SOCCER FOOTBALL

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 May 1927, Page 11

SOCCER FOOTBALL

RUNANGA JUNIORS v BLACKBALL

Before a fair crowd at Dunollie on Saturday the game between the juniors of Blackball and Ruriaiiga started with a heavy drizzle falling. Blackball won the toss and kicked downhill, and from the start Blackball were quickly in the home goal, only to be returned by good kicking on the part of Airns. The hefty Blackball team kept up the pressure, and it was some time before the Runanga forwards were able to become active, artfl then they were quickly repulsed by the sound tackling of tlm visitors’ full-backs. The home goal was jeopardised by the continual attacks of the visitors’ forwards, McVicar especially proving a good raider, and swung the ball well across the goal, to the danger of the home citadel. Kinsey next essayed a move up the right with tne assistance of his’partner, and it was. only with great difficulty that the ball was finally scrambled clear. Airns was responsible for two good saves when a score looked likely, and on one occasion McArthur attempted to walk the leather through when a shot could not have failed to find a billet. The play was by no means slow, despite the adverse conditions, antis Runanga, although below their opponents as far as combination and balance went, were having a fair share of the game. A good pass by Malpass gave Hughes a nice .opening, but the centre shot weakly, allowing the keeper to clear easily. Another run and centre by McVicar should have borne fruit, as the effort by Anderson was wide of the sticks, with the goalie well beaten. Simpson and the two Airns in the home defence were going grand work, and continued to hole), the opposing forwards despite the strenuous efforts to score, and half-time arrived with the score sheet blank. After the interval, Runanga forced matters for a while, but were weak before goal and rarely troubled the visiting keeper. After a good clearance by Meikle, Anderson ' set McVicar away, the winger’s centre nearly causing the downfall of the Runanga goal, until finally put past by McArthur. The goal kick brought no relief and Airns was called upon to clear in quick succession from Anderson and McVicar, eventually conceding a corner. The corner was well placed jand Airns again brought off a good save, and allowed his forwards to make tracks for the other end. The respite was short lived, as McVicar again made progress up the line, and put over a nice cross, the visiting forwards being well placed for the centre, but the referee blew for offside, a very questionable deciIsion, and a goal was again averted. The home forwards again made pro gress, and a fruitless corner was conceded before the siege was eventually raised. Simpson continued to do good work for the homesters and his tackling and kicking cleared many dangerous raids by the visitors, keeping up the pressure. Blackball penned the home team in their own half and after Airns had successfully cleared from Anderson and McArthur a cross shot from a bunch of. players found its way through the sticks, the keeper just failing to reach the ball as it sped through the goal. After this reverse Runanga made valiant attempts to draw level, but found the visitors’ defence too strong, time arriving shortly afterwards with the visitors worthy victors by the only goal scored. DUNOLLIE CHOPS. Owing to the last-minute postponement of the Dobson-Runanga match, many Soccer enthusiasts were enabled to witness the local chop at Dunollie. The Soccer representatives in the chop, although not returning a “divi,” did well. I. Mossop finished a creditable fourth, and considers that only lack of training and practice beat him. All miners working under his supervision are requested to have any timber requiring cutting ready for him when he makes his daily visits. (Yarra) Rutherford stuck manfully to his log and was still going strong when the rest had finished. The remaining representative, F. Baxendale (off the limit mark) did not chop, as he considered it unfair treatment that the other choppers should be resting while he was chopping, and therefore conserving their strength. CHRISTCHURCH RESULT.

(Per Press Association.)

CHRISTCHURCH, May 14

In to-day’s Association match for the Charity Cup competition. Technical (2) beat 'Western (1).

NS.W. DEFEAT CHINESE,

(Australian & N.Z. Cable Assn.)

SYDNEY, May 15. New South Wales defeated the Chi nese soccer team by G goals to 3.

CZECHS WIN AGAIN,

ADELAIDE, May 15

The Czecho-Slovadian soccer team beat South Australia by 2 goals to 1.