RUGBY FOOTBALL

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 May 1927, Page 8

RUGBY FOOTBALL

STARS DEFEAT MAGPIES.

A LAST-MINUTE VICTORY.

In future, the members of the Star team which met Magpies at VictoriaPark on Saturday should scoff at the superstition which has it that the number 13 is unlucky. They could muster only 13 players, arid at one stage of the game were eight points behind Magpies; but a rally in the second spell saw them equalise the scores, and luck, combined with opportunism, enabled them to snatch victory in the last few minutes of a strenuous game, the final scores being Stars 16, Magpies 11. The losers also failed to field a full team, being one man short, but they had a considerable advantage in weight, and used this in the scrums, with the result that they had the greatest use of the ball, and Stars were on the defensive for the greater part of the game. On the whole, Magpies were unlucky to lose, but the winning performance of the amber and blacks was creditable, as their team could hardly be described as a senior combination, many of the players being really juniors. Among the seniors who did take the field, Bring was easily the hardest worker, being on the ball every moment ; he was also on the ground a good deal of the timt, being well marked by the black and whites. Reynolds also played well, but did not get many opportunities. Young McKcchnie, who was really responsible for the winning try, gave a good exhibition, and in a- year or two will be a likely wearer of the representative jersey. For Magpies, Gibbons at half

got through a lot of work, and Gordon McKay was a great asset to the team, which, with a little better luck, would have won. The weather was anything but ideal, being cold and showery, adversely affecting the attendance, but not enough rain had fallen to affect the ground, which was in good order. A crossfield win was blowing, and this proved of no small benefit- to Stars in the first spell. The opening stages saw Magpies on the offensive, and Stars had one or two narrow escapes, their tackling, and the fact that some of their opponents held on too long instead of passing, being factors in the failure of the Magpie rushes. A free kick relieved Stars, and Pring gained further

ground, but Gibbons repelled th© attack by means of a “speculator.” ■ Magpies again took the offensive, and a loose rush ended when Ferguson scrambled over. McKay failed to convert the try. Magpies 3, Stars 0. Keeping up the pressure, the black ami whites were soon within scoring range, but McKechnie intercepted a pass, and cleared. Shortly afterwards Gibbons worked the blind side, and got away, but was grassed when only a few yards from the Star line. Following up well, Mayo secured and notched Magpies’ second try, being collared just too late. The try was not converted. Magpies 6, Stars 0. Passing bouts again put the Star fine in danger, but Reynolds found touch with a good kick. He and McKechnie were prominent in a Star rush, but Gibbons drove them back. Then the hard-working Pring made a

good opening, and Russell fell over the line. Beyer’s kick failed to rise, and thu- scores at half-time were Magpies 6, Stars 3. On changing over, the black and whites had the advantage of the wind,

ami kept the Stars well within their own quarters, a, timely mark by Stevens saving the amber ami blacks on one occasion when a score seemed certain. After a scramble on the line, however, another attack ended in W. Fitzgerald scoring. I’.irss converted, and Magpies led by 11 to 3.

Another score was averted by Reynolds, who won a race for the leather, and kicked over the dead-line. Stars then livened up, ami a good rush took play to the other end. A fumble by Fitzgerald gave Fell a chance, and he went across at the corner. Stevens’ kick was just too short. Magpies 11. Stars 6. A bad mistake by Gibbons, who called out. “'"All on I” was penalised by Referee Winchester. Stars followed up the free kick fast, and Fell again scored. Stevens added the extra points with :i tine kick from an awkward angle, and the scores were 11 all. With only a few minutes to go, both sides made the pace hot. A mark by Reynolds stepped a Magpie rush, and another promising movement was

