FOOTBALL

Hokitika Guardian, 8 July 1929, Page 3

FOOTBALL

JUNIOR REPRESENTATIVES. WESTLAND V. GREY. This game was played on Cass Square on Saturday under fair comaitions. The ground was in good order, hut a light rain that commenced to fall half-way through the first spell made the ball somewhat difficult to handle. ,In the first half Westland at once attacked, and Grey were kept busily defending for some time, a special incident being a smart dash through by Muir, who got near to the line before he was pulled down. Shortly after a nice passing run saw Keller get near to the line but his pass wont astray, a force resulting. Shortly after 'Hamilton had a shot from a penalty without result. Play still hovered in Grey quarters, and from a penalty well out in front of the posts Hamilton opened the scoring with a nied goal. The play continued in Westland’s favour though the handling was not too sound on either side. A" rough and tumble loose rush followed in which both sides made many mistakes, and then a nice kick by Macfarlane opened the play for a blue rush that took the 'ball to the line* where Osmors went across to score. Hamilton failed to improve. G - . • . • : I Grey then asserted themselves, and opened out some passing, but a failure to. pass promptly stopped a nice ! opening arid Hamilton found halfway as the bell rang. In the second half Grey had a distinct advantage from the start and pressed steadily, but there was a lack of finish arid nice openings were spoilt by bad passing and bad handling. There was a lot of stoppages for scrums, and much uninteresting line play. Continuing tlieir attack. Grey had play in Westland quarters and from a penalty in front Lindbom kicked a neat goal. 3—6. The visitors came back to the attack and appeared to have their opponents rattled for a while, a loose rush resulting in about a dozen Blues faiL ing to handle, one-after another and three parts of the field was lost. Grey continued to attack and from a series of tight scruriis near the goal line the defenders could not get relief. Ultimately from a scrum Baldwin dodged over and scored. Lindbom failed with an easy kick, and the scor estood 6 all

A rally In’ Westland saw the play go to Grey quarters arid the attack was well sustained. A-long kick by Stapleton saw the ball got out neat the line and for a loose scrum following, the ball went to Muir who cut in and passed in to Kelly who went over to score a try. Hamilton again failed* with the kick. With time getting on Grey showed bad tactics by using 'the line too much and play slowed down. Then a fierce rush saw play go to Westland quarters where a series of scrums took place near the line, but Inglis broke away cleverly and eased the situation) The play went to the centre, and then Westland briefly attacked, the ball going out at the centre as, time was called, with Westland victors by 9 to 6.

The game was not a very bright exhibition though the forwards at times showed up with bright rushes; The hacks though handling the long kicks well, all appeared to suffer from tire effects of the greasy ground and at times the handling was extremely poor. There was very little individual play of any calibre, and very few efforts of a classy nature at all; Altogether the exhibition was only a moderate one. Mr D. Keenan was referee.

COAST DEFEAT DULLER. aV - WESTPORT. July 6. The first representative match of the season was played on Victoria Square this afternoon, when the West Coast defeated Buller by five points (a try scored by Mason and converted by 'Bell) to nil. The game was played under cold, wet conditions. The Buller fifteen played well, but as a team they did not have the necessary team work. Goodall, McNeight and Gardiner were always prominent. Bonifacio. Robinson and Connolly were the best of a weak back line. A. Graham at full-back justified his selection. White, although not endowed by nature with a wonderful physique, was always in the thick of the fray, and shirked none of the rough stuff wnen the occasion de manded. For the winners, Freitas, Hughes and Bell played good football, but were only a little better than the remainder of the pack, all of whom did their share in a sterling forward battle. Mason was the most versatile player on the field, and was always handy when danger threatened bis side. Fong, apart from one mistake, did all he was asked to, and did it well. Nightingale at fullback was safe and got his team out of many awkward situations. WESTLAND B. DEFEAT GREY B. This match between the senior B. representatives was played under very unpleasant conditions it being bitterly cold on Victoria Park. West-

land won by 13 points (tries by Stopfortli, Webster and Eager, two of which Stevenson converted), to 8 points (tries by McEnaney and Fell, one converted by Hannam). The game was only of a moderate quality. At times there were bright patches, but the play generally was not high.

NELSON DEFEATED. (By Telegraph—Per Press Association.) BLENHEIM, July G., Having soundly defeated Nelson at Nelson a fortnight ago, Marlborough repeated the dose to-day in Blenheim, the score this time being 20 to 11. It was a splendid exhibition of fast open forward play, Marlborough dominating the game almost throughout, while for the last half hour Nelson were hopeless. For the winners, tries were scored by Hewitson (2), Woodgate, Dobson, and Botham (2). Bothdm also kicked a penalty goal, and Phillips converted one of the seven tries. For Nelson Fowler scored a try and Reed converted, and also kicked a penalty goal.

CHRISTCHURCH MATCHES. CHRISTCHURCH, July 6. There were two surprises in the R.tigby Union football matches here to-day. Varsity beat Merivale by 9 to 7 and Albion 9 beat Christchurch 6. The othor results were Sydenham 15 beat Technical 12; Old Boys 59 heat West Christchurch Old Boys nil.