LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 May 1936, Page 5

LEAGUE FOOTBALL

RUNANGA BEAT BLACKBALL PIRATES’ FIRST WIN Marist are now lhe only unbeaten team in the West Coast Rugby League’s senior championship competition, Blackball, who shared the honour with them, having gone down to Runanga by a surprisingly large margin, at Dunollie yesterday. The other feature of yesterday’s games was the improvement shown by Pirates, in defeating Ngahere, who had shown good form against the leading teams. Brunner were unable to hold the Marist backs, at Brunner, the greens again winning by a large margin, despite faulty defence. Although dull, conditions were ideal for play, and there were good attendances at all grounds, particularly at Dunollie. RESULTS AT A GLANCE Senior: Runanga 29 —Blackball 2. Pirates 1G —Ngahere 9. Marist 31 —Brunner 12. Junior: Kumara 15 —Blackball 9. Runanga 35 —Pirates nil. Third Grade: Marist 6—Runanga 5. RUNANGA’S EASY WIN.

Contrary to expectations, Runanga seniors proved much too good for Blackball, in their first meeting of the season, at Dunollie, yesterday afternoon. Both teams played below their best form, Blackball going to pieces in the second spell, and allowing Runanga to run up the big total of 29 points to 2. In the first half Blackball played with plenty of vigour, and held the score to 8-2. but after the interval they indulged in too much kicking, running themselves off their feet, and allowing the Runanga backs to func-, tion, and score some nice tries. There was a surfeit of loose forward play, but nevertheless the game kept the interest of a big crowd of spectators, it being only in the last twenty-five minutes that Runanga was definitely on top. The Blackball backs, particularly in the first spell, were well served with the ball from the serum, but they seldom got going, the solid tackling by Runanga, and their own mistakes in handling and positional play nullifying the majority of their efforts. On the other hand, the Runanga backs were dangerous every time they got going, and received every support from their forwards.

The teams were as follow: — Runanga: Hopkins, Speakman, Pattison, Williams, Masters, Manderson, Morris, McTaggart, J. Glynn, Newton, Dunn, R. Glynn, and W. Glynn. Blackball: W. Ritchie, Stewart, McNaughton. O’Donnell, Pascoe, Dodds, Ware, Meadowcroft, Bailey. H. Ritchie. Lewis, Anderson and Perrin. The toss was won by Blackball, who elected to play with the wind, but against the slope of the ground. It was a long time before either side gained any advantage, play being confined to midfield, with Perrin and Anderson showing up for Blackball, and W. Glynn and Manderson for Runanga. Blackball soon settled down, and unsuccessful runs were made.by Anderson, Ware, Pascoe and McNaughton. Charging.down on a high kick, the

