LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Greymouth Evening Star, 25 May 1925, Page 7

LEAGUE FOOTBALL

■ COAST WEEK-END GAMES.’ (Notes by “Scribe”). For once the weather was perfect for football, at fhe >veek-end, and all of the League fixtures wßre got off with success. Three senior matches were played, and each was thoroughly enjoyed by the large crowd of spectators. , •

Keenness to be included in the representative team’s tbur was considered responsible for some of the individual play seen at Omoto yesterday and thb game, though interesting enough, and at times exciting, did not produce the fine displays of combined play seen in recent matches.. Mr p. Dewar made a good showing with tne whistle in his first, senior match. The game at Dunollie drewdhe best crowd this year, and the exhibition of football was superb.« The northerners played right up to form, and only for (State,having fielded its best team, would have made a very close contest of if. The handling of the Blackball backs in the match against Greymouth is described as machine-like, and the straight running of Brown, Dodds, Haisty and Co. thrilled the spectators. Greymouth gave a good exhibition, and' the margin of points against the town team, although large, does not indicate a one-sided game. . The surprise in the junior competitidn was the. defeat of Nelson Creek by Runanga. A close game was expected, but it was generally, considered that Creek would win' by a narrow margin. Marists had an easy win, and Blackball and Brunner- notched more points. Two games in the third, grade, and two schools matches completed the programme.

MARISTS 16 V. ROA 6. , A surprisingly good fight was put 'up by the new senior team against ’Marists, and but’ for the sure handling of Hinchin, the scores must have been much closer. • Skilton and Quinn were back in for Roa, and Eddie Kirwan played at half. Brown was absent from Marists, and Wright took his place on the wing. He. played .a much better game than he did against. Blackball. O’Hallahan and Mears played sparkling forward games, and. Mouat gave a great display. Quinn Delaney and Larcombe ” also got through' a lot of. work with credit. Dando, Skilton, Hansen and Skinner, were never far away from Die hard stuff, for Roa, and' Kells distinguished himself in the backs, while Taylor improved on previous displays at full back. Quinn knocked bn early in the game, when Roa were on a scoring move, but Hudson headed a strong Amber rush to the line. It found Hinchin bustled and Hudson scrambled through the fuck for the opening score, which evoked great applause from the spectators. Dando's kick missed narrowly- The Roa tackling was great. Dando had a long shot with a penalty, but his judgment was at fault. Marists set up a hot attack,' and Mouat took a penalty near touch at the 25 flag, and: landed'a great goal; ’ very strict on the off-side rule, and there were many penalties. James started a fine passing rush at midfield, and the ball travelled through the Marist backs and out to Moore, who outpaced his opponents and scored. ' Mouat’s kick Jailed to rise. O’Hallahan was responsible jot a good run, and he sent on to Wright. The latter scored, but/Mouat' failed to improve. A. long attack by Roa occupied the remainder of the spell, and half-time found the visitors In Green territory,/ the score being B—3 in Marists’ favour. Early in the second spell Mouat landed'a great goal for'Marists, and presently the same player was stopped by a great tackle right at the line. He transferred to O’Hallahan, and the latter scored. Mouat missed with the kick.' Ah attempt with a penalty five minutes later had a like result. Roa, livened up and had the upper hand for a good period, but found Hinchin particularly safe. The Amber forwards played determinedly, but they were beaten for pace when it came to the business end. A long attack ended in several scrums near the line, and Maguire secured in some very tight play and grounded on the line. Dando missed with the kick.

Not long before the final whistle Mouat went almost clean through the opposition'and passed to Quinn, who threw his pace into the balance and' scored a good try. Mouat converted, bringing the score up to 16—6. Mr 0. Dewar was referee. OTHER MATCHES. A spectacular exhibition was given at Dunoilie, and Mr W. Armstrong gave a finished display with the whistle. At half-time the score , was 4—o in favour of State,' Purnell having kicked two goals. In the second half Gust scored a great try and Manderson and Tallentire brought the score up to 13 with a couple of tries. Austin McElwee notched a try for Inangahua- Purnell, Pinn, and Oust, played excellently for State, and Griffiths, O’Brien and Tailentire were prominent in the forwards. For Inangahua, McAlpine, Cutbush brothers and the McElwee", pleased the spectators. Runanga juniors defeated Nelson Creek by 8 points to nil. Gray scored a try for Magpies and Griffiths converted. Baddeley also added a try. Mr C .Chamley was referee. Blackball juniors beat Greymouth by 14 points to 3. Mr H- Neilson was referee.

