LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 May 1931, Page 3

LEAGUE FOOTBALL

SURPRISE VICTORIES. MARIST AND RUNANGA BEATEN. The West Coast Rugby League competition matches were, In all grades, advanced a further stage yesterday, in Ideal weather and bn grounds in good, condition. Both the senior games played had results in the nature of a surprise, Blackball defeating Marist by 13 points to 5, and Brunner defeating Runanga by 15 points to 8. The principal attraction at Wingh'am Part was a junior match in which Runanga defeated Marist by 27 to 14, after the greens had led by 11 points to nil at half-time. \ BRUNNER BEAT RUNANGA. Playing at Brunner yesterday, in a senior competition match, Brunner effected a surprise victory over Ru-_ nanga by 15 points to 8. The Brunner forwards gave their best display of the season and were successful in breaking up the Runanga rearguard combination. For the winners H. Hunt, Ellery and Croft scored tries, and Kitto converted two tries and kicked a field goal. For Runanga, tries were scored by W. Glenn and Masters, while Gore converted one try. Mr L. Hunter was referee. BLACKBALL 13, V. MARIST 5. There was a large attendance at the Blackball Domain yesterday when the above teams met in a fast and interesting game. The ground was in good condition and both sides made play open, the home backs especially, showing out in many brilliant movements. For Blackball, Dodds and Kinsella in the backs and Pragnell and Leitch in the forwards were most prominent, while for Marist the most conspicuous wefe Calder, O’Brien and Coulson. The teams lined out as follows:— f Marist: Blaekdby, Hurst, Rlogardi, Matthews, S. Anisy, O’Leary, T. Anisy, O’Brien, Durnlng, Martini, Calder, De laney, Coulson. " Blackball: Ritchie, Wright, Lamber ton, R. Ware, Dodds, Kinsella, G. Ware, Pragnell, Bailey, Leitch, Kidd, Clark, Hodgson.

Marist kicked off with a strong sun at their backs, the ball immediately going over the dead ball line. Dodis sent play back to the Green 25, where Riogardi saved by finding the line. From a scrum O’Leary intercepted a pass but was brought down in possession. A penalty against Delaney was taken by Ritchie who piloted the leather between the posts. Blackball 2 jyfo,rist 0. ’Blackball brought back to the green line —v an infringement re- ■ lieved Marist, who returned play to inidfield. O’Brien .broke away with the ball at his toe but kicked too hard and Wright forced. Marist again became dangerous, Ritchie forcing from the feet of the grdfen forwards. From a penalty-Anisy failed to goal. From a scrum in his own 25 Kinsella broke away and raced to the green' 25, but his pass -went astray. Pragnell secured and passed to Leitch who transferred ’to R. Ware, the latter making a strong run to the corner flag. Dodds broke away and sent ‘to R. Ware who ran from half-way to the green line before he was brought down by Blackaby. Calder and Coulson broke away to the reds’ territory, where Matthews was injured in a tackle and had. to retire. His place was taken

by Quinn who went full back, BlackÜby going into the forwards. G. Ware, Kinsella and Dodds combined in a good movement, but Dodds fumbled and from the ensuing scrum Hodgson was caught offside and O’Brien sent .play back to half-way. G. Ware again set the backs off and R. Ware was pushed out close to the green line. From the scrum; Kinsella received and passed to vodds who went over in a handy position. Ritchie made no mistake with the kick. Blackball 7, Marist 0. A kick from Anisy was received by Pragnell who rAn to the green 25. The reds were penalised and Coulson put in a good solo run before being tackled by on the red line. A free-kick against the gredhs brought play back to the Marist 25, where Kinsella cut in and sent to Dodds who made an opening for R. Ware to score a good try wide out. Ritchie failed with the kick. Half-time sounded immediately after with the scores, Blackball 10, Marist 0. On resuming, the ball was taken by Hurst, who opened up a nice movement, but a knock-on spoilt it. Kin sella broke away and found the lino at the Marist 25. Dodds received, and

raced through the Marist. backs be fore transferring to R. Ware who fended off several opponents to score a good try in the corner. Ritchie’s kick fell short. Blackball 13, Marist 0. ' Marist set up an attack, but faulty handling resulted in a.' scrum from which Ware was caught off-side, Calder having a kick at goal which went wide. The red backs again got going, but Leitch was penalised and O’Brien found the line at the Blackball 25. Calder broke away and was pushed out when close to the line. From a high kick by Dodds, Blackball looked dangerous, but S. Anisy intercepted and Calder carried ont to midfield but fumbled when in a good posi- • tion and Kinsella found the line at the green 25. Play was now very willing, the Marist forwards putting plenty of vigour in their play. Dodds marked and Pragnell followed up to take play to the Marist 25. The Marist forwards broke through the red defence and from a scrum close to the line, Coulson secured and forced himself over close to the posts. Calder converted. Blackball 13, Marist ' 5. Mari-St forwards sWept down the field With determined attacks, but the Blackball backs were defending hard and they finally combined in a movement, but Quinn forced down. From a succession of free-kicks to Marist, play was taken to Blackball 25. Calder and Coulson took play at their toe to the line where Ritchie received and sent play back to half-way. Clark and Kidd broke away, but T. Anisy forced down. Calder and O’Brien received and took play to the red 25, where full time sounded;. Mr W. Allen was an efficient referee. RUNANGA JUNIORS BEAT MARIST. Playing at Wingham Park yesterday in ideal weather, Runanga Juniors defeated Marist by 27 points to 14, after an interesting game more even than, the scores would indicate. At half-time Marist led by 11 points to nil, but Runanga showed a complete reversal of form in the second half, scoring 27 points without meeting

