LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Greymouth Evening Star, 10 August 1936, Page 4

LEAGUE FOOTBALL

ENGLAND WINS TEST BY NARROW MARGIN. [PJEE PRESS ASSOCIATION.] AUCKLAND, August 8. In a hard, rugged game of Rugby League, England beat New Zealand at Carlaw Par.k to-day by 10 points to 8. England scored two tries and two pen•iltv "oals to New Zealand s three penidly goals a«l a Held goal. The weather was .dull though fine, and the attendance was 22,000. A feature of the match was the excellent showing of the home forwards, who overshadowed their opponents with the exception of scrummaging. New Zealand missed great opportunities through lack of finish The outstanding players for England were Jenkins (fly-half) and Belshaw (full-back). The work of both these players was tipped with brilliance. Pickerang played a great game for New Zealand in the foiwaids. Hemi disappointed at full-back, and was right off form in kicking. The teams were: — England: Belshaw; Hudson, Brogden, Risman, Edwards; Jenkins, Watkins; Armitt, Field, Miller, Woods, Hodgson, Troup. New Zealand: Hemi; Brown, Tittleton, Scott, Trevathan, Kay; Powell; McNeight, Glynn, Calder, Cootes, Pickrang, Watene. New Zealand was first to attack, Brown starting a clever movement. Although Powell went over he was called back for a forward pass. New Zealand continued to attack and, aided by penalties, kept the visitors penned in the twenty-five. Excellent reverse passing beat the defence, Brown being pushed out on the corner flag. Neither side could claim much advantage, but Belshaw three times cleverly extricated his side from trouble. Although gaining possession from the scrums, the English backs indulged in a good deal of kicking. Hemi had some chances at penalty goals, but he was right off form. Jenkirfe made two brilliant efforts to get over and missed both times by inches. Just before halftime New Zealand lost a ceitain try. Brogden scored tor England, but the try was disallowed because of obstruction at the start of the movement. Watene opened the scoring with a fine penalty goal. Play was hard and rugged without much of a spectacular nature and at half-time New Zealand led by 2 points to nil. England attacked strongly on resuming, but was penalised for obstruction tactics. The visitors were now bringing all the tricks in their locker into play, but New Zealand continued to defend valiantly. England was at last rewarded by a brilliant try by Edwards from a movement initiated by Jenkins. Risman failed with the kick at a wide angle. New Zealand attacked strongly and again only lack of finish saved England’s line. There was great excitement when Watene placed New Zealand ahead with another fine penalty goal. The deficit was immediately wiped off when Hodgson landed a better one. England was not wearing New Zealand down, and Jenkins again flashed into the picture with a brilliant cut through. He left the defence standing. Hodgson missed an easy kick. The New Zealand forwards came away in a good rush, and Watene added another penalty goal. Hodgson again retaliated with a magnificent goal. On time, Trevathan kicked a neat field goal, making the final score: England 10, New Zealand 8.

HUNTLY MATCH

AUCKLAND, August 8

Sitting in committee, the council of the New Zealand Rugby League dealt with the referee’s report of the ordering off of Hodgson, a member of the English touring team, at Huntly on Thursday, and decided to reprimand the player. The council also resolved to ask the referee, Mr. A. Harlock, for an explanation of a statement he made to a newspaper representative about the incident.

Mr. E. D. Stall worthy, the Council’s representative on the southern tour, congratualted the English managers on the exemplary bearing of the English team, which he said contained very fine young men who had been everything expected of internationals. High opinions had been formed everywhere they had played, for their conduct as well as their play. He deplored that the referee, before reporting to the council, had broken the rule forbidding interviews with newspapers. Other members of the council endorsed Mr. Stallworthy’s remarks. IN OTHER CENTRES CHRISTCHURCH, August 8. Linwood 26, Addington 22. WELLINGTON. August 8. St. George 34, Hutt 12; Petone .17, Central 13.