Marist juniors easily defeated Rovers at Omoto by 27 points to nil Doogan gave a finished exhibition, and ho was responsible for the first four tries, all of which were scored by Clarke, who used his extraordinary turn of pace to good effect. Doogan himself tricked the opposition and scored half-way through the second half, and then Cutbush went .throughDoogan again threaded his' way through, ‘‘dummying” and side-step-pin" his opponents. Quinn did some good goal-kicking, and converted three of the tries. Brown, a promoted third-grader, played well for Marists on the wing. Mr C- E. Heaphy gave satisfaction with the whistle. Blackball seniors defeated Greymouth at Blackball, by 31 points to 10. Dodds, Leitch, McCabe, White and Haisty all gave finished exhibitions of football. Mr C. Hall was referee. - Brunner juniors defeated Inangahua at Mawheraiti by 24 points to 3. Marist third grade easily defeated Brunner ate Brunner by 29 points to 3. The Green backs threw the ball about in great style. Mr T. Todd was referee. Playing on Saturday at Nelson Creek, Ngahere-Nelson Creek school team proved too good for Brunner, and scored 24 points to their opponents’ nil. Mr Nyberg was referee. ■Runanga school Blackball ;.t the Rec. bv 17 points to" 8. In the first spell Finch secured a try for •Riinanga and Currie failed with the ] lek ’ McPhee added another ’ try, end Masters could not improve with the attempt at. goal. After the interval Currie scored another . try

which was converted, and! Hpgg secured two tries for Blackball, one of which he converted. Shortly before time Currie crossed twice for Runanga. This player, Masters, and McPhee, were prominent ( throughout for the winners, and -Hogg. McDonald and Allen and Weir, played best for Blackball. Neither side combined as well as in previous matches, hut. the Blackball team showed greatly improved ■ tackling. Mr W.'-Ryan was referee. WEST COAST CENTRE. A special meeting of ‘ the West Coast Rugby League was held on . Saturday evening, Mr A. H. McKane presiding over an attendance • of 15 delegates- ', . It was decided to endorse the action of the Grounds Committee in accepting the .offer of Reef ton Racecourse for°the Marist-lnangahua match on May 31.. A letter whs received from Mr A. W. Webster, the League’s delegate on the N.Z. Council, stating that the N. 'Z. team’s itinerary while in Australia had been approved. The letter asked the West Coast selectors to forward nominations of players, giving the following particulars:— Height, age, weight, position in team, whether player can kick with either foot, etc. An enclosed letter from Mr C. Pearce, one of the N. Z. selectors, advised the West Coast League to arrange a match at an early date with Canterbury at to precede one between Otago and Canterbury, so as to enable the selectors to choose a South Island team to meet the North at an an early date at Auckland. V It was decided to ask the Council to play the inter-island match on or after June 20, the secretary meanwhile to get in touch with Canterbury Centre with a view to arranging a match preferably on Juno 13; also as to whether the Council-will pay the expenses of players. _ . , It was decided to proceed with improvements to the Omoto ground. The secretary was instructed to ask the Canterbury and Otago Leagues to support the nomination of Mr C- Hall as selector and Mr J. D. Wingham as manager of the team for Australia. SUNDAY FOOTBALL. (To the Editor.) Sir, —In Saturday’s "StafV a Press Association telegram from 'Christchurch reporting that the Canterbury Education Board had carried a resolution in favour of the prohibition of Sunday football for school teams was headed ‘‘League Football, Sunday Play Disfavoured.” It will probably, therefore, be information to you to hear that no school matches have ever been played on Sundays under the West Coast Rugby League, in this season or in any previously. If you ■will make inquiries from the chairman of the Education Board, you will ascertain that the resolution haa reference to a Rugby Union match advertised! to tako place on a recent Sunday at Rimu, in the Westland Sub-Union’s district.—l am etc., C. F. SAUNDERS, Sec. W. C. Rugby League. CHRISTCHURCH MATCHES. (Special to “Star.”) CHRISTCHURCH, May 24. Saturday’s League results were: — Woolston 22 v. Linwood 9. Marist A. 11 v. Sydenham 9. Hornby 13 v. Waimairi 2. Addington 25 v. Marists B, 15. WELLINGTON ‘ GAMES. (Per P r e«w AssnciaTfoTJ.) WELLINGTON, May 24. Yesterday’s League games resulted: Newtown 11 v. Hutt 8. City 3 v. Rovers 0.

