LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Greymouth Evening Star, 3 September 1934, Page 5

LEAGUE FOOTBALL

BRADSHAW CUP FINAL \ WON BY BLACKBALL Weather conditions were good, for play in the West Coast Rugby League competitions yesterday, and the games were of an interesting standard. At Blackball, in the final of the Bradshaw Cup competition, Blackball secured an easy win over Pirates. Marist won from Runanga, at Rapahoe, in a Challenge Shield match, aftiar a fatt game. With the exception of -Backball, the senior teams had to field substitutes, as several regular players were absent, but the general standard of play was satisfactory. BLACKBALL AND PIRATES. There was a large attendance at Blackball yesterday, for the match between the Blackball senior thirteen and Pirates. The ground was in perfect condition, and the liotne team had a comfortable win, the final score being Blackball 34, Pirates 9. Blackball owed their win to fine forward play. They hunted as a pack, and by keeping the ball tight in the first spell they had Pirates defending solidly throughout. The second spell had Pirates feeling the strain of continual hammering, and once the. game was opened up, the Blackball backs soon put the finishing touch into effect. Pirates, who were not at full strength, played a hard, dofehsive game throughout, and did their best to open up the game, but lacked cohesion, and the necessary brilliance to carry their movements into effect. The teams were: —Pirates —Hopkins, Devohport, Dowling, De Freatiis, Stewart, Pa-t--tinson, Preston, Dowling, Gardyne, Hunt, Thompson, Rush, Fisher. Blackball:—Bell, Oliver, Neilson, Clarke, Ware, Dodds, Kinsella, Neilson, Perrin, McMahon, Etheridge, Smith, Calder. Pitates had the early advantage of the sun at their backs, and were the first to set up attack. From a scrum, Dowling gained ground, but Kinsella, picking up quickly, sent to Dodds, who took play to midfield with a good kick. Blackball gained further ground with forward play, when a penalty gave Olliver a chance with an. easy kick. Blackball 2, Pirates nil. Blackball forwards again stormed to the attack, but the Pirates’ defence was solid, and play returned to midfield. A quiet patch set in, till Devbnport accepted a cross-kick from Preston, but he was caught by Clarke after a great run. Shortly after, Stewart cut out the home backs, and ran up to the full back, but his pass was forward, and a certain try lost. Dodds relieved the danger by a good grubber kick. The reQ forwards then started to show up, and Pirates were hard pu,t to it on defence. After a force down was conceded, and a dead ball, Kinsella made his way through for a try, Calder adding the extra points. Blackball 7, Pirates 0. Blackball, headed by Calder, soon took play to the Pirates 25, but offside tactics spoilt the effort. Pirates were now getting a fair share of the scrums, and Preston was feeding his backs well. Stewart put in a fine run, but the movement was unfinished. The ball then travelled fast to Devonport, who beat the home backs to score wide ■out. Hunt missed with the kick. Blackball 7, Pirates 3. After midfield play, some heavy rucking took place, with the advantage to Blackball, but Preston and other Pirates’ backs were playing a good defensive game. Finally a cross-kick by Calder was taken by Clarke, who scored. Calder failed with the kick. Blackball 10, Pirates 3. Pirates’ backs again started an offensive, because of a stern defence, and a large percentage of their movements breaking down through faulty handling, no further scores were added before half-time.

On resuming, Dodds, kicked off, but De Freatus took play to the Blackball 25. There offside tactics spoilt play, which was returned to midfield. The game then took a quiet spell, till finally, from a melee, Calder broke away to run through and score. Olliver missed an easy kick. Blackball 13, Pirates 3. Blackball soon added another try. The ball was kicked to Caldef, who returned with a hard kick, Fisher failing to field, and Calder, who followed up, scored an easy try. He kicked a hard goal from wide-out —Blackball IS, Pirates 3. The reds were now dominating the game. From a scrum, Kinsella cut the opposing backs out, to hand to Dodds, who went over. Calder failed with the kick. Blackball 21, Pirates 3. Shortly after, the Blackball backs again set out, the ball travelling to Neilson, in the centre, who scored alongside, Dodds adding the extra points. Blackball 26, Pirates 3. Blackball again forced play to Pirates 25, and from a scrum Perrin joined in to add further to the score, Dodds again kicking between the posts. Blackball 31, Pirates 3. Smith was the next to score, and from a scramble oh the line he went over in the corner. He missed the kick. Blackball 34; Pirates 3. With only ten minutes play left, Pirates attacked strongly, and Fisher cut through to send Gardyne over. Hunt failed to goal. Blackball 34, Pirates 6. Pirates did all the attacking from then on, and just as the bell rang a cross kick to Thompson resulted in him going over in the corner. Hunt again failed with a difficult kick. Blackball 34, Pirates 9. Mi- W. Allen was referee.