stopped by him in a similar manner < few moments later. Picking out of tin scrum by Gibbons gave Stars a fret kick, but the black and whites returned in a passing rush. Then, came McKeclinie’s opportunity, and, intercepting Fitzgerald’s pass smartly, he broke clean away just on his own side of the half way line, and set out strongly for the Magpie goal. He passed when near the line, and Brown got across under the posts for a spectacular try, which Stevens converted just as the final bell rang, leaving Stars the victors by 16 points to 11. UNITED (13) v. KANIERI (11). A good spectacular match was played in Cass Square, Hokitika, between United and Kanieri, the latter on tile whole showing up well and dominating most of the games. United in the second spell in a few minutes ran their score up to 13. Kanieri opened aggressively, their forwards being superior. M. Jamieson put up several pacy runs, but failed to get through, the only score in the first spell being a try by Moynihan, which Lomas failed to convert, leaving the score, Kanieri 3, United nil. Opening the second spell, United were aggressive. P. Jamieson from a mark outside Kanieri’s 25 dropped a nice goal. IM. Jamieson shortly after securing the ball made a nice run half the length of the field and scored, P. Jamieson converting and making the score, United 8, Kanieri 3. From a rush, M. Jamieson again secured the ball and registered a try, P. Jamieson adding the points, making United 13 to 3. From a rally, Tainui passed to Pfhalert, who got behind, Thomas converting, and immediately adding to Kanieri’s score by a penalty goal, making the score 13’to 11. From then on hard play on both sides closed an exciting game, with the scores unaltered, United 13, Kanieri 11. JUNIOR GRADE. ROSS II (12) v. KANIERI II (0). The game between Ross and Kanieri

Juniors at Hokitika was won by Ross by 12 to nil, after a hard game.

EXCELSIOR A (26) v. EXCELSIOR B (11).

In the Westland Junior Competition, Excelsior has entered two teams, On Saturday the . A team beat the B team by 26 to 11. BLAKETOWN (6) v. UNITED (0). At Victoria Park, Blaketown and United Juniors met, a win for the former by 6 points to nil being registered. Negri kicked a penalty goal, and a try was scored by G. Steel. W. Williams was referee. COBDEN (5) v. KUMARA (0). ; Playing at Cobden, the home team beat Kumara by 5 points to nil. Nash scored and converted. The defensive tactics of the Kumara forwards saved a bigger score. A. Walton was referee. FOURTH. GRADE. UNITED (46) v. COBDEN (0). United Fourth Grade made a cricket score against Cobden, at Cobden, defeating the home team by 46 to nil. Tries were scored by Bunt (6), Kyle (4) and one each by Scott, Ferguson Rathbun and Doig. Ferguson and Baldwin each converted a try. F. W. Baillie was referee. TECHNICAL (6) v. STARS (3). Stars were defeated by Technical by 6 points to 3. The game was evenly contested. Mabin and Tennent scored for Technical. P. McGrath was referee. FIFTH GRADE. UNITED (37) v. BLAKETOWN (6). United Fifth Graders defeated Blaketown by 37 points to 6. J. Steel was referee. WESTPORT MATCH. WESTPORT, May 14. The Rugby match Town versus Country, was played to-day at the Trotting Course. The game was won by Country by three points to nil. The score was a ; penalty goal kicked by “Snowy” Griffiths. OTAGO RESULTS. DUNEDIN. May 14. The Rugby matches yesterday were played under ideal conditions, the results being: — University A (15), beat Zingari (3). Kaikorai (11) beat Pirates (8). Alhambra (9) beat Taieri (6). Southern (6) drew with University B (6). Union (16) beat Dunedin (3). CHRISTCHURCH RESULTS. (Special to “Star.") CHRISTCHURCH, May 15. Yesterday’s Rugby results were: — Christchurch (16) beat Albion (11). Old Boys (21) beat Linwood (15). Merivale (17) beat Technical (11). AUCKLAND RESULTS. (Special to "Star.")

AUCKLAND, May 14. Ponsonby 5, beat Grammar nil. North Shore 5, beat Training College nil. College Rifles 16, beat ‘Varsity 11. Marists 3, drew with Grafton 3.