LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Greymouth Evening Star, 25 June 1928, Page 3

LEAGUE FOOTBALL

BULLER v. COAST. HOME TEAM'S NARROW WIN. (Special to “Star.”) WESTPORT, June 24. In an exciting game on Victoria Square on Saturday afternoon, Buller defeated West Coast in a challenge for the White Horse Cup. It was a hard-fought game all the way, and Buller was lucky to win. Heavy rain fell during the latter part of the morning and it was still .raining hard after the teams took the field, but after about 20 minutes’ play, the clouds gave way to brilliant sunshine which lasted until the last few minutes of the game. West Coast really lost the game through bad kicking, and in the second half, time and time again, Coast lost a score through sheer misfortune. The Coast backs played a brilliant game, repeatedly coming away in lightning dashes, but there was a tendency to hang on too long, and there were no beg pardons in respect to Buller's tackling. On several occasions Coast had a good scoring opportunity, but the ball failed to reach the wings.

In the scrums, Coast had the ball practically every time, but in the loose, Buller was constantly in command of the leather, until late in the second half, when the Green stalwarts broke through Buller’s solid defence. Buller made it a forward game throughout, and the backs, which were far from Coast’s form, were not called upon to any great extent. Coast’s many back rushes were due to the way in which O’Malley whipped the ball away from the scrums. Despite the fact'that the ball was very greasy, he hardly lost an opportunity to feed his backs. He played a sterling game. Of the Buller forwards Goodall and A. McElwee were a formidable combination, and led the van in practically every rush. It was a thrilling game from start to finish and during the last 10 minutes, with Coast pushing the attack, the huge crowd were on tip toes. Without doubt, Buller’s first minute score proved their saving. The teams took the field as follow: BULLER. (Red and Green). F. Bernard. Thomas, Williams, C. McElwee. Jones, Longstaff. Anderson. Goodall, Mann, A. McElwee, Skinner, Curtis, Jack. COAST. (Green). , E. Quinn. J. Mason, J. O’Loughlin, H. Hawken. C. Robins, J. Kennedy. J. O’Malley. N. Griffiths, M. O’Brien, D. Bennett, A. Brownlie, J. Tallentyne, S. Mulloy.

Coast kicked off and Buller kicked up-field, Goodall, rushing up, caught O’Malley in possession. Longstaff followed up fast, gathered up the leather and dived over between the posts. He converted his own try. Buller 5, Coast nil. A free kick to Buller was followed by a free exchange and from a subsequent scrum, O’ Malley came away and found the line. Then Griffths sent bis backs away, but Jones brought off a beautiful tackle. A minute later Buller was again on the line, but Coast relieved with a good line kick. Coast, was hooking well from the scrums, but. the Buller forwards smothered continually. An ominous Coast rush, was saved by Jones marking. The Green forwards came again, but Bernard found the line, but Coast were not to be denied, and things looked bleck for Buller when a free kick relieved. Then C. Robins gathered in and sent his backs away, but O’Loughlin > mulled. Buller were penalised, for off-side play, and Coast carried play into the home twenty-five. Jones then gathered up and sent Longstaff away, but O’Loughlin was caught offside. Bernard took a mark on Buller’s lipe. From subsequent play Coast made a desperate attack and Bennett dashed over. Quinn’s kick failed. Buller 5, Coast 3.

A return by Bernard was accepted by Mason, who cut across field and sent O’Loughlin away, but Thomas intercepted and the forwards took possession and tore downfield on to Coast’s line. Coast relieved, but again the reds came away in great stylo. Up and down field play followed, and Mann looked dangerous, but lost, the ball. From play in Coast’s twenty-five, Goodall bullockcd his way through to be downed five yards from the' line. A free kick saw Goodall have an unsuccessful shot at goal, but the forwards followed up fast and another free kick in front of the posts saw Goodall put it over. Buller 7, Coast 3.

