FOOTBALL.

Hokitika Guardian, 3 September 1931, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

SEDDON SHIE'LDEBS WIN'. OVER AUSTRALIANS. (By Telegraph —Per Press Asnociation) NELSON, September 2. The Australian Rugby touring team were defeated again to-day, when they met the Combined Nelson-West Coast-Buller-Golden Bay Representative team, the latter side winning by 14 points (four tries, one converted), to five., (A converted try). Just before the commencement of the game, rain fell and became heavier up to half-time, making the ground slippery and creating conditions wholly unsuited to the Australians’ style of play. The Australians were , always dangerous in" the loose and open play, .when they (threw- the greasy hall about with confidence, they actually initiating a number of passing movements from their own 25. ON TOP. The honours of the game were with the combined districts’ forwards, who played a tight, hard game, with much more vigour gild rUggediliss than the tourists. ' Judd, Briildle and Blair were the visitors' best forwards, and Palmer gave a great display -at first fiveeighth. Ross, the ' full-back, was frequently called upon to defend against the fast opposition forwards, and, in spite of t'he state of the ball, he gave a brilliant exhibition. The combined ... forwards were a very even lot, with Max, Stewart, Grogan and Goodall, probably the best. DAVIDSON PLAYS WELL. Davidson (West Coast), the half, was sound, both in defence and in attack. Graham and Busch were the next best of the backs. 'J The combined-' side,/ ’territorially, had the best of the first half, with the second, spell more even. . After the start, Caldwell and McLean were responsible in taking play; to ' Australia’s 25, where Alexander gained possession. He sent the bail to Lamont, who transferred to Busch a few yards off the line. The winger cut in past the full-back, and went over for a try, as the result of what was a snappy movement. The first half ended with the score three to nil in the Combined team’s favour. scored ~ in second half, from' a brilliant 'solo effort, when a visitors’ back movement broke down, and he dashed over half the length of the field, for a try in the corner, which was lconverted with a great kick, by Graham (Buller), from the -side line. A loose Combined team rush later went over half ’the length of the ground, Grogan then kicking over the line for McLean to score a try. Combined 11, Australia nil. Towards the end, the visitors’ forwards seemed to regain their vigour, and they played up splendidly, a fast forward movement ending in Brindle scoring from the 25, Ross converting the try. Combined 11, Australia 5. Just before Australia -were all ogt to keep the Combined team away from their line, when a rebound from a kick gave McNeight a chance to score the. final try. Combined team 14, Australia 5. The wisitors were penalised on a number of occasions for infringements in the scrum. On a dry ground, - however, they would probably have reversed the result. WIN FOR OTAGO. AGAINST MANAWHENUA. PALMERSTON N., Sept. 2. In the representative Rugby match, the Otago team took the honours w day from the Manawhenua reps., wining by 16 points to 11 in a fast open game. The weather was delightful and the ground perfect. It was generally conceded that the better team won, but it was admitted that Manawhenua were unlucky in not being given another try. The Otago team started off at a great rate, and they ran all, over Manawhenua during the first part, the great speed of their backs suggesting that they would run up a cricket score. It was not long before they had 13 points on. Manawhenua then settled to woric, and. after even play, they were superior for the rest of the spell. The early part of the second spell left the margin unchanged, but the visitors were slowing up, and were finding it increasingly difficult to keep Manawhenua out. A few minutes before time, Le Quesne scored, after one. of the best movements of the day, the try being converted. * The first score started at half way, where, following on thrusts by the Otago wings, Smith secured from a scrum, and after an interchange of short- passes, Procter cleared out from the rest to score for Otago, a brilliant try in the corner. Nicholson’s kick hit the upright and went over. Another pretty score came shortly

after. Manawhenua hooked from a scrum at midfield, but the half’s pass on the blind side went astray, Francis obtaining the ball, and short-kicked to the full-back, who was smothered. Coulston got the ball, and kicked across the field to Smith, who sidestepped, and sent McKenzie over. Francis goaled. Another three points were added by a 35 yards penalty kick by Nicholson. Otago 13, Manawhenua 0. Just 'before the bell the home forwards rushed the game to the line, Le Quesne sending Mackenzie over under the posts. The kick missed. Otago 13, Manawhenua 3. Commencing the second spell, Manawhenua swept to the line, and Henry appeared to score after a penalty kick had hit the post. The referee could not see the incident, and gave a scrum Then Manawhenua scored, when Warren fired a long pass infield to Johnston, and a pretty run and movement were rounded off by Graham near the posts. The kick missed. Otago then retaliated, Proctor racing over at the corner. Just before time, Warren sidestepped his way through, and the hall wa,s then handled by Graham, who threw a high.pass which was taken bv Le Quesne in a flying leap, and he cored brilliantly near «the posts. Fletcher goaled. Henry (Manawhenua) and Miller (Otago) left the field owing to injuries. The latter sustained slight ooiicussiolL Mi* A. McKcgg was referee. MAORIS BEAT MARLBOROUGH. BLENHEIM, September 2. The Maori team, touring the Seddon Shield districts, defeated Marlborough by 9 points to 0 on a. wet field to-day. A draw would have been a good indication of the game, wherein the Maoris held a slight advantage in the play in the first spell, which ended three nil. The fast Marlborough forwards played up well in the second spell, keeping the Maoris on the defensive for 75 per cent, of uie time, but were just unable to score. The game was confined - chiefly to the forwards in the first session, the heavier Maori pack being superior in the tight, but were outplayed in the loose. Fleming kicked a pepalty goal for Marlborough in the first five minutes. Half-way through the spell, Kaua scored an unconverted try for the Maoris. In the next session Reid scored for the Maoris in a forward rush, and Patchett bolted thirty yards and scored for Marlborough. Both easy goals were missed. Hohaia won the game for the Maoris by slipping .round the scrum and scoring a isolo'try which .was-unconverted.