NAPIER, August 8 Te Ngaire Petane 32, City 2.

KNOCK-OUT FINAL.

WON BY MARIST

Blackball failed to mar the unbeaten record of the Marist senior team this season, in the Knock-Out Cup final at Wingham Park yesterday, the championship winners having another comfortable win by 19 points to 5. Conditions were again unfavourable for play, a heavy shower falling during the game, and the ground being wet and slippery. Some of the players, too, showed signs of their fortnight's holiday and as a result, the game fell short of expectations, especially as Marist established an early ten-point lead which placed Blackball under a big handicap. As well as the KnockOut premiership, the result gives Marist the right to defend the Thacker Shield, against Waratah (Inangahua) and, if they are successful, Hornby (Christchurch),

MARIST BEAT BLACKBALL. The play in the Marist-Blackball game at Wingham Park yesterday was below the standard expected from a final so late in the season, but for this the state of the ground and the ball was largely responsible. There were occasional bright flashes, and the forward play throughout Avas hard, with the lighter Blackball pack doing exceptionally well, but the wet, slippy ground and the greasy ball dictated that it should be primarily a dour, somewhat scraggy tussle. Before the ball became too wet to handle, Marist turned on some bright football and ran up ten points quickly, but af-

ter that they failed to get into then stride, and were hard pressed m the second half by the vigorous P la Y the Blackball vanguard, although thej managed to win easily enough by 1J points to 5. J. Devpnport played another splendid game toi Manst and it was the two fine tries which he scoied for them in the first few minutes which placed them in a commanding position throughout. The Marist pack, although thev had a eteight advantage, did not show up. and had the Blackall backs been half as effective as thenvanguard the result would most probably have been different. Good hooking by Martin gave Blackball a lion’s share of the ball, but the backs were standing flat-footed when they received, and consequently failed to gain ground. In the second half the Blackball backs gave up trying to pass the greasy ball, and in tight play kept the winners busy, until the closing stages, when Marist turned on their characteristic finishing dash. Considering the weather, there was a good crowd present. The teams were as follow: — Blackball: C. Mountford: J. Clark. F. Pascoe. J. O’Donnell; G. Ware. W. Ritchie: AV. McNaughton; S. Perrin. G. Martin, G. McMahon, M. Meadowcroft, J. Anderson. H. Ritchie. Marist: R. Pollock; J. Devonport. J. Roberts, A. Beban; E. O’Brien, T. O’Connor; B. Casey; G. Scott, R. A\ illiams. W. Seguin. J. Walsh, T. Anisy. J. Beban. Marist, who won the toss, opening with a snappy passing rush. J. Beban. Pollock and O’Brien handling, but the movement broke down when the lastnamed cut-in and was left unsupported. O’Connor gave O’Brien possession and he disorganised the defence with another neat cut-in and sent Devonport over for a good try in the corner. Roberts converted with a beautiful kick almost from the side line. Marist 5, Blackball nil. A Blackball attack. led by McNaughton and AV. Ritchie. was short-lived and a bright passing movement by Scott. AVilliams, AValsh and Devonport. initiated on half-way saw the winger race away, to score his second try. under the posts. Roberts again converted. Marist 10. Blackball nil. The Blackball forwards worked their way to the Marist line and H. Ritchie almost got over, but they lost their chance when they were penalised for not playing the’ball. Play remained in the Marist territory, and Blackball were twice unlucky not to open their account, especially when AV. Ritchie landed a cross • penalty kick right under the posts. AValsh and Roberts carried play to the , other end in a dribbling rush, but then threw away an excellent opportunity by kicking too hard. Just before halftime, Blackball again had Marist de- • fending hard, and when the greens were penalised for not playing the ' ball, on their own 25, AV. Ritchie opened Blackballs account with a penalty kick, the half-time score being: Marist ■ 10, Blackball 2. The opening stages of the second ■ half saw the Blackball forwards de- > finitelv on top but the Marist defence . held. Pascoe twice being pushed out in the corner. Eventually Marist were penalised almost in front of their own • goal posts, but AV. Ritchie’s kick hit the upright and glanced off. Follow- ! ing the sustained Blackball attack, Marist took a turn, and from a scrum : on the Blackball line the ball rolled 1 out the side and O’Connor picked up 1 smartly to dive ovei in the corner. ■ Roberts failed to convert. Marist 18. i Blackball 2. AV. Ritchie broke through in a spectacular dash, but when he was , left unsupported he kicked, and was • beaten for the ball. O’Connor secur- : ed almost at half-way. and sent Devonport racing up the line, to out-pace the defenders and score wide out. ' Roberts failed to convert. Marist 16, Blackball 2. Following a period of ’ scraggy play, Blackball worked their way to the Marist line, and when the defenders were penalised on their line, AV. Ritchie tricked them with a short punt, to go over close in. The • scorer failed to convert. Marist 16, Blackball 5. The final try was gained by Marist, Roberts, A. Beban and O’Brien taking play to the Blackball line, where, from a scrum, Seguin secured and dived over well out. Rob- ' erts again failed to add the extras, and the game ended with the scores, Marist ID, Blackball 5. Mr. Stan Smith was referee.

