RUGBY FOOTBALL

Hokitika Guardian, 30 May 1932, Page 2

RUGBY FOOTBALL

WESTLAND SUB-UNION

ROSS STILL IN THE LEAD

The Westland Rugby -Sub-Union’s competitions were continued on Saturday afternoon when Ross retained its lead by defeating Rivals, at Ross, by ;6 points to nil. Excelsior defeated Kiwis on -Cass (Square by 6 -points to nil.

SENIORS,

Excelsior 6, Kiwi 0. Ross 6, Rivals 0.

JUNIORS

Kiwi 8, Kokatahi 0. School 6. Ross 6.

RESULTS AT A GLANCE,

EXCELSIORS 6—KIWIS 0.

Anybody’s game until the last five minutes, with odds and honours even,

the last few minutes being marked by herculean efforts by Excelsiors to score, and a grim, solid, deieuce by Kiwis, the match on Cass Square on Saturday afternoon, taking all conditions into consideration, was the most interesting

that has been seen here this season. Heavy rain replaced the misty drizzle before the teams took the fie<d, and within a lew minutes the ball was slippery. It was soon s'cen that tne

sparkling, concerted movements antici•paed in this match, were out of the question, and that the game would rest mainly upon the efforts of the forwards. Generally this was so, in the first spell at least, but the second half contained

a, few revelations in the way the backs or uoxn teams handled at times in particular: W. Hughes for the winners, and Atkinson and Diedrichs for Kiwis. Neither rearguard attempted much in the way of passing movements prior to the interval, being content to find the line or let the forwards carry on. The Second half, however, had several bright efforts,- especially towards the end, when, the Reds tossed the leather about in fine style.

i, There were ether matures, which, did not tend to improve the game—one bejujg the tendency to attempt to pick up the greasy baT, and many openings and much ground was lost thereby. The Sicking was net in the least impressive, f ami It on and Hughes, failing to find ,e sticks, -fifrtWY, «*iW Ijtfgt of the best, and were against.the pickers, although some of the 3hots tpeared comparatively ea sy. Saturday showed that the packs this -Reason hayj not domiciled themselves |p the new formation, and are not getting the full results desired. Heweyer, they played well in a strenuous gfame, the. brunt of the work off the day It would be invidious to select any in particular,. as each man played well. Much of the game was devoted to loose forward rushes, the vanguards, owing to the state of the ball, being unable to join in with the backs. Excelsior ’held a slight advantage in height but Kiwis were not lacking in the honours.

The Blues held the upper hand at the outset of the game, and had Excelsior penned in their own twenty-five, good kicking by Hamilton and Fleming gain, i.ng much ground. The former had two unsuccessful attempts from penalties. The first fifteen minutes was of a ragged nature, the Reds not once appearing beyond halfway, several infringements on their part keeping them on tht defence. Loose rashes and. line kicks gave Kiwis the advantage until Davidson and King headed an Excelsior sortie to the Blue twenty-five where Hamilton gave relief with a free kick. There was not much of outstanding interest during the first half of the spell and ragged forward play ensued in midfield until a Blue attack, headed by Atkinson, West and Walker had the Reds defending, and Hamilton again missed with a penalty Excelsior then provided the first thrill when all the backs went away in the first back movement of the clay, the ball travelling right along to the wing, but Schroder failed to gather the ball cleanly and it rebounded:, a scrum ensuing on the Kiwi line.

L. Hughes niissed with a penalty and Pitcairn cleared with a short run ana. a good kick past halfway. Kiwis were having a ( taste of their own and were continually defending. Two more kicks by Hughes went astray. A probable try was lost for Excelsior when a player knocked on when nearly on the line with two 'men to spare. The Beds were again prominent in a backline rush, and Staines, alter hiking a beautiful pass transferred the ball out, but it was not taken. So far “the game had been very even, each side bavin's- the same opportunities, but the greasy ball and sound defence by the home side kept the score level, and'half time was taken.

Kiwis took up the attack upon resumption. and the Reds foreed. Excelsior now began to throw the bail about, bub jtlie backs were running two much across the field.r The Blues were trying to open up the game also, having; if anything slightly the better of thin "Si; Up arid down the field the scene changed, the game taking on an attractive phase. Khvis again took up the attack and after a long spell in Excelsior territory, were slowly pushed back to their own ground where it was only a grim defence, aided hv several free kicks, that kept the Reds out

The Reds were now making desperate attempts to score and the game went along at a great pace, being full of incidents, Shortly before time Excelsioi were all over the Kiwi’s line, and finally Runnier, Davidson, Staines and W. Hughes handled before the latter cross, ed at the corner. The next minute, Dav idson, Hughes, Staines and Schroder and back to Staines, went away again in a snappy run for the latter to touch down—two nice efforts. L. Hughes failed to convert each, and the match ended, Excelsior 6. Kiwis 0. The game was controlled by E. M. Best.

