DITTMAN SHIELD

Hokitika Guardian, 26 June 1933, Page 2

DITTMAN SHIELD

AVON BY WESTLAND. A CAPITAL GAME. The Westland Sub-Union representatives played their challenge game for the Dittman Shield, held by the West Coast Rugby Union at ling by Park, Grcymouth, on Saturday, under perfect conditions when Westland were victorious by 10 points (tries scored by Schroder and W. Hughes, which were converted by Agnew and L. Hughes) to 5 points (a try by Gilbert, converted by Martyn). The game proved a fast and well contested one, in which both sides played up to expectations, and the play was at times very exciting, the locality of play changing with remarkable rapidity. Jn the first half Westland had a fair .advantage and changed over wtli a five point load. In the second half the game still continued slightly in favour of the winners and a brilliant solo effort by W. Hughes, added another try, which was converted by his brother. From then on Grey asserted themselves and had the better of tne play. A fine try was scored from a combined movement and their backs getting tha ball all the time in tlid latter stages had all the heist of it, but the defence was sound and the attack was carried into the opposing quarters with good effect each side having to give of their best to continue to hold their line intact.

The Westland backs put,up a great performance, and they handled well, but the opposing tackling was very sound. Mitchell did well but the bouncing ball beat him once of twice. His tackling was sound. Of the threequarters Schroder was most in the limelight and he put in a big afternoon’s work with every satisfaction. Pfahlert on the other wing did not got as much of the ball, but he was continually in the picture. Agnew was safe and solid at centre, tackling well. His goal from near the touch line was a fine effort. W. Hughes stood out in the five eighth line, and had a pretty duel with his vis-a-vis F'ong. ,T.t was not till he had to leave the field that the opposing inside backs came through so well. Muir stood up well, his tackling especially being , solid, this being a feature of the day’s play among the whole team. Davidson put in a good atfernoon. When his forwards were getting the ball in the first half lie showed out to great advantage and opened out the play nicely. Tn the .second half when the opponents were getting the ball lie had to nuake his own openings and his spoiling efforts were very successful.. The forwards put uj> a great fight. Their solid scrummaging in the first half gave them a decided advantage, and they followed up and tackled solidly. In the loose Wright, Thiele, Kirkland and .Freitas showed out, but the solid stuff was put- in by tho two Kellys, living and lo Hughes, all doing well. The condition of the last four appear--ed to last out the best and they were fairly revelling in the loose rushes towards the close of the game, but one and all put up a capital game, and proved worthy of their selection. The Grey team lacked cohesion in the first half of the game and though they tackled well, they had not the same chancws of the ball. In the latter portion of the second half their forwards got control and they gave their bacKs the ball time and again. Scandrett got the hall away cleanly and time and again the ball went away with a threat of disaster to the opposing side, but only on one occasion did the tackling fail to avert the danger. Heasley, at full back got in a big afternoon with hardly a mistake. Negri at centre had to go off in the first half hour end was replaced by Behan, the latter forming a capital substitute. Martyn and Gilbert on the wings were in good form and always dangerous. Fono- was a vital link in the chain and his play at five eighth was of a high order, Taafe proving a capable assitant. Scnndrett did no‘tshow out in the first half and spoilt his play by too much kicking for the line. In the second half he opened out the game well, handling very successfully. The forwards were a solid lot Thompson, Rathbun, Jamieson and Bolitho showing out but all worked well though there was more solidity in the scrum in the second half.

An unsatisfatcory feature of the play was the number of penalties awarded in connection with the putting in of the ball in the scrum, a feature that quires attention 'and elimination, both sides being offenders ill this respect.