with any effectual defence from the Marist thirteen. • •' The Marist team attacked from the kick-off and Walsh put in a good run, that took play well into Runanga territory. Bustling tactics by the Runanga forwards brought play again to mid-field. For \ the next five minutes the play consisted of loose forward rushes, with the Marist side dominating the play. A dribbling rush headed by August and Atkinson, took the ball to the Runanga line, where Hobson, the Marist half, secured well to go over for a good try. The attempt at conversion failed. Marist 3, Runanga 0. The Runanga backs combined in a good passing rush that gave Malpass, on the wing, possession. The Runanga player put in a good run until he was well grassed by Simmonds on the Marist line. Devonport was prominent in a dribbling rush that took play out of Marist teritory, but a penalty kick relieved the situation for Runanga. The Marist side still attacked, Simmonds attempting a field goal, which fell short. C. Currie and Rape began a dribbling rush that brought play again into the Marist twenty-five, Watson securing from a jjerum, and after swerving past two Marist men was pulled down on the line. The Marist forwards again broke away, Hobson securing, and putting in a great tun before being tackled by Rape. From a Marist rush, Stopforth secured and raced over for a good try, which he converted himself. Marist 8, Runanga 0. With a good kick, Simmonds again put the greens on attack. From a scrum in Runanga territory, Hobson sent out a good pass to Stopforth, who was out of position, and a good chance went astray. Play went back to the Marist twentyfive, where Devonport secured for the greens, and using an elusive side-step to some advantage ran right through the Runanga team for a splendid try. Marist 11, Runanga 0. Half time came with the score unchanged.

When play’resumed, Runanga took play into their own hands. Manderson secured and put in a good kick, and followed up fast to go over for a good try. Watson converted. Marist 11, Runanga 5. The Marist backs made some attempt at combination, Restieaux, the full-back, putting ip a fine solo run that broke down on the Runanga line. Runanga were unfailing in securing the ball from the scrums, and the half-back, Watson, set the backs in motion, McPhee showing a great burst ‘of speed to go right through the Marist team, to score in a good position. He converted his own try. Marist 11, Runanga 10. The Runanga side kept up their attack, ‘Watson securing from a scrum and dodging through the Marist rearguard, to score a try under the posts. He converted his own try. Runanga 15, Marist 11. A penalty in a good position gave McPhee an opportunity for a good penalty, and he made no mistake with the kick. Runanga 17, Marist 11. A minute later, Williams who was playing a sterling game in the Runanga pack,, raced across for an easy try, which McPhee converted. Marist 22, Runanga 11. Renewing their attack, the Marist backs put in a great run, the ball going from Walsh to Devonport,who mishandled, for Walsh to recover possession and score a good try in the corner. The kick failed. Runanpga 22, Marist 14. Shortly afterwards Higgins, a Marist inside back, was carried off with an injured back. Runanga again pressed, Williams scoring in a good position. Watson converted and the game ended — Runanga 27, Marist 14. Mr S. Smith was referee.

RUNANGA B BEAT KOHINOORS. Playing at Dunollie yesterday in the junior competition, Runanga B de feated Kohinoors by 25 points to 13. For Runanga tries were scored by O’Connell (4), and C. Kennedy. O’Neill converted three tries and kicked a penalty goal, while Marshall also converted a try. For Kohinoors Rodgers and Lynch (2) scored tries, while Lynch also converted two. Mr V. Arm strong was referee.

NGAHERE BEAT WAIUTA B.

In a Northern Division match at Waiuta yesterday, Ngahere defeated Waiuta B by 26 points to 6. Mr I, Rodden was referee. AHAURA BEAT WAIUTA A.' In a Northern Division junior match played yesterday at Ahaura, Ahaura defeated Waiuta A by 11 points to nil. For the winneys tries were scored by O’Brien, Savage, and Becker. Tibbles converted one. Mr S. Thomas was referee. WON BY DEFAULT. The third grade match, Marist v. Runanga, which was to have been played at Wingham Park yesterday, was won by Marist, by default. I FOURTH GRADE. At Blackball yesterday, Blackball fourth grades beat Brunner by 14 to 6. For Blackball, Dillon (2), Hogg, and Bowket scored, one of which was converted by Stenhouse, while Collins and Bateman scored for Brunner. Mr J. Neilson was referee. MARIST 4ths. BEAT RUNANGA. In a fourth grade match at Dunollie yesterday, Marist* defeated Runanga by 24 points to nil. P. Duffy, Knapp (2), Morel, Pollock and T. Duffy scored tries for Marist, and Greaney converted three. FIFTH GRADE. At Blackball on Saturday, Runanga beat Blackball by 14 to 11. Mr W. Allen was referee. BRUNNER 6ths. BEAT MARIST. Tn a sixth grade match at Brunner on Saturday, Brunner defeated Mdrist by 25 points to 5. All of Brunner’s points were scored by one player, Buckman, who scored five tries and himself, converted each of them. For Marist, D. Wingham scored a try and Kiely converted it. Playing at Blackball on Saturday, Blackball beat Runanga by 20 to 0. Mr W. Allen was referee. CHRISTCHURCH RESULTS. CHRISTCHURCH. May 9. In the League competition to-day, Addington 11 beat Linwood 10; Hornby 31 beat Sydenham 0. DUNEDIN GAMES DUNEDIN, May 9. Christian Bros., A 35, Athletic 9. City 17, Pacific 16.

WELLINGTON MATCHES WELLINGTON, May 9. City 12, Newtown 6; Petone 13, Old Boys 5. AUCKLAND RESULTS ' „ . AUCKLAND, May 9. Devonport beat Newton 26 to nil; Richmond beat City 28/15; Marist beat Ponsonby 20/9. NORTHERN UNION. LONDON, May 10. I In the Rugby League championship final at Wigan, Swinton beat Leeds by 14 to 7. York beat Keighley by 44 to 11.