Then from a scrum in mid-field, Bennett broke through ami a likely try' was spoiled by the ball bouncing out. Another lino tackle by Jones allowing Buller to break away ami Mann and A. McElweo carried play' to Coast’s line. (’oast, relieved and then from play in midfield O’Malley' sent his men away in a spectacular rush, but Mason mulled badly. Again O’Malley despatched his men, but. a forward pass spoiled the movement. Buller were bard pressed, but Jones found the line well down. A dangerous situation was relieved by Bernard booting downfield, and Quinn was caught in posses-

sion. 'l’he Buller forwards came through and Goodall gathered up the leather and bounded for the lino. Longstuff’s kick failed. Buller 10, Coast

Again Buller came through. The forwards packed round the leather in great style. The ball flew out of the -.crtim and a long pass to (’. McElwee saw him streak down the line, but Mason pushed him out. The Red forwards were mailing the game ami Coast were severely harrassed. A mark relieved. Then from a. scrum Coast heeled the ball perfectly, and O’Malley sent his men away at lightning speed, but C. McElwee intercepted ami booted downfield. Coast came again and a serum on Buller's line saw McElwee kick out. Away came Buller in a great forward rush. Play swung over to Buller’s ’eft wing and Williams ami Thomas streaked down the line to be bumped out. in the corner. Tallentyne booted upfield and Coast’s van came away in a stirring rush, but Anderson smothered. Repeatedly the Coast, backs would bo away with the ball, but were too late in quitting the leather. Suddenly from out of the loose Mason came down the field like lightning, but Williams took him gloriously. Coast, came again and again, but the- Buller tackling was deadly. A few minutes

later Bernard forced down. A gruelling few minutes saw Coast battling hard, but half-time sounded with the play in Buller’s twenty-five. SECOND HALF. A fret) exchange of kicks opened the second half and then A. McElwee picked up from the loose and biillocked his way through but. lost the ball. A free kick to Coast saw O’Brien following up fast, but Bernard found the line. Coast were pressing and Buller were troubled with the sun in their eyes. Another exchange of kicks resulted in S. Mulloy following up fast, but Thomas found the line. Away came th© Buller forwards led by A. McElwee and Coast were sorely tried, but Quinn relieved. Then from a scrum, Buller hooked the leather and Anderson sent Longstaff away. He in-passed to Goodall, who bullocked his way through the pack to score. C. McElwee’s kick hit the cross bar and bounced over. Buller 15. Coast

The Buller van was on the leather all the time and the hooking in the scrums was improving. Buller was attacking strongly and a temporary relief by Coast saw Thomas centre, but then tho Coast pack broke through carrying all before them. Brownlie tossed the leather out to the backs and a try seemed certain, but. O’Loughlin mulled. Play swung back to Coast's territory and a root upfield was marked by Quinn, who saved a certain try. Again the Green van came away with the ball at their toes and from a subsequent scrum the backs were streaking down the field in a. beautiful movement. Robins accepted a difficult pass and sent O’Loughlin away, but he tried an individual run and was caught with the goods. However. Coast was not done and again the backs swung into action and Mason made a lightning sprint down the line and ran round to score beneath the posts. Robins’ kick failed. Buller 15, Coast 6.

Away the Green backs went again, but sound tackling spoiled the movement. The Red forwards came down the field, but Robins gathered in the ball and sent his backs away in a great dash upfield. A scrum juit out from Buller’s line resulted in a' free kick for Coast, but Buller forced. A scrum in midfield saw Longstaff caught offside and the Coast forwards galloped down the field, but lost a try by a forward pass. A melee on Buller’s line saw a hectic few minutes play and then a penalty relieved for Buller. The Coast backs sent. Hawken away with a clear run, but he dropped the ball. Then O’Brien and Mulloy broke away from the loose and a try seemed absolutely certain, but the bounce of the ball beat the man. Coast had had the best of the last 10 minutes’ play, but Buller now took a new lease, of life, but a lovely forward movement failed to materialise. Then from nowhere Goodall camo through with a clear run to goal, but he lacked the pace to complete the journey. A series of forward bursts saw Coast hard on the defensive, but the stalwart forwards were impregnable. Both teams showed signs of tiring and play was inclined to be patchy. Then the Coast forwards and backs handled and showing a great turn of speed O’Loughling streaked down the line to score. Quinn’s kick failed. Buller 15, Coast 9.

