centre and a. Bed passing run saw the ball go to Pfahlert but no ground was made. From the throw-in Freitas gave the ball to Maxwell and after a passing run Buller were penalised and J. King opened the scoring with a nice goal. 3—o. Maxwell, took off the kick-ofl ball and went, tip the field but Bell got off-side and O’Brien found the line welklown. Return kicks saw Nicholson find the centre. From the line-out Stuart broke away but Houston saved nicely and from an ensuing serum lie found the line. Buller forwards broke away from the next scrum. R. King being collared with the bail, and a Bulledrush looked ugly till Maxwell marked prettily off their toes. Dougherty got up to McKenzie, and brought him down, but Green saved to centre. Then. McCabe and Caldwell led a hot rush, down field where Graham potted, a good attempt that missed. A moment later ihe ball tamo back for an easier shot but the second pot was a weak one and Coast forced. Following the kick out several penalties were given Caldwell (Buller) then Maxwell and almost after Freitas being, caught offside. A run by McCleary was stopped by 11a''ris and Houston marked and kicked well down the centre■ where Caldwell was again offside and King took and missed an easy shot. Houston stopped the return hut a Duller rush took play'to Coast quarters where McCleary, offside and Graham had a shot that was a poor attempt. A Blub rush was stopped by Freitas who sent, the ball well down where for handling on the ground. King had another shot but failed. Green twice in succession stopped finely and then Harris and O’Brien went away in a passing run to Const 25, hut Patten - son gave relief with a solo dribble that gained many yards. Gardiner came hack" and reached Nicholson vho saved nicelv. but Buller came again. Gardiner mid Lowther beinfi slopped by Pfahlert.. Tiien from a serum Duller got. possession and Green went to the centre but wild passing spoilt an opening. Maxwell snapped ihe ball and sent it to J. King, to 'tainui In R. King who was thrown out at the 25 flag, the first combined passing run of the spell. Freitas broke a Duller nisi) at the cent.-e, and play went to the goal line, Dougherty, Bell and Mclntosh being also in it. Freitas picked up close to ihe posts and went over but struck a goal post and lost the ball, a force resulting. Return kicks between O’Drien and .J. King saw the latter find the line. Stuart broke away but Dougherty tackled low, and in the melee O’Brien went out for a time. A great rush beaded by Houston went to the full back but Matson was equal to it, hut the forwards again got possession and Maxwell lost the hall and as it came on him when offside lie picked up to fall over the line and a force, was allowed, half time coining a moment later with play at the centre and the score 3 to 0 in favour of Coast.

The opening episode of the second spell was a Coast passing run, but Matson kicked back to 'liiinui anil the ball went through his arms and O’Brien and Graham went on till Nicholson saved. Buller continued to attack but Green got offside and Freitas and Patterson took the hall on. A free kick relieved and Gardiner broke away but Bell gained possesion and cliangeil play and for offside by Caldwell, J. King a nice goal. G—o.

Coast opened out Ironi a scrum following the kick off, McCleary. Houston, J. King and Pfahlert handling the latter reaching the line only to stumble and lose the ball. The bali came across tlie field and a Coast attack- was followed by a scrum near the posts. The ball came out to MoCleary who gave the dummy badly to several opponents and dodged over to score a pretty try. J. King had no difficulty in converting. 11—0.

Coulton and Dougherty showed up in a loose rush but Buller forwards came back with a. passing rush till J. King marked cleverly. Up and down the field the play went changing scene rapidly It. King saving a dangerous attack after Nicholson bad lost tlie ball in trying to keep out out the way of an injured player. Gardiner then went off and was replaced by Lament. Patterson and Bannister went away from a line out and then Houston and Caldwell, collided, and stopped play. A Buller rush was stopped by the two Kings but Johnston marked. Pfahlert and Maxwell handled anil the latter kick-

ed reaching Matson and spoiling bin., the two going oh again, but Maxwell knocked on and a fine opening was lost. From a senihi McCleary let Pfahlert away and lie passed on to Taimii who knocked on. Green broke back but Patterson upset him. Pfahlert came with a great dash along the line hut was brought down and Johnston. Stuart - and Clarke brought piny hack Houston stopping them in fine style. Stuart came aw.ry again with McCabe and Nicholson just stopped the rush but was penalised for lying on the ball and Baiter lmd an easy shot Hint failed. Maxwell kicked down field aiid Coast made some poor passing, Scott intercepting but a good opening was lost jby Hands failing to take a pass Buller continued io attack and following a series of scrums and line, outs near Coast line Green gave an opening and Lament dived over to score near the corner. McKenzie failed to convert. 3—ll.