SOCCER CODE. ENGLAND WINS EASILY. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.). MELBOURNE, May 24. In dull showery weather England yesterday defeated Australia at Soccer by 5 goals to nil. There was an attendance of, twelve fiJousand* Play was fairly even in thq first half, but England’s superior training gave them the advantage in the closing stages. The score at half-time was; England .1- Australia'o. The goal scorers were: Spencer, Timms, Hansford, .Battern, and'. ’Seymour. The Australian goal-keeper, Robinson, was excellent. Rain affected the play during the latter part of the match. WELLINGTON MATCHES. V (Per Press Association.) ./. WELLINGTON/ May 24. Yesterday’s Soccer games resulted: Y.M.C.A. A 3, beat Diamonds 0. Institute 1, were beaten by Marists 3. ” • '• Scottish Wanderers 3,- beat Watersiders 1< ' ’ Brooklyn 4, beat Welgasco 2. / Y.M.C.A. B. 1, lost Jo Y.M.C.A, 0,3.. ■" n Johnsonville 4, beat Swifts. 2. „ SATURDAY’S RESULTS. A. Grade: —Cobden 2, v. Runanga 0. Technical A. 4 v. Marist B. 0. Marist A, 5 v. Technical B. O. > B Grade: —Runanga Convent .1. y. Hobden 0. Marist B. ov. State School MARIST A. (5) v. TECHNICAL B. (0). / ■ ■ ’v. . ■ • • These teams met at the- Park on Saturday morning and a fair; game eventuated. The Marists, with better combination and more experience, dominated the play for most 'of the game, but the Tech, team fought griffily to the end, prominent am'orig them being. Hall (Nobby), Renison, Davi's, Brown,' and the goal-keeper Bowes; all these players did very well and all 'they need is a little practice together to make their team, one to be reckoned with. McGinley, Paine, O’Leary and Williams were the pick of the Greens. The scoring was done by Lynch (2), Riordan, O’Donnell and Fraser.- The Marist last line of defence was not much troubled, Behan saving the' only shot that came his way in good style. TECHNICAL A. (4) v. MARIST B. (0). This game was played at the Rec. on Saturday morning. The Tech, boys had the advantage right throughout the --lay. A fair number of the boys were new to the game, and so had not the experience. No less than two penalties! were (awarded lech., but Butler was only able to score once. M. Smith was in good scoring humour and was the best player. Clarke and Brailsford were two good workers, and Baldwin enabled the forwards to get the ball frequently. B. Harold controlled the game. STATE (0) v. MARIST B. (0). At the Rec. on Saturday the Marist B team in the B. Grade competition met the State School, the game resulting a draw. From beginning to end it was a hard struggle for mastery. The teams were evenly balariced, making the play fast and open. In the first lialf, tire State School lads had the advantage, but the second half evened up more. A good contest was witnessed, the juvenile barrackers giving every evidence that the game _was close. For the Marists, M. Keating, A. Beban and C. Proston played with great vim in the forwards,' whilst M. O’Grady, A. Galbraith and M. Powerdistinguished themselves in the backs. The State boys havq much improved their play. F. and H. Ca,nleron, J Pascoe, 11. Feary and K. Mclnaoe did 'excellent w in the ,front Mme. C. Campbell, Outranr andpY;-'Dove also made good use of their pnnortunities.