FOOTBALL

Hokitika Guardian, 12 September 1929, Page 3

FOOTBALL

COAST V. CANTERBURY

i i VISITORS EASY WIN,

This game was played at Greymouth yesterday afternoon and resulted in a win for Canterbury by 27- to 12. Following so closely on their splendid display against Buller, the Coast fifteen were expected to fully extend the visitors, and many keen supporters were emphatic that they would ivm. Judged on tlipir first twenty minutes’ play, the home team certainly appealed as a solid combination, but after that time,' their standard of play gradually but surely lowered, until, halfway through the second spell there was only one team in the picture. The teams were as follows.:—

Canterbury “B”: —R. A. Fulton; A. Rowe, J. Payne, W. Brown; R. Hazlehurst, W. Olliver; G. Rhodes; D. J. Finnegan; C. White, J. Entwhistle, A. I. Collie, A. P. McDuff, J S. Chamberlain, P. Serra, N. M. Porterfield.

West Coast:—Nightingale; Jamieson, Fong, Greer; Lemin, King; Davidson ; Hagar; Bell, Schist, Dougherty. Freitas, A. Wilson. Birss, Ferguson. Play opened sensationally. The ball was received by the home forwards and returned to the Canterbury full-back, who fumbled and allowed the Coasters to storm round, resulting in Freitas gaining possession to force his way across for a try after less than one minute’s play. J. Kin§ added the extra points with a splendid kick. West Coast 5; Canterbury 0. On resuming, play centred 'at midfield, then the visiting backs moved off, but Lemin held up the movement. Jamieson secured and ran past two oT the defence before handing to Fong, who lined in the Canterbury half. Canterbury scored from the line out apd Hazlehurst showed up in a dodgv run which carried him to the home 25. From the scrum Davidson sent a swift pass to, Lemin who fumbled, allowing Olliver to find the line we)ll into Const territory. Finnegan secured and made a nice break away, but lyas grounded, Greer obtaining possession and sending play back to half-way, with a good kick. Coast now attacked strongly, forwards and backs combining in a piovement. which carried them to the opposing line-. A line-out sent the ball to Olliver, who carried back. Coast were, then penalised. for lifting in the scrum and a splendid line by Fulton returned play to halfway. The home forwards were getting the ball in the line-out, but Lemin was slqw to move and as a result was often caught in possession. Followiing a scrum fifteen yards-t from the Coast line, Payne secured nnd sent Rowe away for the winger to easily side-step Davidson and Fong ;to score between the pasts; Rhodes kicked a poster. Canterbury. 3:, West Coast-5. Play improved in speed, but the home backs were not handling well. Nightingale fumbled with the hall, and allowed the Canterbury forwards to go through, but off-side play saved a score, King bringing relief \yith n good line. Hagar was then caught offside, giving Fulton a shot at goal with a drop kick, but the distance was too great. Wilson, Freitas and Bell were at this stage prominent for a good dribbling rush, which gained a lot of gro.und. A line-out fifteen yards from the Canterbury goal saw Freitas receive and run strongly for the goal forcing his way across, with two of the opposing side hanging on. Bell just missed goaling. West Coast 8: Canterbury 3. Coast were getting the major share of the ball, and the home backs were seen moving away on several occasions, but mishandling repeatedly held up the attack. Freitas was playing dashing Rugby and was prominent in almost’ every forward move of the home team. He carried play to the front of tlie Canterbury goal, but Fulton sent the ball back-, to Nightingale, who drop-kicked' a beautiful goal from 40 yards infield. West Coast 12: Canterbury 3. ,

Even play followed, both teams setting a good pace, but nothing outstanding occurred. Freitas and Ferguson broke away and dribbled tbe ball through the. Canterbury side to Fulton, but Ferguson kicked too hard, allowing the full-back to line at halfway. Jamieson later secured and sent a long pass, which was intercepted by Finnegan, who transferred to Hazlehurst, to Payne, to Brown, who crossed well out. Fulton failed to convert. Canterbury 6: West Coast 12.

Canterbury continued to press, but Freitas sent play back to half way. A minute before half-time the Canterbury forwards charged downfield, and Fong raced across to kick the ball over the dead line,’ but did not succeed in putting sufficient boot behind it and was beaten to the touch down by White. Fulton’s kick at goal failed. Canterbury 9: West Coast 12.

