West Coasters Fight English Leaguers

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 434, 16 August 1928, Page 1

West Coasters Fight English Leaguers

THRILLING ENCOUNTER THREE MEN LEAVE FIELD (Special to THE SUN) GREYMOUTH, Wednesday. Two thousand spectators, who witnessed the League game between England and the West Coast to-day, were thrilled from more than one viewpoint. The Englishmen gave a sparkling exhibition, winning by 62 points to 13, but their robust methods did not appeal to the Coasters, who retaliated, with the result that blows were freely exchanged. Once when Burgess and Calder stood up to fight, Referee Kerr was seen pointing to the sideline. He said after the match that he did not order anyone off, but warned both men. Askin and Stevens figured in another incident, with the result that the latter went off with one eye completely closed and his face bleeding. Two other Coasters went off through injuries. All . three were replaced. The crowd hooted Askin and there were cries of “Put him off,” but the referee took no action. ENGLISHMEN HOOTED Other evidences of bad feeling were noticeable, but matters improved toward the finish. When the Englishmen left the field there was some hooting, but it was mainly confined to juveniles. The main body of the crowd was not demonstrative. Had the referee adopted a firm attitude at the outset, much of the trouble would probably have been prevented. COASTERS OUTCLASSED So far as the actual play was concerned, the Coast was outclassed by a heavier, faster and cleverer team. The visitors’ backs and forwards combined in brilliant passing rushes characterised by straight running, even the fullback participating, and only solid tackling by the Coasters prevented an even bigger bag of points. The only department in which the Coasters showed superiority was the scrums, of which they secured the majority. Sullivan kicked several beautiful goals from difficult angles, converting eight out of twelve attempts. Ellably proved himself a winger of exceptional speed and elusiveness. The visitors did practically no linekicking, preferring passing tactics. The kicking tactics adopted by the Coasters sometimes resulted in practically gift tries to the visitors, who on several occasions raced the length of th© field to score. For England tAes were scored by Ellaby (5), Frodsham (2), Sloman (2), Asken, Burgess, Oliver, Horton and Bowen, Sullivan converting eight and Ellaby and Burgess one each. Mason, Molloy and Timlin scored for the Coast, and O’Malley kicked a goal.