SATURDAYS FIXTURES

Greymouth Evening Star, 1 June 1914, Page 2

SATURDAYS FIXTURES

UESULTS AT A GLANCE. Sen ton. — Ivohnoors 10 v. Stars) 6. Marist Old Beys' 10 v. .Blackball 3. Hokitika v. United (forfeited to Ilokitika.) Junior. — United 9 v. .Hokitika 8. Kohinoor v. Ahaura (not played.) SENIOR OWP. MARIST 10-BLACKBALL 3. Despite tho heavy rain of Saturday morning and tho previous game between Stars and Kohmoors, the playing field was in capital order when the Marist and Blackball teams lined out. Marists won the toss and defended the western goal, Bligh sotting the ball m motion for the reds. The first ten minutes saw a brilliant display of handling and lino kicking by the green backs, O'Callaghan and Ryan being very noticeable in this respect. Hie red forwards, led by Bligh and Foster, were making desperate efforts to break down the defence but O'Callaghan sent them back time and iigain to then* line Foster at length got away, and with Bligh and Mclvor in dose attendance, worked his way right to the green line. A free, kick enabled OCallaghan to find the half way flag. McGirr broke away from a scrum in midfieiu and charging up the field at full speed carried play right to the reds line. Kirk got his side out of the difficulty, but O'Callaghan got possession near haxj way and essaying a drop kick landed one of the most brilliant goals even seen on the Park.—Marists 4, Blac.clv.ll 3. The green forwards at this stage of the game were playing with Wat dash, and Blackball were continually defending, McGirr being very conspicuous at the head of the Marist rushes Heaphv next got clear from a scramble near half-way and running straight up the field passed to O Neill, the latter carrying the ball right to the reds full back and then passed toHarnett who easily outpaced the Blackball backs, but the whistle sounded for forward ball. Ryan snapped up Bligh s kick and running down the touch line centred at the 25. McGirr took tho kick and was almost over, being collared light under the posts. His pass was knocked on and the smartest piece of plav for the day was thus nullified. The remainder of the spell was fairly oven ; Foster missing two easy shots at, g.-nl Play, however, was exceptionally fast, the extreme speed . alone "of the 'greens saving them on numerous occasions.

Blackball -forwards played with £y more combination in the second half, and successfully screwing the scrum on several occasions, they kept tho green backs busy. Foster was very dangerous on several occasions, Ryan. Sherlock, and lioaphy doing some good defensive work. Foster was not to be denied and taking advantage of a mistake by the green full-back, he scored in a handy position. The kick went wide. Rain greatly interfered with plav at this stage, the ball being very difficult to handle and play was confined to the forwards. Bligh, Mclvoi and Foster led several desnerate rushes, but the ball did not stop Jong at either end, the green forwards replying with some desperate rallies. Sherlock marked in a haudv position, and O'Oal laghan again landed a beautiful goal. Play was now very fast and exciting the greasy nature of the ground making things more interesting. McGirr broke away from a scrum on the halfline, and by good dribbling beat the opposing backs, the hall being kicked over the line. In the race for possession, McGirr proved too speedy for the red fullback and scored a clever try. The whistle sounded shortly after leaving Marists winners of a keenly contested game by 10 points to 3. Mr. W. Church had charge of the game. KOHINOORS (10)—STARS (6) Once more the delightful uncertainty of the senior competition was exemplified on Saturday. How does this read ? Stars beat Marists, Hokitika beat Kohinoors, Stars beat Hokitika easily. Blackball draw with Stars (after a very even game.) So far all runs f : rly reasonably. Now comes—shall we say—the unreasonable part —Kohinoors beat Blackball, which was able to draw with Stars; a team which beat Hokitika decisively, which before had beaten the Kohinoors easily. Again Marists were defeated by Hokitika and Stars and now ihey turn round and beat Blackball, which had already drawn with Stars which had beaten Hokitika. Euclid could never have solved this problem, and it may be said that no team barracker —who usually arrives at his conclusions (?) by a less cumbrous process than by reasoning—is game to make a straight-out assertion as to where and how it will all end. When your barracker is backward in voicing his opinions as to what is certain to happen —well,, that is the last wcrd.

If anyone had said a fortnight ago that Kohinoors would put down thi nmV-?T and blanks the football snni'y of such a prophet would have been seriously questioned, and yet Saturday's game saw the Stars ten points down at half-time and it was only by the agency of a penalty goal and a try scared just on time that they registered the six points scored by them.

The weather ' conditions were- very bad though, strange to say, the ground was in very fair condition with the exception of one patch and as a consequence both games played on Saturday were very much faster than the weathed conditions would lead one to expect. game. Kohinoors were soon on the attack and in a loose scramble in front of the Star goal, Thomas dropped a field-goal within a few minutes after the kick off. This put heart into the Kohinoors and they came bade with great dash. Stars were having a very lively time in defending, Brown being nearly through on more, than one occasion. Some "faulty handling by Kohinoors allowed Stars to break away, but the red full-back kicked into touch. The game was very fast and the Koh.moor forwards were playing with a dash

FOOTBALL

which was surprising after their previous display on the L'ark. Hall and JSU'lson were trying to open up the game in the Siui' back division, but this was burl policy ;is the ball was so greasy that tho opposition usually got the iK-iitlit of a style of play which was more suited to a ilry day. Kohinoc-rs were playing with more dash and from a forward rush Davis picked up the ball and dived over. The reds were soon back and good play by Brown was responsible for penning the Stars down, and Smith gaining possession in some upon plav scored' Kohinoors second try. Brown's kick went wide and halftime was called shortly after with Kohinoors 10 and Stars nil.

After resuming Kohinoors commenced to attack, but" the amber and blacks woke up and they were putting more flash into their play than hitherto with tho result that Kohinoors had to play hard to prevent a score. _ The game was very open though mainly confined to the forwards. The. strange part was that though the Stars were now playing two men short they were doing better than at any other period in the % '.me. Kohinoors were so hard pressed that numerous infringements occurred near their line and from one of these free kicks Morris kicked a goal. Kohinoors 10. Stars 3. Stars now made the pace lively and a good passing rush was spoiled just, when a score seemed imminent. They were not long away, however, as a high kick was followed up and a Kohinoor back failing to take the ball a scramble for possession resulted in White scoring a try. Morris failed with The kick, and time was called shortly afterwards with Kohinoors the winners by 10 to 6 . Mr. J. F. Wilson had control of the game. Brown was tho best player on the ground, and it is to his good determined plav that has been responsible for his team's position in the senior cup competition.. Mathieson also played well for the Kohinoors in the back division.

The red forwards played well together without any player standing out conspicuously. For Stars. P.eid, Hall Morris played well. Nelson played gamely, but he was badly handicapped by lv's bad shoulder. Of the Star forwards it may be said that their display was not up to their previous, form. " Near the end of the game their form improved. Mcintosh, McKecVie and White were prominent. in the loose work. > SEVEN-A-SIDE TOURNEY. The seven-a-sido tourney, which com- ' mences on Victoria Park at 10 a.m. on Wednesday next, June 3rd., promises to be the best ever witnessed in Greymouth. In all about sixteen toam.are competing and as the standard of play on the Coast this season is much higher than it has been for several seasons, a great series of interesting matches is expected.