Fong did not return after the interval, and his place was ' taken by Greer, R. King going in as a winger. Canterbury immediately atacked and drove the home team on to their line, where Payne threw awav a try by riot passing to Rowe when the latter stood five yards from the line, with a clear field ahead. Davidson relieved, and Lemin carried play to half-way. Serra, Chamberlain, and Finnegan were outstanding among the visiting forwards and headed several thrusts upon tho defence. Play was confined almost to the forwards, but after twenty minutes of the second spell, Hazlehurst received an injury, necessitating his retirement, his place being filled by liunsbea. Payne secured at half-way, and after putting in a tricky run, sent

Olliver away to score under the posts. He converted his own try. Canterbury 14: West Coast 12.

Coast replied by storming the visitors’ line, but a speculator by Brown brought relief to Canterbury. A fast back movement by Canterbury looked likely to culminate in a try, but Brown failed to. take his pass. FT.

thirty yards out Rhodes received and sent Olliver away. The latter hanclo. to Finnegan, for the wing forward to go over with Davidson hanging on. Fulton converted. Canterbury IS West Coast 12.

Canterbury now had the upper hand and kept the home team mostly on defence. Payne snapped the ball from the feet of the Coast forwards, and sent it to Brown. The winger fum' led with it,' then dropped fit to kick along the side line, where Nightingale mulled, ending in Brown giving it another kick over the goal line, and racing to touch down for a try. Fulton failed to convert. Canterbury 22, West Coast 12. ,

The home team made a final effort to reduce the leeway, but Canterbury were playing with confidence and drove Coast back to their line, where Serra picked up from a scramble and scored near the posts. Collie convertpd. In the closing stages Canterbury had all the best df the play and Coast were kept defending, but the final whistle sounded without further alteration to the scores, which stoed, Canterbury 27, West Coast 12.

Mr W. Williams controlled the game in a satisfactory manner.

OTAGO DEFEATS WANGANUI

(By Telegraph—Press Association)

WANGANUI, Kept. 11

In the representative match played here to-day, Otago defeated Wanganui by a narrow margin'of two points, the nnal score being 22 to 2u.

The better team won, though the home s.de played spiritedly in the second spell. Two po.nts correctly Represented the merits of the two fifteens. In ...e first sess.on the honours were with Otago, their backs playing to Wanganui’s defence with sharp passing movements. Inaccuracies on the part of outside men, however, and Wanganui’s low tackling kept the score within reasonable bounds.

In the second spell the visitors did not have too much territorial advantage and Wanganui made repeated thrusts, the teams scoring neck and necx until the end.

Findlay opened the scoring by kicking a goal trom a mark for Otago. A few minutes later a nice passing movement in the Otago backs, the whole chain handling, sent Wilson over. No goal. resulted, and Otago were six points up. Wanganui then took a hand- and Heise .scored under the bar after a rusii with the ball at toe. Tilley converted: Bathgaie goaled from a penalty making the score: Otago 9, Vanganui oi

Kilby worked the blind, Tilley .scored for Wanganui, and the board at half -'time read: Otago 9, Wanganui 8. Scott added to Otago’s account by scorin near the. posts, and Bathgate converted. Tilley retaliated by scoring from a movement initiated by Beilis. He repeated the performance and the scores were level—l 4 all. The visitors were not long m coming back, and after a passing rush Scott pushed the defence aside, Bathgate converting, making the score,: Otago 19, Wanganui 14. Ambrose regained the bullion the bounce and beat Nicholson to score: Wanganui 17, Otago 22. Kilby swung the Wanganui baeks into action, a pretty movement letting Ainbros, after taking an upheld pass by McLennan, cross well out. The kick was unsuccessful, the match ending: Otago 22, Wanganui 20.

WIN FOR TARANAKI. PALMERSIo I -" N., Sept. 11. In a game that failed to raise the enthusiasm of the spectators, the Taranaki touring team to-day defeated Manawhenua by 15 —5. Both teams were disorganised by the absence of regular players. The match was a dreary succession of dropped passes, missed opportunities and generally slovenly methods. Taranaki deserved to win, ~ut were not particularly impressive. WELLINGTON v. WAIKATO. HAMILTON, Sept. 11. Wellington Rugby reps played the first match of their northern tour against Waikato this afternoon, the visitors winning by 22 points to 6. Cumming and Heazlewood each put held goals over in Wellington’s tally, while McDonald, Julian (21, and Rushbrook scored tries for Wellington, and Peazlewood' converted oue try. Hawke kicked a penalty goal and Kemp scored a try for Waikato.