RUGBY FOOTBALL

Hokitika Guardian, 19 June 1933, Page 2

RUGBY FOOTBALL

PIRATES DEFEAT KIWI, Despite the counter attraction at Ross there was quite a fair'attendance on Oafss Square where tho other senior match held.''Pirates met Kiwi and beat them by 16 points to 14 in an in textsting game. 't In the first half Kiwi held-the advantage 'and by half, time lrad a lead of 14—3. The second spell, however, saw, a reverse otf form, 4 and-Pirates gradually decreased their opponents’ lead, and ultimately gained the victory. The'match was generally interesting, especially in the second spell when the margin between the teams dwindled and the,lead changed hands. x Carter;' woe referee, .having al,ready being ,in charge -of a junior match at i. 30 p.m;.

EXCELSIORS v. ROSS. A special train to ‘Rqss on Saturday took a number,, of, spectators, while tare were responsible for a good many others, the Ross recreation ground holding a good crowd when the two leading teams of the senior competition niet. Previously Excelsiors had proven the winners at Regs by 14 to 3, while at Hokitika Ross had turned the tables by 8 to 5. The deciding' game provided a win for Excelsiors by 14 to 3, an -identical total to that of their previous victory. Condition* wore perfect for the game, fc fine day end a . dry ground, with no wind, Tho only' diwdvunwgo wa# •• bright, sun that, made it very difficult j for the eide, feeing if, when the ball -was in the air, especially in the first spell when Ross had their -backs to it. The play in the first half was fast and vigorous and the ball wag being thrown about by both sides, but Excelsior j handling was very faulty and lost J ground time and again, most of the backfc being equally responsible. The line out play served to bring out one player- as easily the best on the ground . in that -department, Gugich giving of ■ hi-s very best, taking cleanly and pass- . ing vback to his half, time time, j in perfect. styla. Anong .the backs, j the •' tvro Mason and Mit-j chell both did, well, the latter being ! somewhat thp'mbfe 'successful. Tho. three-quarter Clines ■■ware im ■ and out K bad handling it critical times' spoiling the; .play. , and ’ .Mitchell ,(Rpss) hod'/aiif&stipct advantage/ thp latter giving -.- the /best ..display. ■' In the five- - eighthti^he l ,' -W.- .Hugheswag 1 His ] game biff/; Of Thiele easily eclipsed the others, also doing well. David: son and; Johnspn; shared th© honours at f.hai^^iei|pi^er ; f spoiling , his' play by handlings. Among the’'forwards:.Jones Martin' and Wright . of the two Kellys and were the 1 most the -loose," while all were WorkirtSall;,i ßy the tight., Sykes and Monk Sra a. great, amount of spoiling, being 'very fast round the scrum. Generally, • in the first'half the'Ross for. wards in the loose had the advantage end weere' very dangejfoug.. at but the 'advantage gained [ was spoilt \ on

several occasions by attempts to pick j up, and on others by isolid defensive | work of the visiting inside backs, Muir and W. Hughes especially. In the second half the play was not nearly as interesting. The game developed -into m series of loose rushes, move of an indiscriminate tuasle for possession, with occasional open -passing runs, which never went to a finish, to be followed by much line finding and kicking. Only in the last twenty minutes did the. Ross forwards fail to hold up the -heavier pack, and from then on Excelsiors had the game in safe keeping, the forced withdrawal of J. Jones at this stage, adding to the discomfiture of Ros s . Though the game ended in a win .for Excelsiors by 14 points (4 tries, one being converted) to 3 points (a try), the run of the play did mot show such an advantage, the -difference oji the day being not nearly so much As the score showed. The game started with Ross defend-! ing the western g° a -> with the sun , their backs. Davidson kicked off and fpllowitng an interchange R, King was penalised for offside. The -ball went to the centre, J. Jones breaking away nicely with Kirkland and Wright, but ■ Mitchell saved and -found the line at. the centre. Muir got offside and from j a' following lino out Marti)} and W«. Thiele broke' away to Mitchell who slipped , and was collared, Ro»s attack-j ing well inside the 25 line. From an. ensuing s crura Btaine s kicked to the comer. A passing run saw the ball go : across the field to Schroder who missed! *nd the ball wont out. From the lU»© out Odgich took cleanly aud passed back to Davidson but Johnson and -McKay •topped hini and Ros* forwards ut up a dangerous loose rush to the Kxcel/dor quarters. From a scrum Davidson passed out but it stopped with Hughes missing his pass. Another red rush afse broke down and Johnson and Wright broke back to the -centre. Then Davidson opened out the play but ■Staines missed, and Rw« returned to the attack, the two Jfones (leading a loose rush that Mitchell stopped and tho ball went out. From an ensuing scrum Johnson, C. Thiele and E. Mitchell went away, till a fine tackle by B. Kelly, stopped them. Then another passing -run «aw Johnson and Mitchell take part, a kick across being by Walker getting offside. The * banj oame across the, field but {schrouer missed taking a high bull and «?'. Jones found the,'line well dowp., From ascrum Davidson broke, away to Ma son. who stopped him in good style,' and,; Mitchell (Rosej came back, , making the, defence look silly till Ravill brought, off a solid tackle. Roes continued to. -attack, and a loose -rush ruffled the defence, H Jones being* thrown'out near, the ,red line. A m-ice line kick.by Freitas,; rolievedj but Johnson jlet his men away] aifid Mitchell-'(Ross) was popped by'Muir. A hot Ros s attack saw a Ro-ss. fqrward get offside, but. the kick did: not fine the line and a hard Ross return j kjck- went overdead baft-line* -From’*? 1 the kick out the return was nicely mark- j ed by Hughes. Then a «eri eß . °f E x " -i celsior. attacks was set' up and a fine) open run saw Staines send It on to J Connolly, who and spoilt a cer. j tain score. Almost immediately there j was another opportunity but the backs failed 'badly,' a regular series of toil-