The game opened with Westland defending the northern goal conditions being perfect, r.o sun, no wind and ground in capital order. Following the kick off and line out, from a following scrum Westland were penalised, but the kick went back, and Scaudrett was penalised for handling. Pleas ley returned the kick and play went to Muir who failed to handle. The ball came from ; a scrum to Favidsen, who opened out hut Muir missed a hard pass, but a fine save was made by Nehiyder, the ball going to Heaslev wbo wr.« penalised for hanging on. A break through by Davidson who short kicked, was smartly marked by Scandi'ett, who saved in a difficult position. There was loose rucking 0. Kelly getting offside. Agncw took the ball from the kick and opened out to Pfahlert, but Gilbert tackled safely. A penalty soon after saw Agncw make a good attmurt at goal. Then L. Hughes stopped Tnafo and broke a passing nm. but- the. ball went to Marty n, whom Flulilert safely floored. Scan-

drett broke away and kicked hut Wright took the ball and came 'away with a loose rush to F'ong. Scandrett broke past Davidson but Muir tackled with success and Davidson picked tip and handed on to AY. Hughes to Agnew, to Pfahlert who was thrown out by Martyn near the goal line, and from the line out Grey forced. Fong biased out mid Rathbun got up to Pfahlert, and .stopped his return, hut Davidson handled smartly and sent to Hughes, to Muir to Agnew to Schroder, beating the opposition for the latter to score a fine try. Agnew converted with a fine kick, five yards from the touch line, s—o. From tlie kick off the ball was sent back to Martyn who potted, without success but Scandrett (forward) got to the bail and play went to Westland’s line. King broke through the line and kicked, Wright and M. Kelly carrying on but the ball went to Martyn, who went away. A fine tackle by Schroder stopped him* and Mitchell found the 25' Hag/ A'-free kick to Grey gave no advantage and play went to Grey 25, where Negri injured his forearm and had to retire, Behan replacing him. From a loose rush tli® ball went across to •Schroder who kicked high in front of the goal, Fong neutralising with 'a fine mark. Kirkland broke away but was penalised for offside. A red rush was spoilt by Freitas knocking on but he immediately retrieved by a fin© punt. Davidson broke through and short kicked but Heasley got to it and Returned, Agllew opened out a passing run but Taafe intercepted and went through to Mitchell who stopped him. A red rally saw Agnew and Schroder carry play to* Grey 25, 'and then out near the line. Here Fong marked but Agnew sent the ball back where Gilbert marked right on the line. From a scrum Jones and Mahoney came round to smother Davidson, but the following rush was stopped by Muir, but Heasley marked. Kirkland and Thiele broke away, but Fong stopped them and King and Freitas brought the ball back. Right- on the line Jones intercepted and relieved hut Agnew rind Muir came back, but a line kick by Taafe averted the danger and half time was called with the score 5 to nil in. favour of AA'estland. The second half saw the ball well returned by Heasley, but Davidson and Agnew broke away, Martyn tackling soundly. Then AV. Hughes broke to the centre hut Fong saved the position, and the ball went back. King broke through a line out but Heasley returned and from a scrum Fong, Taaffc and Martyn handled but Pfahlert pushed the latter cut inside AYestland 25. Here Scandrett got away and went near the line, but Schroder picked up and running out in front of the posts found the line at centre, a bright piece of relieving play. Dav'dson and Hughes handled but Thompson and Jones brought play back at tlieir toes. Davidson passed to Miui: but Martyn marked. From a scrum Gilbert, Fong., Taafe and Buchanan handled but Uavidsoh tackled successfully and saved a nasty position, The ball went back but Hensley marked. From a following- scrum Scandrett let Martyn away and Taafe went on to Mitchell who stopped him. A free to AA 7 estland was spoilt Freitas getting in front. Thompson and Jones broke away in a loose rush. A free kick gave Martyn a shot at goal but- he missed. Following the kick out Fong w'ent away but King stop" ped him just outside the 25 flag, another free saw Martyn again fail to goal. A loose rush saw King and L. Hughes carry through but Jamieson stopped them and a passing run by Scandrett, Gilbert, and F. Scandrett when Pfahlert tackled the latter. B. and M. Kelly dribbled 'through! but Scandrett Gilbert and Scandrett (f) went t 0 the centre to Fong, who was tackled by Muir and the pass went ragged, enabling AA 7 . Hughes to cut in inside bis own field, and gain possession. His dash carried him right through and lie went up to the fuL back, kicked on over the line, following on in time to get up and score, a fine finish to a single handed effort. Unluckily'in falling on the ball lie was injured and hatj, to leave the field. L. Hughe s converted and the score was 10-0.

