SEDDON SHIELD

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 31 August 1942, Page 3

SEDDON SHIELD

RETAINED BY BULLER

NELSON’S CHALLENGE I Special to “The Mail ” I Westport. Aug. 29. Buffer beat Nelson by 10 points to 3, thus retaining the Scddon Shield, in a game played on Victoria Square. Westport, on Saturday. The weather was dull with several light showers prior to and during the game but the ground was in good order. The game was the second challenge of the season. The previous challenge match was played on 15th August when Buller successfully withstood Marlborough’s challenge, winning by 17 points to 9. The Buller team, with the exception of E. C. Holder and C. Dalzell. was the same as that which defeated Marlborough. O. Smallholme. who played as centre in that game, and F. Mcßride (forward), were both unavailable owing to injuries. The inclusion of Holder. 1935 All Black>and formerly a prominent Buller player, marked his first appearance in local Rugby, with the exception of one club game, since his return from England soon alter the outbreak of war. In England he joined up with the League code. The game did not arouse the enthusiasm usually associated with Seddon Shield Rugby. However, there was a fair attendance, and the game was played in a fine sporting manner. Flight Lieutenant Osmers, of Christchurch, was referee, and his rulings were impartial and well received by both players and spectators alike. The final score was no indication of the merits of the teams. The teams were as follows: NELSON Full-back: Kotua. Three-quarters: Common, Henderson, Ward. Five-eighths: Hay, Parker. Half-back: Sherlock. Forwards: Clark. Schwass, Gargiulo, j Sorenson. Askew, Soane. Winstanley. Jolly. The Nelson selector. Mr T.* P. Mahony, found it necessary to make no le.j than five replacements in the team ■ originally selected.

BULLER Full-back; S. Stewart. Three-quarters: Cummings, E. Holder. Neighbours. Five-eighths: Allott. Blair. Half-back: Tyler. Forwards: Mumm, Burt. Insull, Dalzell. Beveridge, Higgins. Ropata. Anderson. TIIE PLAY Buller won the toss and Nelson kicked off against a slight breeze. Immediately following the kick off a scrum was ordered. Buller hooking but the pass went astray. Allott kicked through to Kotua, who lined beyond Buffer’s 25. A penalty kick to Buffer saw the ball go to Kotua who found touch at halfway. Tight play followed until Stewart, fielding the ball nicely, sent Nelson back

to the 25-yard line. Poor passing by the Buller backs spoilt a good opportunity with the play inside Nelson’s 25. A penalty kick to Nelson failed to find the line, and as a result Buffer were soon back again inside the 25. Kotua failed to find the line and solid forward

play ensued 15 yards short of Nelson’s line until Cummings went over but the ball had gone into touch. Light rain began to fall at this time. Shortly after a period of play in Nelson territory, Tyler gathered in the , ball and potted a fine goal but an infringement had nullified the effort. The Nelson backs broke away but lost , the ball inside Buffer’s 25 and a period , of quiet play followed until the Buffer backs secured the ball and once again!’ Tyler held on too long and spoilt a : good prospect. Good play by Allott ( started the home team’s backs off once more. Holder received a nice pass, ran , to the full-back <Kotua) ancl transferred • to Neighbours. \ c a d come up quick- ; ly. the winger :ca. n. ! ;ho try alongside the uprights. Slava;; converted and ] Buffer led 5 0.

Rucking play took place at midfield ; with Buller gradually working their ' way down field to Nelson's 25. A hard ; kick by a Buffer forward allowed Nel- ; son to force down. Buller heeled the ball from a scrum but the backs failed to gain ground, the ball finally going l out at halfway. Nelson backs essayed 1 to get moving but solid tackling bV ; Holder stopped the movement. Sher- 1 lock. Hay and Parker made ground for \ Nelson in a passing rush but the latter player lost the ball when Buffer were ' in a dangerous predicament. Nelson backs secured again and kicked through to Cummings when blocked. Cummings fielded the ball well and gained 30 yards with his return kick. Play again settled y down in Nelson’s 25. Holder secured

and after dodging several opponents an opportunity was lost through lack of support. A good kick by Stewart put Nelson on the defensive again and several stoppages for minor injuries occurred. Nelson were awarded a penalty kick which Soane nicely lined at halfway. easing the position somewhat. Buller were quickly back on attack and offside play by Winstanley gave Stewart a chance to increase Buffer's total but the ball went wide of the mark and Nelson forced down. Buller held the territorial advantage until half time. With the sun behind them Buller opened the second half with an attack, the ball travelling along the back line 1 to Holder, who made the position serious for Nelson. However, a forward \ pass at the critical moment spoiled the! movement. Burt was penalised for off- ] side and Soane, with a good kick, re- ] lieved the position but failed to find the line and Tyler found touch beyond ' the halfway line in Nelson's territory. ■ Buller backs again attempted to open up the play but Holder knocked on i when the movement looked promising, j Play at midfield ensued for some time 1 and several indecisive scrums were the i order. Eventually Nelson pressed home an attack and Buffer were compelled to force down for the first time. Buffer forwards combined in a good rush which Kotua cleverly stopped and with a good kick sent them back beyond halfway. Nelson were penalised but a faulty kick allowed them to hold Buller on the halfway line and Stewart, after a jerky; run in which he eluded several opponets. passed out to Holder who failed 1 to gather in the pass. From the result-

I ing serum Nelson gained possession but failed to make any headway and the home team quickly took the offensive until Kotua, with a nice run of our 30 yards, took play into Buffer territory. Beveridge broke away but was nicely tackled by Kotua. A kick upheld by a Nelson back was nicely lielded by Stewi art, who, with a good run, gained ground before transferring to Neighbours, who kicked infield and found the defence out of position. Burt, following up fust, touched down for a try close to the posts. Stewart converted and the score board read: Buller 10, Nelson 0. Kotua, who had moved from full-back up to second five-eighth, aroused the spectators with a brilliant dash to Buller’s 25. where play settled down for a j time. Buller were penalised for off-side : play and from a handy position Soane t made a good but unsuccessful effort to secure Nelson's first points, the ball i missing by inches. ! Several Nelson players handled in a j passing movement in which Henderson made .‘a great run but he was pulled down a yard short of the line. This effort was indeed worthy of better rej suits. Buffer were penalised and from | a difficult angle on the 25-yard line Kotua found the uprights with a good kick and the score was: Nelson 3. Buller 10. Cummings, with a /.ood run, was nearly over but was recalled for a knock on. a relief for Nelson. At this stage Buller were definitely on top and play was confined to Nelson’s 25. seveial line-outs taking place with Buffer gradually working their way, yard by yard, towards the goal line until Win

-Stanley, with another good run and dribbling rush, took play to halfway. , Buffer returned to the attack but were i nicely stopped by Soane and Buffer . were driven back to their own 25. Weak ! tackling by Nelson, who seemed to be . i tiring badly now. let Neighbours . j through, but his kick was too hard and | Nelson were? compelled to force down. ! A dash by Kotua and Common took play deep into Buffer territory, the ball • going out at the corner. Tyler relieved the pressure for Buller momentarily ; only for Nelson to come back with ; renewed dash and keep Buffer penned » inside their 25. With qnly a few minutes to go Nelson made valiant efforts I to make up the leeway but the defence ; held. Ward was responsible for a fine , breakaway but he had no support. The : final whistle sounded with Nelson at-

tacking. and the score: Buffer 10. Nelson 3. GATE TAKINGS The gate taking for the match totalled £l2O.