LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Greymouth Evening Star, 3 July 1933, Page 6

LEAGUE FOOTBALL

DISTRICT COMPETITIONS. MARIST—BLACKBALL DRAW. Yesterday was ideal for football, and the West Coast Rugby League competition matches attracted big attendances. At Wingham Park Blackball and Marist provided an interesting encounter in the senior division, to finish a fast, hard game, with honours even. At Dunollie, Runanga had an easy win over Pirates. In the junior grade, Marist and Runanga teams scored victories, and in the third grade Marist and Pirates drew, and Pirates fourth graders had a victory over Marist. The. senior match at Wingham Park did not produce a high standard of play, both teams being too anxious.

The ground was in good order, and the teams made the best use of opportunities, carrying play through at a high speed, and giving occasional flashes of good team work, but overeagerness was responsible for several movements breaking down. The scores, eleven points each, gave a satisfactory conclusion to the play, although territorially, Blackball had the advantage. Blackball forwards out- • played Marist pack, but the latter s back line impressed more than the opposing backs. Both teams tackled ' well. The players showed that they were in good form, but it would have i been a much better match had the teams been less concerned about each . other, and in less fear of giving an advantage. Calder played a splendid game in the Blackball pack, and he was far superior to any other forward on the field. Of the backs, O’Brien (Marist), was the best. He gave a good and at times clever display. Marist set up an early attack, and a strong run by Kennedy placed his team in a good position, but his pass was not taken. Blackball forwards then transferred play to Marist territory, where, from an infringement, Calder piloted the ball over, from an easy position. Blackball 2, Marist 0. Play was fast, and the handling at this stage was good, but the tackling prevented any successful movements. | Marist secured the ball from a scrum and the backs gained a big stretch of country before being held up. Later another attack by Marist broke down through a knock-on. Marist held the advantage, and fought hard against the Blackball forwards near the Blackball goal. Burning then broke clear, with the ball at toe, and in a fine dribbling effort, he scored between the' posts. O’Connor made a weak effort to goal. ’ Marist 3, Blackball 2. Continuing at a fast pace, the play travelled up and down, field with both sets of forwards striving for the advantage, and the Marist backs combining in movements that threatened danger, but were well held by the sure tackling of Dodds and his team mates. Blanchfield (Marist) received an injury that compelled him to retire and he was replaced by Griffin. Blackball won the majority of the scrums, and from one of these Dodds set sail for the line, and had a clear field in front of him, but was overtaken by Devonport who came across smartly, and brought Dodds down. Blackball held a decided advantage, and Marist were hard put to it in keeping their line intact. Apart from Dodds and Ritchie, however, the Blackball backs were not sure in handling, and several thrusts broke down early because of this. Marist then cleared*, and a bright passing movement in which Costello, O’Brien, and Kennedy were prominent looked likely to end in a score, but a forward pass spoiled it. Devonport then secured in the loose, and handed to Burning who ran strongly for thirty yards before giving to Walshe, and the latter scored near the corner. Bevonport converted with a magnificent kick from the side line. Marist 8, Blackball 2. Then occurred an unusual incident, which resulted in Blackball being awarded a try. Fleming, the Marist full back misfielded a high kick behind his goal, -but although he appeared to touch down, Kinsella (Blackball) ran in and grounded the

ball which Fleming had left behind the goal. The referee awarded a try and Calder missed with an easy kick. Blackball 5, Marist 8. Half-time was then called.

On changing over, both teams had a fair share of attack, and the play was kept at a fast pace. It was confined principally to the forwards, and was not as spectacular as the first half. Marist pack could not cope successfully against the onslaught of the opposing vanguard, and gave ground, but the Mapist backs furnished good support. While strongly

on attack, Blackball were surprised by Anderson, who picked hp the ball and sent to Walshe. The latter raced through the opposing backs, and neat-

ly sold the “dummy” to two of them, before scoring in the corner. Devonport failed to goal. Marist 11, Blackball 5.

