LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Greymouth Evening Star, 27 April 1931, Page 11

LEAGUE FOOTBALL

COMPETITION MATCHES TSARIST DEFEAT BLACKBALL In a senior competition match at Wingham Park yesterday, Marist defeated Blackball by 14 points to 13, the score giving a good indication of the closeness of the game. Wingham Park was in good order, a marked improvement on last season being shown by both grounds.

The teams were: Marist —Blackaby, Matthews, T. Anisy, Hurst, S. Anisy, O’Leary, T. O’Connor, Coulson (captain), Martini, Calder, O’Brien, Dunn and Delaney. Blackball —W. Ritchie, G. Ware, Wright, Leitch, Dodds (capt.), Kinsilla, Kells, Kidd, Hodgkinson, W. Clark, Prangnell, Baillie and Lamberton.

Blackball kicked off and a period of even play resulted neither side gaining much advantage until O’Connor the Marist half nipped around the side of the scrum before transferring to M. O’Brien who went out. Marist backs kept up the pressure and the ball travelled across the field to Hurst via Anisy and O’Leary, and the speedy Marist winger raced across for an easy try. Matthews missed with the kick. Marist 3, Blackball 0. Blackball forwards brought play to the Marist line but T. Anisy cleared and taking all before them the Greens took play again to the Blackball 25. Blackball forced but the Marist forwards held their advantage. Kinsella, Dodds and Ware combined in a passing rush that relieved Blackball to some extent. Marist, however, were getting the ball from the scrums, O’Connor sending the ball away smartly. In the loose the Blackball forwards were mbre than holding their own, only the solid defense. of the Marist threequarters lintr saving the greens. Fob lowing a Marist forward rush, Matthews secured and scrambled over for a lucky try. Calder converted. Marist 8, Blackball 0. Martini put in a good run down the line but was caught in possession. O’Leary again took the ball for Marists but offside play by Delaney lost the greens a certain try. Headed by Prangnell the Blackball forwards with a good dribbling rush brought play again to midfield. The Blackball forwards kept up the pressure, S. Anisy relieving with a fast swerving run. Blackball again took the ball to the Marist line but over-eagerness lost a certain try. Blackball kept play penned near .the green line, Leach nearly going across. Anisy saved again and Leach had to leave the field with a leg injury. Blackball were persistent in their attack. Kells secured and transperred to Kinsella who sent out to Dodds, the last-named breaking throught the Marist defences for a good try. Ritchie converted. Marist 8, Blackball 5. After a series of passing rushes Marists took play to near the Blackball line. Kinsella mis-kicked in attempting to return a kick from Blackaby and Calder secured and passed to Coulson, who forced his way over for a difficult try. The kick missed. Marist 11. Blackball 5.

The Blackball forwards who were shining in the loose, took play again to Marist territory. After unsuccessful attempts to cross the Marist line they were awarded a penalty. Ritchie made no mistake with the kick. Marist 11, Blackball 7. Half-time came shortly afterwards with the score unchanged. After play was recommenced the Blackball forwards again forced the play and play again went into Marist territory, where it remained for some time. A passing rush • inaugurated lay Blackaby in which Matthews and the two Anisys participated, lotoked as though it would free the greens from danger but Dodds sprang a surprise by interrupting beautifully and eluded the Marist backs in i brilliant fashion to score near the posts. Ritchie missed the- kick. Marist 11, Blackball 10.

Much rain was falling at this .stage of the game and the greasy ball seriously hampered back play. Hodgkinson for Blackball, secured possession from a scrum but T. Anisy relieved for Marist. Hurst put in a fine linekick that took play right to the Blackball line where Anisy secured and passed to Matthews who by not taking the ball cleanly missed a certain try. T. O’Connor the Marist half was injured and had to leave the field, S. Anisy moving up to his position. Marist forwards headed by Coulson and Calder took play info Blackball territory, O’Leary finally scoring after the greens had made many fruitless attempts. The kick failed. Marist 14, Blackball 10. The greens again kept up the attack, O’Brien intercepting nicely and running about twenty yards before being pulled down by Dodds. He transferred to Hurst in time, however, and the speedy Marist winger put in a great run before being tackled in possession. Wright cleared well for Blackball and play went to Marist territory where Blackaby effected a good save. Blackball kept up the pressure and a penalty given the greens against Kells did not much relieve the position. The efforts of the Blackball side were at length rewarded when Lamberton receiving a good pass from Dodds rushed across to score. The try was not converted. Marist 14, Blackball 13. With five minutes to go and only one point separating the two teams play become fast and willing. Blackball had a good chance when afforded a penalty in a good position but Ritchie missed the kick. Play enddd with the game in midfield and the score Marist 14, Blackball 13. Mr. J. McTaggart was referee. RUNANGA DEFEAT BRUNNER In a senior competition match played at Dobson yesterday, Runanga defeated Brunner by 30 points to six. For Runanga, Johnson, W. Glenn, Griffiths, Newton, Masters and Gore scored tries, Gore being successful in converting all six. Brunner’s points were the result of two tries by Clark. Mr. C. Purnell was referee. KOHINOORS BEAT RUNANGA A. At Wingham Park yesterday in a junior Southern Division match, Kohinoors defeated Runanga A. by 9 points to 7. J. Thompson, Lynch and Rogers each scored a try for Kohinoors. and for Runanga, James scored a try. Watson kicked a penalty and Malpass a field goal. Mr. C. Dewar was referee. ' RAPAHOE BEAT RUNANGA B. In a junior Southern Division match at Rapahoe yesterday, Rapahoe de-

feated Runanga B. by 8 points to 5. For the winners, B. Hands and Warwick scored tries, R. Baird converting one, and for Runanga, Connel secured a try and O’Neill kicked a penalty. NGAHERE DEFEAT AHAURA In a Northern Division junior match played yesterday at Ahaura, Ngahere defeated Ahaura by 17 'points to 2. For the winners H. Smith (3), Gilmour and Nyberg scored tries, Nyberg converting one. Savage kicked a penalty goal for Ahaura. Mr. J. Tibbles was referee. MARIST DEFEAT RUNANGA In a third grade match played at Wingham Park yesterday Marist defeated Runanga by 20 ■ points to 5. For the winners Brown, T. Lord, E. Lord and J. Weir scored tries. Brown converted two and Roberts converted one and kicked a penalty. Richmond scored a try and Speakman was successful with, a penalty kick for Runanga. Mr. A. Feilding was referee. MARIST BEAT RUNANGA In a fourth grade match played yesterday at Dunollie, Marist defeated Runanga by 20 points to 7. Mr. J. Henderson was referee.