FOOTBALL

Hokitika Guardian, 26 September 1929, Page 6

FOOTBALL

! ' COAST DEFEAT NELSON

GREYMOUI’H, Sept. 26, (Argus Report.)

The final Rugby representative match of the AVest Coast for 1929 season was played at Victoria jty r k yesterday afternoon, when the'Nelson and West Coast representative fifteens met in a return match. The teams had met at Nelson early in the season, when Coast played their challenge f Ol - the Seddon .Shield, but they suffered defeat at the hands of the home team, the final scores being 19 to 9. Yesterday, however, West Coast reversed the position when, after a fast interesting game, they rail out winners by 11 points to (i. Heavy showers overnight, and during the morning left the playing field in a slippery state, ’but bright sunshine from noon on, assisted, to make the ground suitable lor back play, except in two or three patches where the turf was badly cut up, and water lay on the surface. The teams were as follows:

Nelson: Full-back, Boyce; threequarters, White, Wells, Everett; fiveeighths, Watson, Smith; half, Fowler; forwards, Newman, E. Snow (capt.), Max, H. Snow, Bird, Sutton, Stringer, Everett.

West Coast: Full-back, Nightingale ; three-quarters, King, Kennedy, Pfalilert; five-eighths, J. King, Houston; half, Davidson; forwards, Hngar, Bell, (capt.), Smith, Dougherty, Freitas, Birss, Ferguson, A. Wilson. 'Die first ten minutes of play was decidedly in (favour of. Coast, who adopted bustling tactics in the (forwards which prevented. Nelson from settling down into their stride. Several bright passing movements among the backs fully tested the opposing rearguard, but insufficient backing up and an inclination to kick a little too hard assisted the visitors to keep their line intact. Play was fast and interesting, with Nelson reverting to line kicks to relieve the pressure. Twice in quick succession they were obliged to force. After fifteen minutes play the game was still mostly confined to Nelson’s territory, but tlie visiting forwards then took a hand and transferred play to the Coast end, where Freitas forced from a long kick. On resuming the home team were called upon to defend for ii brief spell, but led by Bell and Freitas they again came down to the Nelson 25, where loose forward play had the visitors troubled. Freitas secured from a forward mix up and sent a long pass to J. King, who sent on to Kennedy to R. King, but the latter was crowded to the line. The ball then travelled across field,, and White fumbled, allowing Coast a chance to go in, but Boyce saved with a speculator. The home forwards, playing with a surprising dash, kept Nelson at bay. A- pretty run by J. King saw his transfer beautiful ly taken by Kennedy who was held up a yard from the line. A forward tussle under the posts ended in favour olf Nelson, but the visitors could not drive the home team away. A minute before half-time Nelson went up to half-way, but Smith and Freitsent them back and badly bustled the visiting backs, three of whom mulled in their attempts to pick up. Smith raced in and it looked likely that he would score, but AVells received his kick through in masterly fashion, to line out, well upheld. Half-time came without score.

The second half opened with Coast being penalised, but Houston 1 received the ball, and kicked to Everett who was caught by Kennedy, but Boyce ran up and saved an awkward position. Coast forced their way to near the visiting goal where a quick passing rush again had Nelson in trouble. The ball was kicked over tlie line, however,-and AVhite forced. Play was fast, with the (forwards particularly in most of the movements. Nelson went down to within ten yards of the line but Fowler’s pass to Smith went astray, and Coast, travelled, again to the other end. Nelson cleared, and led by E. Snow,.the forwards rattled downfielcT, only to see their backs give a poor exhibition of handling when in a good position to score. Pfalilert secured and dropped the ball for Birss to kick through. Coast continued to bustle tlie visitors, and the ball went to the far corner where J. King snapped it up to race across and round to the posts. Coast 5; Nelson 0.

The visitors immediately retaliated and swarmed to the home line, where E. Snow secured to dive over well out. Alax found the long kick beyond him. Nelson 3; AVest Coast 5. Loose .fonvard play followed, with tlie game travelling, up and downfiekl at a fast pace. The home forwards were much superior to the visiting vanguard, and repeatedly broke away with the ball at toe. From play in the Nelson 25, R. King made a spirited clash along the line, then Bell secured to race over well out. .J. King made a splendid effort to convert, the ball striking the post. Coast 8; Nelson 3.

With success attending their efforts the home team kept up the offensive and Nelson forced within a minute of resuming. Nelson woke up, however, and by dint of smashing forward play Sutton, E. Snow and Max pushed aside the defence and dribbled the ball to the line for the latter to pick up and heave his fifteen stone over near the goal posts, but the referee ordered a serum five yards out. Fowler secured and sent his backs away for Smith to score a splendid try at the corner. He failed with a difficult kick, however, and full time sounded with the final scores reading: AVest Coast 11; Nelson 6.' Mr A. AA 7 inchester controlled the match and gave general satisfaction. ,