ures to. take the ball .spoiling good open, mgs. A miskick by J. Jones sent the ball out inside Ross quarters, and' following, a line out arid scrum Davidson got''possession and giving the dummy Went over for a good score. He converted with a neat kick- and the score was fiAojO. _ ■ The kick off was returned by '.Mitchell, but* Willis missed and R. KiDg and Eager - led a loose, rush, in which Connelly kicked too hard, a force resulting. A series of Excelsior attacks broke down, M. Kelly showing to advantage and then Jones, Martin and Wright led a 'beautiful rush to the a'Od line. Mitchell saved nicely but the Ross forwards came back again, and Connelly imissing j Staines made a good save. . Muir, .Staines and Schroder went away but Thiele stopped them, and the Ro.? fi forwards went hack again. .Schroder picked up but came across field, and was tackled by Sykes. Wright kicked back Davidson returning to Walker and .ho s en t the ball out at the centre. From the line out, Gugieh sent out a, smart pass which Davidson fumbled and Wright and Kirkland took play to Mitchell (Excelsior) who was penalised for lying on the ball. A hot. attack wag set up by Roes .forwards, a series of rushes ‘and counter rushes taking place in which Ross had the advantage. At the Excelsior 25, Jones, Martin and Wright broke away and the defence broke down H. Jones scoring a good try. J. Jones failed to improve. 3—5. J» ; \n Excelsior passing .run followed, but the hall went across the field and bad handling caused the attack to break down play ending at. the centre as hall time was oadlod, The opening of the second spell saw Thiele break away, to be stopped by M. Kelly, Then a passing run went to Staines whq missed connection } and a moment later he gained possession and kicked. A Ross loose rush took the ball to Mitchell who got possession ’but bus kick was spoilt and it went back, but L. Hughes and Freitas came away and passed to Davidson who failed to handle. Wright broke through, but 'a mix up took place from which Muir gained possession to take play to Ross ko. Here Davidson gained the ball from a fine out and potted without result. Mason sent the ball back to W... Hugheg w.ho kicked high over the line.' In a race for the ball ‘.between R. Kelly, Mitchell and Freitas, the latter got up to gcpre, L. Hughes fail- j led to ■ improve., B.—-3. 1 • I ■ ~Fioxu the resumption .Davidson, j Hughes, .Schroder and Staines bandied but- gamed rice ground, .Johnson getting j back and setting up an attack. the centre the hall went’to B. Mitchell J (Ross) w-tyo made ‘a dashing swerving i>u,n through the opposing backs; ’. to Mitchell whom he tried to, jump, ibjut canto down heavily. From a knock bn in a line out Davidson marked, apdpa loose scramble ended in a free kick to j Ross. King broke away froiri a ' line out and red ~ backs handled tow@MMU&iy where it broke down. Then B. Kelly,] M. Kelly and Freitas went away with one of the best rushes of the day to just under the goal posts, where G u g'ch was penalised for picking up from a, loose scrum and, .relief went to Ross. J King broke away again from a lino put and h. Hughes carried on hut •Maeon stopped him and then Thiele; returned the play, A loose Excelsior I rush took play, to the Ross line, a force resulting, The Ross kick out w«s stopped by B. Kelly and the hall went back to the line, but Mas o n marked. Tim ball went to the 25, where King was penalised. Play went to the centro. Mitchell (Ross) making a slashing run from the centre boating almost a dozen before being brought down •near the line, and the ball went back to Walker who kicked across the visitors’ line out of bounds. From a following line out offside play eased Roso. M, Kolly then broke away to past the centre, Eager carrying on, Walker stopping him and kicking to Schroder, who kicked across the field but Connelly got offside. A red passing run saw the ball go to Connelly who was thrown out near the Ross line. The attack continued and Gugieh picking up sent out to W. Hughes .and Schroder, the latter being grassed. Da video n picked up and was penalised but Excelsiors continued to attack. Passing was spoilt by a bad knock on. and then Ross Wont away with a loose rush, that M. Kelly istopped and brought piny to inside Ross 25. From a loose serum, M. Kolly picked up and dodged ovei at the corner, most of the players appearing to stand by. L. Hughe s failed to improve. 11—3 Excelsior forwards were now gaining a decided advantage and the play opened out to W. Hughes, Muir, Freitas. ‘Staines and back to iMuiv who went over to score. W. Hughes failed to improve 14—3. In the concluding mo. men to play centred about the centre, time being called soon afterwards, with Excelsior the winners by 14 to 3. Mr A. Cutbush controlled the game in an excellent manner.

