LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 June 1927, Page 8

LEAGUE FOOTBALL

KOTUKU 13; MARIST 3. Owing to the unfavourable weather on Saturday the fixtures arranged for that day were postponed. Yesterday the weather broke fine, and there was a fair attendance at Cobden to witness the two junior games, Kotuku v. Ma-rist, and Nelson Creek v. Grey. Owing to the late arrival of the Marist team, the first match did not commence till 2.15, which resulted in the second fixture finishing in a rather bad light which handicapped the players to a certain extent. Owing to sickness, among senior players several Marist juniors went up into the senior ranks, and four or five third graders filled the vacancies in the junior team. Taking into consideration the bad weather of the past few days, the ground was in fair condition, but a trifle heavy, and was against good back play. Kotuku, winning the toss played against the wind. Marist kicking off, took play to Kotuku territory, but tlie heavy Kotuku forwards were not long in transferring play to the Marist’end by dribbling rushes. Off-side play by Marist, saw Kotuku awarded a free-kick, the ball going over the line, and Marist forced. After the drop out, Kotuku again returned to Marist quarters, -where from a scramble on the Marist line, Wilson dribbled over and scored. The kick at goal failed. Kotuku 3; Marist 0. Following this reverse, Marist started a passing rush, and play was transferred to Kotuku end, but Southern sent them back to half-way with a good line kick. ■ From the scrum Marist again broke away, Kiely finding touch at Kotuku twenty-five. Half-time then sounded. Upon resumption of play, Kotuku, keeping the ball at their feet, were soon in Marist quarters but good work by Jackson and Kiely, relieved the pressure; play going to mid-field. Following a scrum, Kotuku again took the ball to Marist territory, where Wilson again dribbled over and scored. Kennedy converted. Kotuku S; Marist 0. Marist now livened up,, Kiely and Jackson sending play to Kotuku twenty-five. From a scrum near Kotuku line, Jackson ran round the blind side and scored a good try. No attempt was made to goal. Kotuku S; Marist 3. Marist, who were playing well against their heavier opponents came again', and with a good dribbling rush, Marist were nearly .over, Kotuku took play back to Marist end, and from a scrum near the line, the ball was sent out to Olsen, who ran in under the posts for a try. Kennedy again converted. Kotuku 13; Marist 3. Full time sounded shortly after. Mr R. Armstrong was referee.

GREY 4; NELSON GREEK 3

This game caused great excitement among the spectators play going from end to end at a rattling pace. The Grey team, put a good showing against the heavy and speedy Creek men, who could not get going owing to the greasy state of the ball. As a result passing movements did not make much headway. Creek kicked off, having the wind in their favour, the ball being taken to the Grey line, but Bond broke away and raced to halfway where he was tackled in possession. From a scrum, Hines sent to Greer, who found touch in Grey territory. Creek were not long in securing the ball, and eventually Tobin ran in at the corner for a try. Greer missed with the kick. Creek 3; Grey 0. Grey now carried play to half-way, but Creek, returned with a high kick, and off-side play by Grey, saw Greer have a shot at goal, the kick going wide. Creek were making great attempts to score from this on, but the smart defence of the Grey backs, kept them out. Grey forwards then took the ball at their feet carrying play to Creek end, but. through an infringement Creek were awarded a freekick and Greer sent them back. Good play by Bond, saw him make a run along the line, but was grassed in Creek territory., the ball being returned to Grey end, where '.hard kicking by Creek enabled Grey to force. Half-time then sounded, the score being Creek 3; Grey 0.

Upon resuming, Grey attacked strongly, and some smart work by Gordon, took play to Creek line, but Greer made a fine kick, and play was sent back to Grey twenty-five, where Bond secured, and returned to Creek territory, where off-side by Creek saw Grey awarded a free-kick. Bond made no mistake, and landed a beautiful goal. Creek livened up from this reverse, and play became very hard, and exciting, but Grey played with good defence from now on, and only good tackling by the Grey backs keep the Creek from scoring. Shortly after this, Grey forwards took play to Creek territory, and from an infringement in the Creek twenty-five. Grey were awarded another kick, Bond again piloting tire ball over the bar. Grey 4; Creek 3. Play now became very hard, and Creek worked their way to the Grey line, where play hung in Grey territory for nearly ten minutes Grey forwards led by Gordon and Harris, eventually taking play back to half-way. Following the scrum Creek returned, and Greer had two shots at goal shortly after, both going wide. Full lime sounded with play in Grey territory.