MARIST BEAT RUNANGA. At Rapahoe yesterday, Marist defeated Runanga, in the, first match for the Challenge Shield, in the senior gra'de. The absence of players with the South Island team, and sickness amongst players caused both teams to call in junior players. These latter played extremely well, with the result that the play proved fast, and interesting. Runanga lost the services hf R. Morris early in the second spell, through an injury to a leg, and he was not replaced. At the interval, RUnahga held the lead by 11 points to 7, but Marist later rallied, and came out winners by 18 points to 11. Marist backs played bright football, prominent amongst them being A. Behan, Roberts, and O’Brien, while Burger, Williams, and McHugh led the forwards. The teams were: Runanga: Kennedy, Cjowe, Johnston, Hill, Nesbitt, Morris, Pattinson, Hart, J, Tailentire, Bowden, J. Glynn, Greening, and Quinn. Marist: R. Pollock, Debenham, Roberts, P. Blanchfield, A. Beban, Kiely, O’Brien,' Griffen, Williams, McHugh, Simmonds, Burger, and P. Pollock. Marist won the toss, and were quickly on attack. R. Pollock received and sent smartly to Beban who

cut in, tfren changed his direction to go through -ah bpeftiiig -ah’d hclaiie -fch--de rthe posts. It was a clever piece of work, and with Roberts converting the try, Marist were five points up within two minutes of the start. Marist returned to the attack, -McHugh and Simmonds making ground to bustle Crowe, who had to kick back over the dead line, for relief. From the drop out, Williams received, and sent over a field goal, which was disallowed, as he knockedon when taking the ball. Runanga forwards were caught lifting in the scriiin, and from a handy position, Roberts kicked a goal. Marist 7, Ruhanga 0. Play was fast, and both teams were handling well. Runanga forwards took play to the Marist end, where they hammered a.way for several minutes, Morris and Pat-tinson going close to scoring. Marist were awarded a penalty, but Runanga were quickly back to their line, -andfrom a forward struggle, J. Glynn picked up to run in near the corner. Kennedy converted with a great kick: from the side line. Runanga 5,. Marist 7. Hunting well, the' Runanga forwards returned to the attack, but were sent back by Beban and Kiely. Having had a turn on defence, Marist went upfield, arid a fast passingmovement by O’Brien, Kiely and Pollock took play to the Runanga line, where Griffen missed his pass. Warm play centred just outside the Runanga line, for some time, -but the defence proved sound. Then Johnston broke clear, and Marist werecompelled to inove fast to save their line. Although sent back time and again, Runanga returned with greater determination. Frorii one of these attacks, Crowe found his way blocked, but he short-punted, the ball travelling over tb.e Marist line, and, in a race for possession, Crowe retrieved it to touch down for A good try. Kennedy failed to goal. -Runanga 8, Marist 7. From the kick-off, Marist charged upfield, only to lose, the ball when it was kicked across the dead line. Roberts and Debenham later became associated in a fast movement, which promised success until Beban took his pass offside. Runanga moved quickly to the Marist end, where Crowe picked up to score wide out. Kennedy failed to goal, and half-tinie arrived with the scores, Runanga 11, Marist 7. On changing over, the Runanga backs set up an attack, the ball travelling along the line to Johnston, who was taken in possession. Marist were compelled to remain on defence, and a good run by Crowe was stopped by Pollock only a few yards from the line. Again the Runanga backs attacked, but Johnston dropped his pass, and the Marist backs were able to clear to half-way. A good dribbling effort by Williams took .play almost to the Runanga line, where Kennedy, who' was outstanding on defence, secured possession aiid' lined. Marist returned smartly, and Crowe had to do good work before sending them back. Morris retired at this stage, Pattinson taking, his place at first five-eighth, and Quinn going behind the scrum. Runanga. continued with the attack, and the ball was kicked over the Marist line, where. Tallentire and Nesbitt were unfortunate in failing to touch down the ball. Marist then had a turn, P. Pollock going close to scoring. The backs then moved away, and in a bright passing movement Blanchfield failed to gather in his pass, and a scoring chance was lost. O’Brien tried to go alone, and was held up on the line, then Kiely knocked on, right under the posts, and from the scrum, Runanga forced down. From the kick out, P. Pollock secured, and sent to Roberts, to Blanchfield, to Beban, who clapped bn his speed, and scored near the corner. Roberts failed to goal. Marist 10, Runanga 11. For some time Marist had Runanga tacked down in their territory, and play continued fast, and keen. Simmonds kicked through to Kennedy, and P. Pollock followed up fast to catch the full-back in possession. Burger beat Kenriedy in playing the ball, and went across, wide out. Roberts failed to goal. Marist 13, Runanga 11. Marist were now having much the better of the contest. Roberts cut in smartly, to send P. Pol-, lock away with a clear field ahead, but the latter was recalled for a forward pass. Runanga then rallied, and had Marist defending. R. Pollock and Kiely. cleared their line to place Marist on attack again, Griffen going close to getting a try. Nesbitt sent Marist back, but O’Brien, Roberts, and Beban came away in a fast attack which broke down when. Roberts missed a high pass. McHugh intercepted a pass from Pattinson, and gained a big stretch of territory before being taken. Marist backs again attacked, Debenham being • tackled near the Runanga line. McHugh then secured from the forwards, and ran in to score under the -posts, for Roberts to convert, and play ended with the scores, Marist 18, Runanga 11.