From a scrum Hawkcn made a dash but was floored by Longstaff and the Red forwards rushed play to Coast’s line. With 10 minutes to go, Coast was forcing the game, but the Buller forwards were keeping the leather at their feet. Suddenly the Coast backs swung into action a.nd Hawken galloped for the line, but fumbled and lost the ball. Then Goodall chased the play to Coast’s territory and A. MeElwee was making things lively, but again Coast carried play to Buller's line and in a melee in the corner Mason, fell over the line to score. The kick failed. Buller 15, Coast 12. A half-minute’s play was left and Coast were making the pace a cracker, but the bell went with play in midfield, the final score being: BULLER 15 COAST .. 12 Referee: Mr T. Dunn. WEST COAST 30; INANGAHUA 15. The Coast League reps, had no difficulty in accounting for Inangahua when they met them at Reefton yesterday. on their return trip to Greymouth. The game was bright and exciting, the Coast backs giving an excellent display. At half time the Coast bad annexed 18 points, while Inangahua had not managed to score. In the second half the Reefton team showed a. marked improvement, notching three converted tries, while Coast added an extra 12 points, bringing the score to 30 to 15 in Coast’s favour, when the final whistle blew. The scorers for Coast were: O’Malley, J, Mason (2), Tallenlyre, Griffiths .and O’Loughlin, while O’Malley, O’Loughlin, Bennett. Griffiths and J. Mason converted tries. O’Malley added a penalty goal. Mae. Smith. Skinner, and C. McElwee scored for Inangahua, ea.ch converting his own try. Mr J. Rodden, of Waiula, refereed. JUNIOR MATCHES. GREY 17; BRUNNER 11. After a. dull game at Cobden yesterday, Brunner juniors went under to Grcv, the game ending Grey .17, Brunner 11. Both teams were unable to • urn'out at full strength. Grey kept the game as open and fast as possible. A. Lees (2), McHirns, Thompson and Cairney were the try getters for the local side, N. Barbara converting a try. while M. Creagh (2), Priest and Cosgrove added tries together for Brunner. Mr Smith refereed. FIFTH GRADE. Marist lost to Blackball fifths a! the Recreation Reserve on Saturday, the visitors winning by Hl points to (i. SIXTH' GRADE. The sixth grade fixture :it the Roc. resulted in Marist putting up the huge score of 63 to nine against Rail an ga. CHRISTCH lIRCH RESULTS. CHRISTCHURCH, June 21. Yesterday's League results: — Sydney 8, Addington 7. Marist 19, Waimari 8. ■ DUNEDIN GAMES. | DUNEDIN, June 24. I Yesterday’s League results: — City 13, Kaikorai 12. Athletic 0. Pacific 0. AUCKLAND MATCHES. AUCKLAND, June 24. Ponsonby 22, Ellerslie 5. i Newton 17, Richmond 13.

AUSTRALIA V. ENGLAND. VISITORS WIN FIRST TEST. (Australian Press Association.) BRISBANE, June 24. A record crowd saw the first Rugby League Test match here yesterday. The following 'were the teams: — England: Full-back; Sullivan (captain); three-quarters: Askin, Brough, Oliver and Ellaby; halves: Rees and Fairclough; forwards: Burgess, Bentham, Bodman, Sloman, Horton and Fildes. Australia: —Full-back: Craig; threequarters: Aynsley, Gorman (captain), Hardy and Freestone; halves: Laws and Edwards; forwards: Steinhort, Justice, Yorke, Dempsey, Armbuster and Treweeks.

The match was up to international standard, and England won a deserved victory. Their team have improved wonderfully since their match against Queensland. They dazzled the spectators with their three-quarter work, and hustling forward play. If had been expected that the speed of the Australians would tell in the second half, but in the gruelling latter part of the game, the visitors retained their form and speed, finishing strong-

England built up a substantial lead in the first half, and, in spite of a determined final effort on the part of Australia to snatch a victory, England successfully held them in check. Faulty kicking on the part of Australia lost points. The scorers for England were: — Fairclough, Horton, Ellaby and Sullivan. For Australia the scorers wejre: Armbroke, Craig, Freestone and Aynsley. The final scores were: — ENGLAND .. ..15 AUSTRALIA .. .. 12