PREMATURE

NZ Truth, Issue 1183, 2 August 1928, Page 14

PREMATURE

Scent of Victory That Faded (From "N.Z. Truth's" Nelson Rep.) "We've got 'em licked, boys," said the West Coast supporters when the score stood West Coast 6, Nelson 0, m the Seddon Shield contest at Trafalgar- Park on Saturday. They had to change their tune, however, before halftime, for Nelson's backs began to show true form and left' the final score Nelson 22, West Coast 13. THIS, the first shield contest of the V. 1928 .season,' provided: good football for the 5000 odd spectators who were present. The game' opened much m the Coast's .favor. Their forwards were superior both m attack and defence arid- it looked as', if the home backs would .never, get a. look m. After ten minutes the Coast notched >i try (unconverted) and five minutes later Nelson were penalized and King, whose kicking was one of the visitors' best assets, added three points. Another penalty to each side left the Coast still six points m front. Then the (tables 1 began to turn. Smart Work Reed, who had been playing centre for the home team, went to first fiveeighths and Everett went to centre. A try for Nelson quickly followed and then the score of the day occurred when Young received the ball and flung it right over the heads of the bunched •Coasters to the-Avinger, who had only j one man to dodge. This gave Nelson a two-point lead at half-time. Shortly after resumption Nelson added two^tries . m quick succession. A pot. by Coast was their only other score and a converted try just on time left Nelson comfortable ..winners. Play commenced; with the Coast forwards; nearly , getting over twice. The ball' went out. to Tainui from the forwards, he drew three of Nelson's outside backs, leaving a gap for Houston to dash through to the line on receiving a rever.se -pass. The Coast forwards could not maintain the pace at which they started ,and play remained m their 25 for some minutes. 'F. Fowler's initiative made the next points for Nelson.. He darted lip on' the blind side and

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transferred to Snodgrass, who was held up near the line. Fowler received an in-pass from the ; winger and just got over for a well-deserved try. In the half-minute which brought the spell to an end, Nelson gave a splendid exhibition of faultless football which ended m a try. F.' Fowler ran round the forwards. -.-■-■' Then Schwass", Everett, Boyce, R. Fowler, and then Everett again handled I before the ball went to Young. 1 He hurled it 30 yards across the field to Snodgrass m front of the posts with only one man to dodge. /Reed converted, leaving the halftime scores Nelson 11, Coast 9. The second spell opened well for Nelson with . a fine cut-in by Reed which 'enabled the ball to go along Nelson's backs to Snodgrass, who went over for a try.'. This is the sixth time m succession that Nelson has successfully defended the shield; F. Fowler, the Nelson half, proved a great find and was the instigator of most of the successful movements. Billy Reed played a sound: all-round game and Snodgrass, too, was at his best. He added- nine points for Nelson. . . _ ~ Recent criticism of. big Rugby has condemned the wing-forward, but Garvin utilized his roving commission for Nelson to upset most of . the Coast back movements. ■ For the Coast, Frietas ; and*Hagar revelled in' the loose, although the former was a little disappointing after all that had been . heard about him. ! Tainui,,the tricky Maori wingar, was hard, to stop once he got the ball and showed a. lot of football brains. On the day's play McLeary, the. Coast half who: has been picked m that position for;' the South Island minor unions team, was not m the "same street with F. Fowler. . WELLINGTON will have its next ".fi&ht on. August 9, when Charlie Purdy will meet Jack Carroll. It will be good to see : Purdy. back again, only if to ascertain what improvement he ihas made m Sydney. :,' ;