NGAHERE BEAT PIRATES. Pirate seniors sent a depleted team to Ngahere yesterday, for the Bradshaw Cup match, and as a result they met defeat by 20 points to 11, although the game was even and interesting until the closing stages. The score 'at half-time was 8 all. but Ngahere finished on better and deserved their victory. Tries were scored for the winners by T. Gibson, B. Hill, J. Gibson, Mulcare and J. Weir (2), Weir converting one. For Pirates tries were scored by Fisher, McKenzie and Stewart, McKenzie converting one. Mr. H. Neilson was referee. RUNANGA SENIORS WIN. In the other Bradshaw Cup match, at Brunner, Runanga seniors played well to defeat Brunner by 23 points to 8. after an interesting game. Tries were scored for Runanga by O’Connell (2), J. Glynn and Masters, Currie converting three and Mossop one. Brunner’s points came from two tries, and one conversion. Mr. F. Bernard was referee. JUNIOD GRADE. An even game was played in the junior grade at Dunollie, where Runanga met defeat at the hands of Kumara, by 12 points to, 8. Tries were scored for Kumara by Gilbert (3), and, Keating, none being converted. Kinsey and Sherman scored for Runanga, Mossop converting one. Playing at Barrytown, Marist juniors defeated the home team by 14 points to 3, after an interesting game. Tries were scored for Marist by O’Brien (2). Knapp and Power. Grogan converting one. A try by Dunn produced Parrytown’s only points.

FOURTH GRADE. With only half a team, Marist fourth graders put up a splendid performance, to go down to Runanga by only one point, 14 to 13, at Wingham Park, yesterday. Despite their big handicap, the half-dozen Marist boys saw out the two half-hour spells admirably, Runanga winning only in the closing stages, and their action should be an example to their team-mates who did not turn out. For Runanga, Airns and Maskill each scored two tries Maskill converting one, while for Marist G. McGirr, Dwyer and L. Beban scored, D. McGirr converting two. Mr. J. Griffen was referee.

SIXTH GRADE. At Blackball, on Saturday, Marist sixth graders defeated the homo team by 12 points to 8, after a splendid game. Unconverted tries were scored for Marist by Mcßride. Power, Harris and O’Farrell, while Nuttall and Phil-

lips scored for Blackball, the lastnamed converting his own try. Mr. J. Dodds was referee. GAMES NOT PLAYED. There were no games played in the third grade division, Pirate third graders failing to put in an appear-; ance at Dunollie to play Runapga, apd Brunner thirds failing to fulfil their fixture with Marist, at Brunner,