JUNIOR GRADE MATCH Playing at Wingham Park yesterday, Pirates defeated Marist juniors by 23 points to 15. Marist were handicapped by the absence of several of: their best players, who filled positions in the senior team. For Pirates, tries were secured by Lamberton, Fisher (2), Carter, Leach, Kennedy (2); while Lamberton converted one try. For Marist, Lord (2), and Crase crossed the line, the tries being converted by Greaney. Mr. W. Ryan was referee. FOURTH GRADE At Wingham Park yesterday, Marist defeated Pirates in a fourth grade match, by eight points to three. INTER-ISLAND MATCH. NORTH WIN GOOD GAME. , [special to “stab.”] AUCKLAND, September 1. The annual North Island v. South Island Rugby League fixture was played at Carlaw Park to-day. The North won by 36 points to 18. Beautiful weather prevailed and 10)000. people witnessed a splendid game. The teams were as follow: — North Islands Fullback, C. Hunt, (Taranaki); three-quarters, ~R. E„ Smith (HaWke’s Bay), W. Tittletoh (South . Auckland), G. Tittletoh. (Auckland); five-eighths, A., jE. ; Cooke (capt. Auckland), S. Prhnti'ce (Auckland); half-back, R. -Powell (Auckland); forwards, L. Hutt (Auckland), C. O’Callaghan (Noi’th-i land), S. Clahke (Auckland), 'C. Shth-i erley (Auckland), T. Timnis (Auckland), J. M’Leod (Taranaki). South Island: Full-back, T. McKenzie (Inangahua); three-quarters, ‘ M.Morris (Inangahua), P. Scott (Irfen-

gahua), F. Whitmore (Canterbury),;, -ftm-etigitths, J. K.. Arnrrs tcant. CSn-‘ terbur.y), and F. Ayres (Canterbury); half-back, T. O’Connor (West Coast); forwards, L, Wehrner (Canterbury), R. Ward (Canterbury), W. Glynn (West Coast), E. Hamberger (Canterbury), -M. Smith (Canterbury), G. Scott (West Coast). Referee, Mr P. Rogers. ' Foi- the first half, the South were superior, their backs b'eing good in passing bouts, While .their forwards dominated play. The possession of the ball gave South an advantage until North changed their hooker. It was a triumph for A. E. Cooke, exAll Black. He played a brilliant 'gaine. Thb "play was fast and exciting and the crowd were satisfied. The game revealed to Aucklanders an improvement in the standard of South Island play. J. Amos and P. Scott were the best of South backs, while M. Morris impressed on the whig. Hamberger, Scott and Glynn were the best ‘forwards.