Mr V. Armstrong was referee. For Grey, Bond, McHirus, and Mason played well in backs, Gordon, Harris and Fisher showing out in the forwards. For Nelson Creek Greer shone out in the backs, with Tobin and Creagh showing bright flashes of play. In the forwards, O’Brien was the pick. i RUNANGA 1 (11); V. MARIST (5). Marist seniors journeyed to Dunollie yesterday to play Runanga. The ground was far from perfect for good football. Several absentees were noticed in both teams, owing to sickness among the players. Runanga played several juniors, whilst Marist had to call on some of their third grades as well as the juniors. From the commencement of play, Runanga forwards made .great attempts to score, only the good defence of the Greens ,who defended nearly all the first half, keeping Runanga from scoring. At half time there was no score on cither side. In the second half, after scJme strenuous play on Marist line, (lie ball was sent from a scrum, toGust, who raced over near the posts for a try. The kick at goal missed. Runanga still kept up the pressure, and were soon in Marist quarters again, and Oust securing sent the ball out to Connelly who got over at the corner. Armstrong missed the kick at goal. Runanga 6; Marist 0. From this reverse, Marist livened up and play went to Runanga territory, whore a force down resulted. From the kick-out (Griffiths (M.) secured, and what looked like a sure .try, was lost, when by a. good tackle by Finn, Griffiths hung on instead of passing to Quinn who was in close touch waiting for the pans. Runanga carried

play back to Marist line, and from a weak kick, Gust secured and ran in foi' a try, Isherwood converting, making the score Runanga 11; Marist 0. With time not very far off, Marist took play back to Runanga line, and from a passing rush, H. Brown got over at the corner. E. Quinn kicked a good goal from the touch-line. Time was then called -leaving Runanga winners by 11 to 5. Mr L. Hunter controlled the game. BLACKBALL II (9); BRUNNER 3. Brunner juniors were defeated at Blackball yesterday by 9 points to 3, after a fairly even game. RUNANGA 11 (22); KOTUKU 7. Playing at Runanga yesterday, Runanga third grade easily defeated Kotuku by 22 points to 7. Tries for Runanga were scored by Hawkins (3), Marshall (2), Maddison and Marshall converting. Crimmins scored a try for Kotuku, while Bryan kicked two goals. Mr Topp was referee.

Blackball thirds defaulted to Marist, and Brunner fourths defaulted to Grey.

CHRISTCHURCH MATCHES. (Special to “Star.") CHRISTCHURCH, June 12. Conditions were again excellent for Rugby League matches on Saturday. The grounds were in good order, and there was a large attendance at Monica Park to see the leading teams, Hornby and Waimairi, give an excellent exhibition of clever football, in which thrilling passing rushes and deadly tackling were outstanding features. It was the best club game this season and roused the spectators to great enthusiasm, especially towards the end. At Woolston Park, the’home team put up a good fight against Sydenham in the first spell, at the end of which there was only one point between the teams, but then the south suburb team ran right away from their opponents. Addington were unable to raise a full team against the Marists, and let the game go by default. The black and whites have had an unusual number of casualties this season, and learned only at midday that two more members of their side were ill, and consequently were unable to play. In the second grade, there was a great game at St. Albans Park between the West Coasters and Marist, in which the former retained their place at the head of the list by winning by 8 points to 5. Sydenham 30, Woolston 15. Hornby 14, .Waimairi 12. DUNEDIN MATCHES DUNEDIN, June 11. City and Pacific, no score; Christian Brothers 39 Kaikourai 3. AUCKLAND RESULTS AUCKLAND, June 11. Devonport 9, Ponsonby G; Marist 33 City 8. POACHING OF PLAYERS. (Australian & N.Z. Cable Assn.) SYDNEY, June 13. The action of the English Rugby League in breaking the agreement relating to the residential qualifications of Australian and New Zealand players, is strongly resented in New South Wales. Rugby League delegates iheet in the coming week, and probably the matter will be discussed and some action taken tv counteract the English intentions. It is stated that already an agent of the Huddersfield Club has secured one New South Wales player, and several others, both in New South Wales and Queensland have been approached.