It was an unexpected movement, but Blackball quickly set about delivering an attack that fully tested

the defence. Play was fast and hard in the forwards, with Marist giving ground. Beban then led a Marist forward attack that came close to success, Beban just failing to reach the line. Blackball then transferred to Marist territory, and Dodds punted high to Fleming, who misfielded the ball. Neilson was following up fast, and his good play was rewarded with a score. Dodds failed to goal. Blackball 8, Marist 11. Play continued to be fast, .with Blackball winning the scrums, but the backs were repeatedly mishandling, and movements broke down before a solid defence of Marist. Striving hard to get across, Blackball forwards had

the defence beaten when Kinsella secured, and he had little difficulty in bringing the scores level, by a try in a good position. Dodds faild to goal, and hard play continued with

both sides having a. share of attack, yet no further score came, and the play ended with honours even, the result being Blackball 11, Marist 11. Mr J. O’Neill was referee.

i RUNANGA DEFEAT PIRATES. At Dunollie the Runanga senior team had an easy victory over Pirates. Play was of a good Standard, with the Runanga backs at times brilliant. Hart, Masters, and Williams combined in many movements, and formed a combination that proved too aggressive for Pirates. It was speed and sure handling that Pirates were faced with, and they were not equal to countering

it. Pirates gave a weak display, and seldom did they press their opponents. Early in the game Pirates attacked, and looked likely to make an even match, but they failed to keep going.

Off-side play gave Martyn a kick at goal, bu,t his effort was unsuccessful. Runanga then attacked and had .Pirates driven back to their line,.but Preston brought off a clever save. Play then travelled up and down the field, but no score came. Then Pirates were awarded a free kick, and Hunt piloted the ball over. Pirates 2, Runanga 0. Runanga then attacked, and from a bright back passing movement, Hart scored. Masters converted. Runanga 5, Pirates 2. Having secured the lead, Runanga improved their position when Masters made his way through before sending Malpass across for a good try. Tailentire converted. Runanga 10, Pirates 2. Preston later showed up in clever play, and he badly beat several of his opponents, to score in the corner. Hunt failed to goal. Pirates 5, Runanga 10. Just prior to half-time, Williams secured and increased the lead for Runanga, Masters failing with the kick. Runanga 13, Pirates 5. Runanga■added eighteen points to their first-half tally, on changing over, but Pirates could not score. Masters crossed under the posts, and converted his try. Later Malpass secured at the end of a back movement, and scored, but his kick at goal failed. Further tries were secured by Williams and Hart, both of which Masters converted, and the final scores were: Runanga 31, Pirates 5. Mr T. Purnell was referee.

JUNIOR GRADE. RUNANGA AND Pirates’ second grade team met defeat from Runanga Juniors at Dunollie, the scores being 22 to 3. It was a bright game, with the Runanga backs playing good football. Runanga’s trygetters were Wootton, 1 Crowe, Leach, Nesbitt, W. Brown, and Pope. Speakman converted two tries. W. Burke crossed the line for Pirates. Mr Currie was referee. MARIST AND NGAHERE. At Wingham Park, Marist Juniors defeated Ngahere by eight points to two. It was a fast match in which the Marist backs showed to advantage, and displayed speed' which the opposition could not cope with. Ngahere led in the first spell, L. Gillman securing a goal from a penalty. In the second spell, Roberts and Sequin crossed the line for Marist, converting the second try. Mr W. Ryan was referee.

THIRD GRADE MATCH. Marist and Pirates scored nine points each, during their match _at Wingham Park yesterday. For Marist, Keddie, Fraser, and Morel crossed the line, while Stewart (2), and Fisher touched down for Pirates. Mr S. Smith was referee. FOURTH GRADE RESULT. Playing at Wingham Park, Marist Fourth Grade team defeated Pirates by 14 points to 5, the play being of a good standard, and keenly contested. TRIAL GAME AT WAIUTA TEAM TO MEET WEST COAST

In a trial game played at Waiuta yesterday, Possibles defeated Probables by 8 to 3. The selectors announced the following team to represent the Northern Sub-Centre against the West Coast, at Reef ton, on Sunday next:— Full-back —C. McElwee ('Reefton), captain. Three-quarters— Miller (Reefton), Lamberton (Ahaura), Morris (Waratah). Five-eighths— Scott (Waratah), King (Waratah). Half-back: Savage (Ahaura). Forwards —Dutton (Reefton), Ford (Mawheraiti), Quinn (Waiuta), Morel (Rovers), Wilson (Reefton), Ogilvie (Reefton).

AT AUCKLAND. AUCKLAND, July 1. Marist 24, Newton 8; City 50, Ponsonby 11; Devonport 5, Richmond 5. DUNEDIN MATCHES. DUNEDIN, July 1. Christian Brothers 34, City 5; Athletic 21, Pacific 15. CHRISTCHURCH RESULTS. CHRISTCHURCH, July 1. Linwood 21, Hornby 9; Pirates 10, Sydenham 9; Addington 18, New Brighton 3.