Early in the game Powell beat the South five-eighths and passed to Prentice, but Cooke missed a try. Smith made a great run and Amos just missed a try. Working the blind side, O’Connor snapped np smartly and passed to Morris, who raced over -midst .applause. Scott kicked a Splendid .goal. South 5, North nil. The ;South forwards with Scott and Hemberger leading them, swept the North away, and Wellsmore chimed in -nicely, but Hunt forced. Morris raced through, and Amos made a beautiful opening from which Glynn scored;. Scott again converted. South 'lO, North nil. North attacked, and Hunt passed to Cooke, to Tittleton, to -Smith, who scored. Smith missed the kick. South 10, North 3. The South backs played better at this stage and turned on good football. P. Scott made a nice run and sent on to -Amos, to Hamberger, to Morris, who was pushed into touch. From the resultant scrum, however, O’Oonnoi’ scored. South 13, North 3. Clark rushOd over the South line, but McKenzie saved, and North lost a try when Cooke missed a pass from Prentice. Clark got over for the North -but the try was disallowed. The South roused excitement with brilliant passing, O’Connor, P. Scott Amos and Morris all handled and Morris raced over, but the linesman ruled him out of bounds. The South definitely were superior all round. Fast play followed and the North backs broke through, but Amos made a great save from behind. The halftime score was South 13, North 3, and was a true indication of play up to the interval.

NORTH RECOVERY. 1 A few minutes after the start, North Combined cleverly, arid W.. TittletoA made a nice opening from which G. Tittleton scored. Smith converted. Soiith 13, North 8. Amos missed a long shot at goal. The? South forwai’fis swarmed round the home linb and Cooke forced. Moi-ris and Amos were brilliant and the latter- in a scissors pass movement cut the defence in ribbons and should have been rewarded with a try. North were up against it, but sudd6hly ; Cooke took a kick from McKenzie and flashed from . half-way With Wellsmore in pursuit, to score a try.: Smith converted, ihaking the score thirteen all. The gariie rose to brilliant heights and Satherley placed the North in the lead with a simple try, McKenzie mistaking the dead -ball: area. North 16, South 13. Although the North wiped off Ifhe; first spell deficit to take the lead, they were hot by any means dbmihat-; ing the play, but the South did -not' finish off their attacks. . Powell made a nice opening, arid; sent on to Prentice to W. Tittlet-oh,: who scored a try, which G. Tittleton converted. North 21, South 13. Cooke made a brilliant opening from a scrum, and scored. G. Tittleton goaled. North 26, South 13. The North predominated at this stagehand Prentice sent on to Powell, to Hutt, who scored. G. Tittleton converted. From near half-way Smith raced away and Prentice scored and converted. North 36, Soiith 13. The South forwards rallied and Glynn scored a good try, Hamberger kicking a great goal, to make the final score North 36, South 18.

WHY NORTH WON. COMMENT ON SOUTH PLAYERS. [special to “stab.”] AUCKLAND, September 3. After having by far the better of play in the first spell, and leading by 13 points to 3 at the interval, South slumped badly in the second half, during which there was a succession of scoring by North, which added 33 points. The value of possession of .the ball was never better shown. In the first half, South nearly always hooked in the scrums, but in the second spell, when Hutt (Auckland), was placed in the centre of the frdnt row, North hooked with almost monotonous regularity. South forwards played fine football. Their thrilling play in the loose, continually harassed the opposition, and at the interval, South wei'e unlucky not to be further ahead. Their forwards kept togethei’ well, and the tackling and following up were splendid. In the end they had run themselves practically to a standstill, and it was not until well into the second spell that the North vanguard gained any ascendancy. Although doing some fine work individually, South backs as a combination, lacked the understanding of the North rearguard. During the first half, the passing of the South team was bright and snappy, but many opportunities were lost through some players throwing the ball wildly to their support. Some of the South scissors passing completely baffled the defence, and only lack of finish lost scoring opportunities. On one occasion particularly, Amos was very unlucky in not scoring from one of these movements, as he appeared to ground the ball over the line, but a five yards scrum was ordered.