Blackball forward- caught Hopkins in ( possession, and Runanga were com-ji polled to fore?. Blackball again i looked like scoring when Stewart, i Dodds and Pascoe laced up the line, < but the last-named was pushed into touch. A monotonous exchange of kicks by the full-backs was fo .'owed by a Runanga passing movement, in which Manderson, McTaggart, Morris, J. Glynn and McTaggart handled. The . last-named went over, but was recalled for offside. W. Ritchie was penalised on his own 25 for not playing the ball, but Speakman was unsuccessful with the kick. Runanga held the advantage, however, and from a scrum on the Blackball 25, Morris sent out to Manderson, to Masters, to Pattison, who cut in beautifully, to score under the posts. Speakman converted. — Runanga 5, Blackball nil. Runanga continued to attack, and on fielding a high kick from Manderson, under the posts, W. Ritchie attempted to kick for the line. The ball, however, fell short, and A. Williams took it at top speed, evading O’Donnell and scored in the corner. Speakman failed to convert.— Runanga 8, Blackball nil. The double reverse put Blackball on thenmettle, and they looked like scoring, when bad positional play by the backs lost an opening. They were rewarded, however, when Runanga weiv penalised for not playing the ball, 15 yards outside their 25, W. Ritchie putting over a fine kick. —Runanga 8. Blackball 2. The Blackball forwards were on top at this stage, and once Perrin was through, when he kicked too hard, and the ball beat him over the dead-ball line. Just before halftime W. Ritchie was unsuccessful with a penalty from 35 yards out. Runanga were the first to attack in the second half, but a fine run by , O’Donnell initiated a determined Blackball offensive on the Runanga line, which culminated in Runanga forcing. It was at this stage that Blackball tired out their forwards, through over-much kicking, and also slowed up the game. Tho next Runanga score came quickly. W. Glynn and Pattison took play from half-way almost to the Blackball line; when the ball came out smartly from a loose ruck to McTaggart, who was quick to seize the opportunity, and raced over in a handy position. Speakman converted. —Runanga 13, Blackball 2. Ritchie came up into the fiveeighth line, Dodds replacing him at Ifull-back. but with unfortunate results, as Dunn dribbled through, kicked over Dodds’ head, and beat Stewart in a race for the ball, to score under the posts. Speakman again converted. , —Runanga 18, Blackball 2. The Blackball forwards rallied, and Bailey and | Perrin were almost over. The Blackball backs also took a hand, but solid tackling gave them few opportunities. Runanga again worked up field and [from a ruck in front of the posts MorIris sent on to Manderson, to Masters, to Pattison, who again used his. tricky cut-in, to score under the posts. Speakmad converted. —Runanga 23, Blackball 2. Although in a hopeless position, Blackball made strenuous efforts to score, and were almost successful when O’Donnell was forced into touch < in the corner, after a'good run. Soon after, however, Stewart saved a certain try against Blackball, when he forced Speakman out, after he had received from Masters and Dunn. Runanga held the ground gained, and picking up from the loose J. Glynn passed to McTaggart. to Williams, who • raced over to score in the corner. Speakman’s kick was unsuccessful. ■ Almost immediately after, W. Glynn made a good run from the Blackball 25. and handed to Dunn almost on the . line, for the last-named to go over in • a handy position. Speakman missed - a comparatively easy kick.—Runanga . 29, Blackball 2. The final phase of the ! game was a passing movement by

Blackball, in which Dodds, McNaughton and O’Donnell figured, but it came to naught when th • last-named was tackled, and the match ended with the scores: Runanga 29, Blackball 2. Mr. T. Purnell was referee.

PIRATES BEAT NGAHERE Much improved form was shown by Pirate seniors in their match against Ngahere, at Wingham Park, and as a result they gained their first championship points for the season, emerging victors by 16 points to 9. after a keen and interesting game, which was witnessed by a good crowd of spectators. Pirates showed more coordination in all departments than previously, and stayed on better. Ngahere battled hard to gain the ascendancy, especially in the closing stages, but could not wipe out their deficiency, and Pirates came again in the last few moments to clinch victory. The teams were as follow: — Ngahere: Farmer, Weir, Hogg, Lester (2), Gibson (4). Symes, McGuire, Mulcare and Gilman. Pirates: Bullimore, Brown, Calder, Martyn, Chisholm, Debney. Stevens, Webber, Pearson, Fisher. Leach, Mundy and Jones.

Gaining the advantage of the wind, through winning the toss, Ngahere had the better of the opening exchanges, and on Pirates being penalised for not playing the ball correctly, Weir kicked a penalty Ngahere 2— Pirates nil. A splendid kick by Debney placed Pirates in an attacking position, and from a ruck near the line Calder secured and sent on to Martyn, who raced in under the posts, Stevens converting. Pirates 5 — Ngahere 2. Pirates again scored shortly after, as the result of fast following by Calder and Stevens, after a free kick, the last named scoring wide out. Stevens failed to add the extras. Pirates B—Ngahere8—Ngahere 2. Following a period of even play, in midfield, Calder and Martyn threatened the Ngahere line, but Gibson beat them in a race for the ball, and kicked over the dead ball line. A loose ruck followed the drop-out- and Martyn secured and short punted. Jones received and also kicked, allowing Fisher to race through fast and score. Stevens converted. Pirates 13—Ngahere 2. ■These reverses spurred Ngahere, and some good play was witnesses, Ngahere eventually being rewarded with a score, as the result of a bright passing movement, in which Weir, Farmer, Gilman and Lester figured, for the last named to score near the posts. Weir converted, making the half-time score: Pirates 13—Ngahere