The play went to the Buller end and a sharp Coast, passing rim saw J. King prominent being! stopped by Spence. Then Coulton broke away and passed to Mclntosh who handed it on to Pfahlert who handling nicely we.nt over near the corner, to run round to the posts unopposed. ,T King missed the easiest of kicks. 11—3.

Coast continued to attack, Houston, Bell and Pfahlert being prominent and the ball went well into Buller quarters. From a scrum near the line McCleary got the ball and making a- nice opening sent out a fine pass to Pfahlert who was over like a shot to. score liis second try. J. King goaled. 19—3. Following the kick off Freitas broke through, Bell carrying on. A lreo kick gave relief to Buller, but a great rush in which Coulton, Boil. Bannister and Mclntosh stoiie carried the bali back, hut iiatson relieved hi

good stylo find the end came shortly after with play near midfield, Coast being victorious by 19 to 3. The game was not a first class exhibition. The first half was mainly in the forwards, the backs handling poorly. The Buller pack were nippier and were a continual thorn to the dose up Coast backs, much offside play being allowed to go by. The Coast when they did get the ball did not open out the game. Houston doing altogether too much kicking, while Tniniii failed to make bis marble good at any stage. The Buller backs did not go far, but they tackled well and handled cleanly. In the second haif- the Coast pack settled down, and gaining possession the play opened out a little* at times, but there was a great amount of spoiling by both sides, showing the defence was better than the attack. Pfahlert who only had one thing to do in the first liaif and did it badly, made amends in the second half when the play went his way and made some of those slashing dashes of which lie is so capable. His two.tries were nice finishes to good openings. McCleary was fairly well looked after, but he made some nice openings, his own and Pfahlet’s second try being nice efforts J. King did a big day’s work well and with Houston be shared the honours of the afternoon both doing well. B King did bis part well but was not trailed on so much, as the ball failed to come his way a great deal. Nicholson at full did fairly well, a couple of let downs being luckily not expensive. The Coast Forwards were in good fettle and in the second half .showed to advantage. _ Li the tight work Bannister, Patterson, Beil and Coultou wore always there, while Freitii®. Dougherty, Mclntosh and Maxwell put in a good afternoon's j display. Freitas and Maxwell wore [ vo*y noticeable in the linoout and ! loose rushes.

The Buller full hack Matson gave a cm’d exhibition,- lias tackling and liaudliao being good. The tliree-t|Uar-lers failed to get going. There was too much kicking altogether, opportunities to open out the play not being made use of. and it was in loose rushes' that the team as a whole was dangerous. Green received from the scrum often in the first spell especially, but Scott or O'Brien used tlieir feet too much, and when openings did come then bad handling lost them again O’Brien made one very bad miss in the first half, the ball coming to him with a walk over try ready., only for him to juggle and lose a very easy pas®. The forwards were nippy in the first half 'especially. Stuart, Lowthor and Caldwell were continually breaking through the line one and in the open play tlieir spoiling efforts being very successful, especially as a failure by the opposing centre to go down helped them on many times. Tim whole team tackled weii, but they did not handle too cleanly and much more ground was made when they kept the hall on the ground tlieir dribbling runs being by far tlieir most dangerous efforts, which often carried them more than half (he field at a time. As a display of open handling t’mir efforts were a distinct failure. The result 19 to 3 is rather complimentary to the winners It was only in the second half that they had the advantage, the first half being very even, and if was also

a Mii.icv. hat poor display, while only on occasions .lid llio play reach representative form in the second half. Mr T. Mcjntoi-li was referee, and in the first half lie appeared to give too much laxity to the over-running forwards who at times made no effort, to net back on side. Me bad tbe game well under command throughout, and though there were several temporary stoppages the play was not rough. As

a matter of fart on two occasions

there was a hold up caused by. two players on the same side coming into violent collision with each other.

INANGAHUA DEFEAT DULLER Before a large attendance of the public yesterday, Inangahua, defeated the Biilier reps by 1(3 points to 14. The game was one of the brightest displays of the code witnessed in Recftpn. and was spectacular from start to finish.

The day was excellent for football, amt the ground in good order. Tlio Inangahua forwards shone out in tbe loose, and showed lip to Iretter form than the Buller pack. It was mostly a forward game throughout, and the forwards won tbe day. Inangahua hacks were excellent, both on defence and attack, but were never asked to do extra much. Buller forwards were tired after tlieir game with West Coast on Saturday.

There was no score in tlie first half. In the second half for Inangahua, Kelly (2), L.vtlioe and Hunt scored tries, Hunt and Kelly converting one each. For Bailor, Robinson, Stuart, Jenkin and Johnstone scored tries, Graham converting one.