The better all-round team play of the North carried the side to victory, anti the backs especially, were always dangerous in possession. South could not cope with several movements in 'which Cooke, second five-eighths, came into action twice, and made an extra man. At oth£r times, Powell, the North half, was allowed too much latitude, and he too often mafl'e an extra man by running f-roih the scrum. Had the South defence, stopped this, the score against the side would not have been nearly so Targe. It was a delight to the crowd of about 9,000 to watch the South team outplay the opposition in the first spell, by really better football, and it came as a great surprise to see the team fall away so badly in the second half. The game was always fast and open,

and many brilliant movements were executed by both sides. In spite of the high scoring, interest was maintained right till the final whistle, the type of play greatly appealing to the spectators. On the hard and fast ground, it was only to be expected that scoring would be fairly high, but even the most ardent of the North supporters did net expect the team to win by such a wide margin, and with some enthusiasts South was even favourite before the game. Where North scored to advantage was in a better knowledge of the finer- points of the code, although it was very evident that South players have improved greatly in this respect during the past two years. With ,a little coaching the South team would develop- into a fine combination, judging on its play in the first spell.

ABOUT PLAYERS. Especially clever play of Cooke, for North, was always a thorn in the side of the opposition. He scored one fine try, and varied his play well. His -handling was not so clean as usual, but he was always handy whether on attack or defence. His run of over 50 yards, when he scored, showed that he still retains much of his speed, and as an all-round player is altnost as ,'good as ever. One of the outstanding players on the ground was P. Scott (Inangahua), •first five-eighths for South. He was repeatedly in the picture for clever allround work, and in many respects his play was similar to that- of Cooke, for North. He saved his team time and again on defence, while proving most elusive on attack. He was quick off the mark, thus giving his outside men a chance to get. on the move. Often he came into movements twice, and there is no doubt that on his game here, New Zealand honours are finite within his reach. O’Connor (Greymouth), at half-back, was a little slow at getting the ball away, but otherwise played a good game. His defence was flawless, and he never failed to go down on a rush, or tackle when the occasion arose. With Morris (Inangahua), wing three-quarter, O’Connor brought off some clever blind side movements, and although some of these were successful, O’Cohnoi* was prone to overdo the blind side later in the game. Morris proved himself as a heady three-quarter, and a very determined runner. He often brushed tacklers aside, and his all-round play stamped him as a player well above the average. His clean handling, and heady work when cornered, always made him dangerous, and one would have liked to see him get more opportunities. McKenzie (Inangahua), fullback, was very disappointing. He was far too slow and deliberate, and his positional play was bad. He was frequently caught out of position, when a sense of anticipation would have saved him a lot of running about His kicking, too, could have been improved, and one pool’ kick, when he centred and placed his men out of position, led to Cooke’s try. A great forward game was played by W. Glynn (Greymouth), whether in the tight, loose or in support of the backs. He seemed to be everywhere, and was -probably; the best forward on the ground. He was a tir'eless worker, and his fine physique stood him in good stead.’ There are few better forwards m New Zealand to-day than Glynn, who would show up in any company. G. Scott (Greymouth), also proved a good forward, and ably assisted his confreres. He was prominent in the loose, and also tackled well. A feature of the game was that all South’s tries were scored by West Coast players.

CHRISTCHURCH RESULTS. CHRISTCHURCH, September 1. Hornby 25, Linwood 8; Addington 20, Sydenham 5; Ruru 3'B, Brighton 3. NORTHERN UNION. LONDON, September 1. Northern Union football results today were:— 4 Batley 0, Hull Kingston 12; Bradford 16, Huddersfield 31; Castleford 16, Rochdale 5; Halifax 20, Barrow. 0; Hull 16, York 7; Keighley 4, Wigan 30; Leeds 23, Huhslet 4; Leigh 2, Swinton 5; Oldham 23, Bramley 8; Salford 32, Dewsbury .‘3; St. Helens s,’Widnes 10; Wakefield 39, Featherstone 9; Warrington 12, Broughton 2; Liverpool Stanley 21, St. Helens Rec 5.