Following a scrum King and Thiele went away but Beban stopped the rush, and line out play followed. Then Martyn came away and Behan handed on to Fong who cut in nicely in front of the goal beating Muir arfd Agnew, but was tackled by Mitchell, but the ball went cleanly to Gilbert who went over under the posts unopposed. Martyn made no mistake and goaled s—lo. The kick out was spoilt by Freitas being in front. D. Diedrich here took the field. Grey were soon attacking fiercely, getting the ball from nearly every scrum. A nice run start- ■ cd by Scandrett and Taafe saw Fong knock on. L. Hughes and the two Kelly’s went away to past the centre but Fong, Martyn and Scandrett brought it back, Gilbert getting offside. From the centre;-followed one of tho hottest episodes of the game. From a line out the ball went to Scandrett, who passed to Fong. Freitas got to him to shake him off his feet, and the ball went to King. He was tackled by Buchaiian, but sent on t 0 L. Hugh es. He was tackled and the ball went tc Fong. Muir upset him a 1 1 ■Scbinder got (he bail, to be upset by Taafe. He-lost the ball, but Davidson snapped it up and sent to Wright, who was floored I v Fong and then j Davidson stopped tho play by kicking I out of touch. A passing run by the Grey backs saw a tackle by Muir spoil Fong’s pass and Schroder came away with a fine line kick past the centre. King and A. Kelly broke away to Grey 25, but Fong saved and a line kick by Martyn gained much ground. Grey endeavoured to open up the game, hut Wright broke away to Taafe, and M. Kelly dribbled up to Uoasley, who. 1

picking up, was taken by Diedrich, but a Grey rush saw the forwards bring play back with a hot loose rush, which Beban spoilt by picking up, and being tackled by Freitas, the play going out at Westland’s 25 flag, as full time was called, the final score being Westland, 10; Grey 5. Mr Tempero was referee. WEST COAST TEAM SELECTED. FOR MATCH AGAINST BULLER. The following team bag been selected by Messrs A. A. Adams and D. R. Dowell, to represent West Coast against Buffer at Westport next Saturday, in the annual homeland-home match : Full-back: E. Pfahlert (Pirates). Three-quarters: L. Martyn (Cobden), G. Gilbert (United), C. Schroder \Excelsior). Five-eighths: A. Fong (Star), vicecaptain; W. Hughes (Excelsior). Half-back: B. Scandrett (Star). Forwards: G. Kelly (Excelsior), J. Kirkland (Ross), L. Hughes (Excelsion), M. Scandrett (Blaketown), M. Thompson (United), F. Freitas (Exqelsior), captain; R. King (Excelsion), E. Jones (United). Emergencies: Backs, M. Davidson \Excelsior) and J. Beban (Star); forwards, M. Jamieson (United), Thiele (Ross).

RESULTS IN OTHER CENTRES. Christchurch Rugby Union results were: Sydenham IS beat" Old Boys 3: Merivale 16 beat Lin wood 8; Varsity •10 beat Athletic 13; Christchurch 24 heat Albion 12. WALLABIES DEFEAT RHODESIA. BULAWAYO, June 24. Travelling two thousand six hundred miles in a week, the Wallabies played their second match against Rhodesia here. The Australian forwards, adapting themselves to the South African scrum formation, opened up passing movements. Their three-quarters found difaculty in penetrating a sterling defence. At half-time the Wallabies led by 12 to nil, and the final score was: Wallabies 31, Rhodesia 0. N.S.W. DEFEAT QUEENSLAND. BRISBANE, June 25. In the inter-State Rugby Union