RUGBY LEAGUE

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23742, 14 September 1942, Page 3

RUGBY LEAGUE

BLACKBALL BEATS RAKAIA Some of the best Rugby League of the year was seen at Rakaia on Saturday, when the West Coast champion, Blackball, reinforced, played the Canterbury champion. Rakaia, also reinforced. A fast pace was maintained throughout, with both sets of backs swinging into passing chains at every opportunity, Rakaia gradually built up a lead of 16 points to 5, and was going strongly, but lost a lot of its dash when R Timms and H. Smith went off injured. Then Blackball increased its rate of passing, and won by 30 points to 21, having had much the better of the last quarter. The forwards played well together and opened up passing’ rather than loose rushes, working in well with the backs, Williams and Clark were the leaders of the Blackball pack, all'good hunters, with Eddington. Mead, and Wehner doing most work for Rakaia. Of the backs, C Mountford, second fiveeighths was the spearhead of the Blackball runs and was hard to stop. W. Mann, a wing, was also in his best form. O’Halloran was the outstanding back on the field. He was in practically every move-

ment, and gave early thrust to the Rakaia attack. King and Timms also went well. For Blackball, Mountford (2), McNaughton, Howden, Burns, and Jamieson scored tries, Mann converting five and McNaughton one. Mead, Moth, Bench, O'Halloran, and Davison scored for Rakaia, Davison converting two and O’Halloran one. Referee; Mr G. Williams. SEVEN-A SIDE TOURNEY WIN FOR BATTERY Bright football was seen at the Riccarton domain on Saturday, when a seven-a-side tourney was played. Eight teams entered, including one from Hornby juniors, who went very well to beat the Regiment team in the first round, and came close to bedting Battery A in the second round. . Results were:—First round; Hornby 13, Regiment A 11; Battery A 11, Brigade A 5; Battery B 9, Regiment B 3; Brigade B 16, Camouflage 8. Semi-finals: Battery A 6. Hornby 3; Brigade B 10, Battery B 6. • Final: Battery A 16, Brigade B 3. Davis (2). Walker, and Bromby. scored for Battery, Bromby and O'Neill each converting one, I. R. McNally scored for Brigade B. The Battery team was: E. S. Gibson, E. Roughan, A,‘R. Bromby, J. Walker, H. Davis, L. Blackie, and E. T. O'Neill. ASSOCIATION MATCH FOR ROBB CUP In the annual fixture for the J. A. Robb Cup, originally presented for competition between players from Lancashire and Yorkshire, a New Zealand eleven beat an overseas-born team by 5 goals to 4 Play was fast, with the losers prominent in the first half and the winners in the second. After the game the president of the Canterbury Football Association (Mr J. E. Jones) presented the trophy to G. Smith, captain of the winning side. Play generally was fast and interesting. The best display of the day was given by the Overseas team in the first half. Composed of experienced, players, the Overseas side’s exhibition of short passing was among the finest seen on English Park this season. Overseas failed to reproduce this form In the second spell. The New Zealanders did not show the same accurate teamwork as their opponents but proved more formidable In making the most of a breach In the defence, Opportunism and the quick swinging oi play from flank fo flank won the match In the second spell the halves, unlike their opposing unit, gave their forwards every opportunity to retain possession and pressure. Shannahan, at centre, though inclined to lob his passes to his forwards was seldom out of position and worked

tirelessly both in support of his van ar on defence. His outside men were soli particularly on defence. In the bad Dean and Nelson, two of the most pron ising players of the season, played exce lently. Lambert, in goal, apart from or bad lapse, was sound. The Overseas sid£ showed Initiative the forwards when they . were . back< by solid play by their halves. Witho 1 this support they lost their effectivene on attack, as was shown in the secor spell. Webster, at centre, though hal ing a movement by turning to feed hj wing men, gave a good, determined di play and got excellent work from hj inside men. Both wingers gave fine di plays, Sharr showing improved form good company and Lucas scoring thn opportunist goals through sound ' anticip tion. The halves all played wel. in tl early stages, but were slow ■ in supportir a counter by their forwards in the latt stages. Cawtheray and McCarthy bo played soundly as full-backs, and GrCe in goal, was fair. J. Smith (2), R J Smith, A. Heath, and C. Bailey scon for the New Zealand side, and K. Luc; (3) and A. Davidson for Overseas. R feree: Mr T. F. Mathie. FIELD REGIMENT v. A.S.C. In a friendly match at Hagley Par Field Regiment showing better all-rout team work, beat A.S.C. by 4 goals to Field Regiment, backed by solid defeni bv Caskev and Mowatt, spent most of tl time in A.S.C. territory, where Scott, wi gave a brilliant display, and Neate helpe the Field Regiment forwards to tal charge In the forward line McEwen ar North were most prominent. Withoi Bruce, the A.S.C, goalkeeper, the sic would have fared much worse, for hj plav was first-class. For Field Regimen Quartermain (2), Warman, and McEwt scored. Powell scored foi A-S.C. R' feree; Mr T. Gottermeyer LOWER GRADES Senior Reserve.-Army 4, Infantry 3. Sixth Grade.— Shamrock 3, Celtic 1.