DITTMAN SHIELD

Hokitika Guardian, 11 September 1933, Page 2

DITTMAN SHIELD

WESTLANI) DKFE-ATS coast. . BY MARGIN OF TWO POINTSBy five points , to three Westland staved.off a challenge by Coast for the Dittmau Shield in a match played on Cass Square on Saturday afternoon. For a Shield match the attendance wias small. The match was interesting throughout, and- Westland deserved their ..win, holding to the. offensive throughout the greater ,part of the match. Neither team was rip to full strength, Greymouth being, without •the .services of Fong, while, 'Bay and, -Jones were absent from the Westland team. Hay was included in place of Hughes, who was hot available through injury. The’,five-eighth position was filled by R. King, while Sumner and Gugieli went into the pack. Throughout the game the Westland forwards were always in the picture, and played well to a man. The Grey pack did not get the same opportunities, being for the greater part on the defence, but when they, did go into action they gave full taste of the worth. Linbom at full-back was impressive and Gilbert did fa lot of good work. Sean drett on .the day was outshone by his opponent,. Davidson. ' With Schroder ploying centre for Westland; King at .five-eighths, and Walker on the wing, it was anticipated that Greymouth would hold the advantage, but Davidson, who gave a j very good display,'fed the home backs i well, and soon they settled down in good combination, Just as their forwards, the visiting backs did not get quite the same opportunities, but, mis-

handling among themselves, and persistent''attention from the fast opposing forwards’had a tendency to keep them in check for the greater part. Westland did the greater part of the attacking, but, a fault common to both ; sides, did not make' the'most of all ‘its chances. Their forwards, always on the ball, made many an opening, but a sterling defence was always met with. Fumbling by the visitors at the start saw. Westland make. the'first move, a . scrambling run going deep into Grey territory, but Lindbom at full back cleared well down, and Thompson, Buchanan and Scandrett led a fast .sortie j to the Hokitika gaol line. It was only temporary, for Thiele and Hughes directed a sweeping run, carrying all I before them to their opponents’ 25'flag, j where,'. Marty if. intercepted and found | the line. Off side play gave Hughes a 1 shot at goal, which he missed. I Davidson, Walker and M. Kelly lieadj ed the next rush, and Greymouth raced back to defend their line, B. Scandrett finding the line well down. Both packs were warming to their work, and Thompson, Carr and Jamieson were quickly noticeable for the way in which they broke through the Westland pack in several of the scrums. Schroder, Hughes and Muir added interest to the play when they swept upheld with the ball moving bteween them, and, it wias left to Gilbert to clear with a magnificent kick. Play continued first one side of half way and then the other until Rimmer and Reban, piercing the defence, looked dangerous, but Schroder streaked across, snapped up the ball and cleared in time. Tim home backs flashed into action, but each Grey marker got his man with precision. Davidson and Freitas carried on into the- Greymouth 2d, hut Rimmer intercepted and sent Ida own

blacks away, taking play up-field. Up and down the game went, with Greymouth chiefly on the defensive. Several times the, home forwards really shone, Thiele, Kirkland, Freitas and Hughes especially, being in the hunt on almost every occasion. Gilbert was watched with keen interest by the spectators' and his performance was sound, his long kicks being a decided

asset. , Alter «a period of stout defence, Greymouth went away an a scintillating run, sweeping all before them, and after several had handled, Ogier clashed over for a, good try. Martyn missed with the kick. Almost immediately Schroder gained possession from 'the loose, and dodged and ducked through the wholo opposition to score a spectacular try far out. Hughes converted from ia rather difficult angle. Spurred on by this, Westland swarmed downfiekl, but were penalised. The pace had now become keen and was maintained pntil the end of the spell. Westland maintained a dangerous attack, which was nullified by deadly tackling. Just before the interval, the Greymouth backs went off in a passing rush, but- each man was marked and the pass to Martyn went astray when he was in a handy .position. The Greymouth backs looked dangerous curly in the second spell, and first Martyn, then King, and also Gilbert, tried to go through until the Hokitika forwards, in one of their brightest efforts, smashed through, Kelly (2), Thiele and Kirkland making a merry pace. Their hacks then handled, iand Pfahlert tried to hurdle Lindbom to roach the line, but came down, Muh‘ and Ring then went through, but not far enough, the defence being sound Westland continued to hammer at the Greymouth line, play resting in this area for some time, The Grey forwards, headed, by Se&n’drettj Buchanan, Kelly and Thompson; -then assertr ed themselves, and try as they might Westland could not stem the advance which pushed the home peck to the other end. of the field. M. Kelly, Sumner and Thiele then came to light in a counter-attack to half way, which was carried on by Schroder and Pfahlert, the latter being nearly over after two other attempts fo pierce through. The visitors’ backs went away nicely, and Martyn got in a good kick, and King and Gilbert raced through to the other 25, but- Freitas sent them black with a distance kick. The home backs were throwing the ball about well and helping bo keep the game open. Martyu . came into . light with a great run down the line, and it >\;ia6 thought his speed would take him round Walker, but the latter grassed him. Play followed in .mid-field for some time, until Muir snapped up and raced through the backs, and wa,s almost- away until Lindbom came across and got him. Beban was caught in possession, and. play again returned fo the visitors’ ground, where Westland continued the pressure. Time and again Grey tried to smash through, 'but Westland fought to -press h o me the advantage, and finally when Greymouth did clear it was to the sound of the boll, A Cutbnsh was rpferee.