JUNIOR GRADE. In the junior grads School defeated Kiwis by 8 to G in a hard fought tussle showing the better back play, although tho loners lasted the better, and did the most attacking in the .second half. Mr Carter refereed. ■ Matches at gkeymoutjt. United 12 (a try by Rathbone, a potted goal by Gilbert, a conversion and a penalty by Bell) neat Cobden 0. Star 16 (tries by Ogier, Fong, Heasley Riohardson; two conversions by McNaughton) beat Blaketown 11 (tries by R. Olseu and I). Olsen ■ penalty and conversion by Negrie).

RESULTS IN OTHER. CENTRES. CHRISTCHURCH, June 17. Rugby football matches were played to-day in dull but line weather, senior results being: Christchurch 11 beat varsity 8; Albion 23 boat Merivale 15; Old Boys 13 beat- Lin wood 10; Sydenham 8 beat Athletic 6. WELLINGTON, June 17. Rugby A grads results: Wellington 11, Eastbourne 6; Marist 17, St. Patrick’s 0.8. 5; Hutt 14, Oriental 3; Petone 12, Old Beys 12; Poneke 17, Athletic 6. AUCKLAND, June 17. Rugby results : Training College 9, Technical 0; Marist 11, Otahuku 3; Grafton 19, College Rifles 6; University 22, Grammar 8; Ponsonby 11 Manukau 3. Second schools, senior:. Auckland Grammar 24, King’s, College 3. DUNEDIN, June 17. Rugby results: Kciikorai 19, Southern 9; Varsity A 26, Dunedin 3; Taieri 11, -Zingar 0; Alhambra 12, Pirates 8; Union 6, Varstiy B. 3. WALLABIES AGAIN DEFEATED. CAPETOWN, June 17. At Kimberley the Australian Wallabies were beaten by the KimberleyGri qua land West representatives by 14 points to 9. - dittman shield team. The following is the team selected to represent Westland iri the Dittman Shield against Greymouth at Greymouth Full-back: —A. •' Mitchell (Eft.),. Three-qitarters— *E. PfahlelT l;‘(Pirates), H Agnevy C. MWdw (Ex.). : ’' " '’ a ' ' l "~ ’ 1 ’ *... Five-eighths: —W. Hughes (Ex.), P. Muir (Ex.). „ Half-back:—M. Davidson (Ex.), cap. tain. Forwards: —G. Kelly (Ex.), J. Kirkland (Rosfi), *M! Kelly (Ex.); R. King ■ Ex.), F. ' Freitas (Ex.), Thiele (Ross), C. Wright (Ross); L. Hughes (Ex.). . Emergencies: Back—D. Diedividhs (Kiwi), Mitchell (Ross). Forwards.—A. Stopforth (Kiwi), H. Jones (Ross).