Pirates attacked early in the second half, but lost ground gained when Stevens kicked too hard, allowing Lester to force. A brief sortie by Ngahere was followed by another determined Pirate attack, which was led by Calder. Both sides were unlucky not to score at this stage, play swinging rapidly from end to end. Eventually, however. Weir intercepted cleverly and sent on to Gibson. Gilman, Lester, Mulcare and Farmer, ‘who gained the whole length of the field. Pirates were penalised, and Weir secured the two points, with a good kick. Pirates 13 Ngahere 9. With Ngahere within striking distance, the game was at a very interesting stage, but the Pirate defence held, and just before time they put the issue beyound doubt, Martyn, Calder. Stevens, Debney and Bullimore all handling, for the last named to

score. Stevens failed to convert, and the game ended ■with the scores: Pirates 16 —Ngahere 9. MARIST DEFEAT BRUNNER. Marist seniors had little difficulty in defeating Brunner at Taylorville, yesterday, by 31 points to 12. Marist were superior in all departments, es-

pecially in the backs, the Marist rearguard with ample service from the scrums, turning on some bright movements. The Brunner thirteen rallied towards the close, and ran up 12 points, but. had no chance with the winners. Tries were scored for Marist by A. Behan, J. Behan (2), Walsh (2), Knapp, Williams, P. Beban and O’Connor, A. Beban converting two. Croft and Hogarth scored for Brunner, Lee converting both and also kicking a penalty goal. Mr J. Griffen was referee. JUNIOR GRADE. An exciting junior game was witnessed at Blackball, where the home team was defeated by Kumara by 15 points to 9. At time Kumara were leading by only one point, but before the ball went dead, they scored another try 2 and converted. For Kumara Dudley (2) and Parrish scored tries, Dudley. Parrish and Bell converting them. Mountford, Kells and Dillon scored unconverted tries for Blackball. ( Mr R. Nelson was referee. Playing at Wingham Park, Pirates Juniors were outclassed in all departments by the Runanga juniors, who ran up a tally of 35 points to nil. The Pirate team found the pace set by Runanga. too much for them. THIRD GRADE. Playing the curtain-raiser at Dunollie, Marist and Runanga third graders provided a splendid game, willing and even throughout. The Marist forwards played well, but met their match in the Runanga backs, who were always dangerous. Marist won by 6 points to 5, but on the run of the play they were more than a little lucky, as Runanga pressed hard in the concluding stages, while a penalty kick by Airns. just on time, hit the top of the cross-bar and bounced back infield. For Marist L. Beban and Zampese scored unconverted tries, and for Runanga Maskill scored and J. Airns kicked a penalty. Mr. G. Pope was referee. The Brunner-Pirates third grade game, set down for Wingham Park, did not t ' ’ —. ’’runner being unable to field a e....n, through illness among their players. IN OTHER CENTRES. CHRISTCHURCH, May 9. Addington 19, Linwood 3. Hornby 15, Sydenham 6. AUCKLAND, May 9. Manukau 14, Richmond 8. Marist 11, Newton nil. Devonport 10, Mount ( Albert 5. Ponsonby 16, City 10. , NAPIER, May 9. Clive 35, City 3. NEW PLYMOUTH, May 9. Western Suburbs 20, Rahotu 16. Inglewood 17, Eastern Suburbs 5. NORTHERN UNION. I [RY CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT, y LONDON, May 9. In the RugJjy League championship final, Hull defeated Widnes by 21 to 2. GRANDSTAND FIRE. SYDNEY, May 10. During a Rugby League match at the Sydney Cricket Ground yesterday, a fire started in one of the grandstands, where there were three thousand spectators, chiefly men, seated. The crowd showed no signs of panic, hut quietly moved away from the smoke to safety, and when the firemen arrived the crowd ironically cheered their everv action, especially when the chemical extinguisher refused to work. The damage was confined to a small area between the

floor of the stand and the ceiling of a liquor bar beneath. The fire was caused’, apparently, by a smouldering cigarette.