SOCCER

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 April 1927, Page 10

SOCCER

(Notes by “Watchful”) The season was commenced on Saturday last with the meeting of Rewanui and Runanga and Blackball and Dobson. The encounter between Rewanui and Runanga was in the nature of a Derby and keen interest was taken in this match, a hard exciting game bs- - the outcome. The heavy downpour of Friday and the frequent drenching showers previous to midday Saturday made the ground very bad for good football and also a deterrent for the spectators, the gate falling much below expectations. Runanga emerged Winners through a good goal scored by Hewison in the first few minutes of the game and a dour struggle followed, every minute of the full ninety being hotly contested. Rewanui introduced new blood into their team and of these Cowie and McNeilwere outstanding and will prove a decided acquisition to the club. The losers although having equally as much of the play as the winners, were woefully weak in front of goal and their forwards will need to shoot more frequently and accurately to reap the fruit of their good midfield play. Deardon was the outstanding man of their forward line and fed Rothera his winger with rare judgment and better results should have resulted from the many openings made by the inside man. Cowie at half played a sound game, a feature being his fine head work and was' easily Rewanui’s best defender. A. Cowie was the better of the two steady backs and Timlin did every thing asked of him in stylish and workmanlike manner.

Runanga were below their usual strength and the necessary changes weakened considerably their forward line. An experiment was tried of playing Hewison centre forward, but although this player did fairly well, his place is undoubtedly on the extreme right wing, where he is always dangerous. After a while the forward line was reshuffled, but the inside men were weak and without balance. A marked improvement will need to be made in this department if Runanga wish to repeat their last year’s achievements. Winstanley and Hewison were always dangerous, Winstanley especially being in good vein and beating the opposing defence repeatedly but had a tendency to delay his crosses therefore allowing his opponents to charge down many of his centres. The outstanding player on the field was undoubtedly Beaton at left half. This player played a cool calculating game both in defence and attack, and his well placed passes to Winstanley being a big factor in the left winger’s good showing. On this display Beaton will take some beating for rep. honours. Wick and Richmond were a pair of stout defenders, their prompt tackling-and big kicking bringing relief to their side on many occasions. Ennor made a good showing between the sticks, one save in particular, earning him the plaudits of the crowd, being exceptionally smart. Taking the play throughout, a draw appeared to be the fitting result and the next clash between these clubs is being eagerly looked forward to. After the game a smoking concert was held, promoted by the Runanga Club and an enjoyable evening was spent. It is the intention, I am informed, to hold these affairs periodically in the hope of furthering the code in this locality. The Mayor (Mr. McTaggart) a Vice-President of the Runanga Club, assisted the genial President, Mr. Robson, in the manipulating of the varied programme with considerable success.

Blackball succeeded in beating Dobson after a bard fight, the match producing excellent football, the issue always being in doubt until the final whistle. The home team introduced some new players all of whom did well and on Saturday’s display will take a lot of beating.

Parsonage played his usual sound game between the sticks apd was ably covered by two good backs. Two newcomers in McDade and Smith did well at half, whilst another debutante in Rarity displayed excellent form. For Dobson, McFarlane, Erskine and Marshall, were a tower of strength in defence, no man on the field doing better than the diminutive Marshall. Gibbs and Mitchell were Dobson’s best forwards and gave the home defence some anxious times. A repetition of the two games played last week-end will soon gather t.he crowds to watch this season’s games. "The Westland were present at both games and are pleased with the form shown by numerous players. These gentlemen will be in attendance at the Ru-nanga-Greymouth match on Saturday at Dunollie, so it behoves all players to put in their best in order to become eligible for the numerous rep. games this season. The fixtures for Saturday are Dobson v. Rewanui; Runanga v. Greymouth and good games should eventuate from these encounters with the points going, I think, to the home team in each case.

The following will represent Rewanui United to play Dobson Celtic at Dobson on Saturday, April 16. Bus leaving Dunollie Hotel at 1.15 p.m.— Timlin, Berry, Cowe, Baddeley, Rutherford, Cowe, Rothera, Deardon, Timlin, McNeil, Watt. Emergencies: Gallon, Blacklock, Bell. SCHOOLS COMPETITION. A meeting of teachers controlling school soccer was held yesterday afternoon in the Grey Main School. Six entries were received for the Secondary Schools’ Competition (under 17) and eight for the primary schools (under 14 with an 8 stone limit). The following matches were drawn for the first round :— Secondary Grade. —First week, ending April 30: Marist B. v. Technical B ; Marist A v. Technical A, Runanga v. Technical C. Second week : Marist B v. Technical C, Runanga v. Technical A* Marist A v. Technical B. Third week : Marist B v. Technical A, Technical C v. Technical B, Runanga v. Marist A,, Fourth week: Marist B v. Marist A. Technical C v. Technical A, Runanga v. Technical B. Fifth week: Marist Bv. Runanga, Technical A v. Technical B, Technical O v. Marist A. , Primary Grade. —First week : Grey Main v. Marist C, Runanga State v. Runanga Convent, Cobden A v. Cobden B, Marist A v. Marist 8., Second week: Runanga State v. Marist C, Marist B v.. Cobden A, Cobden B v. Grey Main; Runanga Convent v. Marist A. Third week : Runanga State v. Cobden B; Grey Main v; Marist- B, Marist A v. Marist C, Cobden A v. Runanga Convent. Fourth week: Marist B v. Runanga State, Grey Main v. Runanga Convent, Marist C v. Cobden A, Cobden B v. Marist A. Fifth week :' Runanga State v. Grey Main, Cobden A v. Marist A, Marist C v.