ROSS 6, RIVALS 0,

Tile senior match between Rivals and Ross took place at. Ross on Saturday. Light rain set in just prior to the match, making the ball- very difficult to handle.

The first half ended without any score, the play being fairly even, xiivals were'unfortunate in losing the services of Houston who injured his knee during the first 15 minutes and had to retire, the team playing the remainder of the game with only fourteen men.

During the second half the game was hard and fast throughout, the local team making a forward game of it and having the best of the game till time was balled. During these forward rushes Ross . got over the line several times but only managed to secure a try on two occasions, J. Jone 3 and Sando‘ each being successful. Both attempts at goal failed, the game end- ' i-ng Ross 6, Rivals nil. j Rivals, despite being short handed played well, and held their own, I The match was ably controlled by Mr F. Freitas. ‘ :

JUNIOR GRADE,

Playing at Kokatahi, the home team were defeated by Kiwis by 8 points to nil, in a good match, in which Kiwis were generally in the ascendancy. Ross and School met on Cass Square, a good match ending in a draw, each side scoring six points.

AT GREYMOUTH

Stars defeated Biaketown by 11 to 8, victory coming in the closing stages after 'an interesting game. Cobden defeated ‘United easily -by 23 to 3, the latter fielding a weak team. Kumara juniors were defeated by Cobden by 10 to 9, their first defeat this season.

AT OTHER PLACES

CHRISTCHURCH, May 29,

Rugby football results yesterday were: Merivale 21 beat Old Boys 14; Sydenham 8 beat Albion 6; Linvvood 20 beat Varsity 16, Christchurch 32 beat Athletic 14.

AUCKLAND, May 28

'Rugby: Ponsonby 12, Grammar 9; Marist 30, Trai«ag*T3BHofee 8; Manukau 11, College Rifles 8. Ponsonby is the only unbeaten team.

WELLINGTON, May 28

Rugby: Eastbourne 17, Oriental 13; Poneke 14, Athletic 8; Fetone 35, Miramar 6; Hutt 26, Marist 15; Wellington 23, Berhampore 9; Old Boys 3, Varsity 0.

DUNEDIN, May 28

Rugby: Pirates 10, Zingari 3; Alhambra 30, Varsity B. 5; Taieri 9, Union 6; Kaikorai 30, Dunedin 6; Southern 6, Varsity A. 5.

THE SOUTH ISLAND TEAM

SIX CANTERBURY MEN IN

WELLINGTON, May 28,

The sole selector, Mr A. McDonald, has ohosen the following Rugby team to represent the South against North at Christchurch on Saturday next: L. Connolly (South Canterbury), G. F. Hart (Canterbury), E. Holder (Buller), C. Procter (Otago), C. Oliver (Canterbury), G-. Day (Canterbury), H. J. Simon (Otago), A. I. Cottrell (Canterbury), E. Lucy (Otago), J. Hore (Otago), D. Max (Nelson), G. B. Purdue (Southland), T Metcalfe (Southland), J. Manchester (Canterbury), A. H. Andrews (Canterbury). Emergencies: J. H. Geddes (Southland), M. McNeight (Buller).

RUGBY LEAGUE,

WIN FOR ENGLISH TEAM.

SYDNEY, May 28,

The English Rugby League team opened their tour at the Sydney cricket ground to-day, in the match against a Sydney Metropolitan side. The visitors completely outclassed the local players on the wet and muddy ground on which the game took place. It was played in the presence of forty-two thousand five hundred spectators. The final scores were: England 29; Metropolitan team 5. The “Sunday Sun” isnvs: The Englishmen are a mast formidable combination. The majority of the penalties given against then were for their contraventions of the Australian rules, but not of English rules. Oil this difference of rule, a eemmon understanding should l>e reached. Brogden, one. of the wing three-quar-ters of the visitors’ team, is described n.s a wonder with tremendous .speed. He pierced the defence a-s if it were made of paper.

The championship points are: , W. L. D. for Ag. Pts, .Ross 4 — — 26 11 8 Excelsior 3 1 — 58 .12 6 K i wi 2 2 — 20 15 4 Ri vials . 1 3 — 22 28 2 Rimu 0 4 — 14 74 0