RUGBY FOOTBALL

Greymouth Evening Star, 19 April 1937, Page 9

RUGBY FOOTBALL

NEW SEASON OPENS,

UNITED DEFEAT EXCELSIORS. The West Coast Rugby Union’s 1937 season opened on Saturday in perfect weather, marred only to a minor degree by a strong easterly wind. Rugby Park, with a good carpet of turf, was in better order than ever before, and there was a large atendance. The principal attraction at the Park, the match between Excelsiors, last year's champions, and United, provided good football, and interested the spectators to the final whistle, which found United winners by 14 points to 13. In the other senior match at the Park, Stars, who have had lean times of late, opened, well, with a decisive victory, by 14 points to 6, over Blakctown, who were runners-up to Excelsiors last season. In the other senior grade matches, Ross outclassed Celtic, Kumara were no match for Cobden, and Kiwis easily defeated Pirates. The standard of football, generally, was good, auguring well for a successful season. The Cobden Club had a field day, fielding three tbams, for three victories. Results: — SENIQR GRADE. United 14, Excelsiors 13. Stars 14, Blaketown 6. Cobden 35, Kumara 3. Ross 22, Celtic 11. Kiwis 20, Pirates 6. JUNIOR GRADE. Te Kinga 18, Stars 5. Blaketown 9, Celtic nil. Cobden 11, United nil. THIRD GRADE. Blaketown 12, Technical 3. Celtic 18, United nil. Cobden 20, Star 3. UNITED 14. EXCELSIORS 13. The principal attraction at Rugby Park between United and Excelsiors seniors provided a hard, interesting game, enlivened on occasions by bright movements among the United backs, and both teams played good first-of-the-season football. United Avon by 14 points to 13, and Avon on their merits. The teams were: —

Excelsiors (red and black): S. Fleming; A. Stollery, G. Johnston, P. Muir; A. Adamson, M. Gardiner; M. Gardiner; M. Davidson; Marsh; A. Tainui; R. R. King (captain), Fowler, McCarthy; Wallace, A. Turley, Parker. United (blue and Avhite): G. Gilbert (captain); E. Kibble, J. Polson, D. Caldwell; S. Hendry, J. Costello; W. Vincent; N. Adams, L. Daly; W. Blair, A. Glen, Rose; Hopkinson, A. Ironside, H. Grooby. Referee: Mr. N. Eggleton. United Avon the toss and played Avith the advantage of the strong easterly Avind. In the first ten minutes, Gilbert put United ahead Avith a nice penalty goal from the ’25. Soon afterAvards, from a scrum outside the Excelsior 25, Vincent sent his backs aAvay on the right flank. Moving smartly with some snappy passing, they had an extra man to the good when Polson dreAv Muir, to send CaldAvell over for a good try 15 yards in from the corner. Gilbert kicked a fine goal against the cross-Avind. United 8, Excelsiors nil. After half an hour’s play, Excelsiors scored their first points, after they had hammered away on the United line for several minutes. Turley Looked the ball cleanly, and Davidson made a determined dive round the side of the scrum to score a fine try near the posts. He added the extras, making the score: United 8, Excelsiors 5.

United scored again before the interval, Hendry opening up play nicely in mid-field, and he sent Kibble aAvay for the young Avinger to race 30 yards and score a good try near the corner, outpacing the opposition. Gilbert hit the upright Avith a fine kick. United 11, Excelsiors 5. Excelsiors, with the advantage of the Avind, and getting the ball frequently from the set scrums and lineouts, Avere expected to do Avell in the secoiid spell, but they failed to turn their opportunities to account. Their backs made no headway against the defence of the United rearguard. United were first to open their account after the interval, Vincent sending CaldAvell aAvay on the blind side, for the Avinger to break through a tackle and score a good try near the corner. Gilbert missed the kick. United 14, Excelsiors 5.

Excelsiors had a turn on attack for the- next ten minutes or so, and pressed United hard, using up-and-undcr to advantage. Ultimately Davidson secured from a-scrum near the line and whipped out to Muir on the blind side, for the Avinger to land a smart try. Davidson missed the kick. United 14, Excelsiors 8.

Polson and Blair both retired injured for a time, but returned later, both limping. The last points of the day were scored by Excelsiors, avlio had the better of the later stages. Davidson secured from a scrum, and sent on to King, who had taken a place Avith the backs, and he sent on to Adamson, for the five-eighth to fool the opposition badly, and score a fine try fairly well out. Davidson gnaled. making the final scores: United 11. Excelsiors 13.

United fielded a young sei ol forAvards, Avho Avorkcd vigorously throughout, and their backs impressed as a fine scoring machine, I heir movements being marked by speed and snap. Excelsior backs failed to function as a. combination, but the forwards. led by King, played splendidly, and bad more finish thati their opponents.

STARS 11, BLAKETOWN <’>

Star Seniors defeated BlaketoAvn on the No. 2 ground at. the Park by 11 points to G. Neither side gave a finished exhibition, but play was hard, and fairly fast throughout, with Stars always in the ascendant. The teams wore: —

Star (amber and black): A. Murphy; W. Mann, .I. Noonan, 11. Mathieson; A. Aiderton, M. Connelly: D. Innes; Patterson, W. Hynes, J. O'Hara. T. Learmont, .1, Hammond, B. Stuart, 11. Bailey, (1. Long. Blakctown (black): V. Mcllerron; B, Olsen, L. Pcdrotti. i''urncss: D. Baleman, E. MillO ; W. Miiichin: Uli'.p--hcr-.1, M. Olsen, Daly. H. Gcc-tt. Ilorrack, Bruhn, A. c'caudrri t; d. Hogarth. Stars were first to open the scoring, Bailey scoring fairly well out from a forward rush. Mann failed to goal. There was no further score in

the first spell. Early on the second spell, the Star bucks, who give promise of developing into a reliable combination, began a good movement, and Connolly made an opening for Noonan to go in under the posts. Mann converted. Stars 8, Blaketown nil. ' Soon afterwards, Mathicson scored a good try avcll out after a strong run. Bailey missed the kick. Star 11, Blaketown nil.

Blaketown, for the next quarter of an hour, bucked up considerably, and looked to have a chance, when they added tA\’o tries in fairly quick succession. Scott and then Bruhn scored tries for Blaketown, following forward rushes, Minchin missing both kicks. Blaketown 11, Stars 6. BlaketoAvn failed to maintain their run, hoAvcver, and towards the close Stuart added another try for the amber and blacks. Bailey missed the kick. Final score: Stars 14, BlaketoAvn G. Mr. AV. McLaughlin was referee. KIWIS 20, PIRATES G. r Outplaying Pirates in the second spell, after the half-time scores had been even, Kiwis seniors easily defeated Pirates before a good attendance at Cass Square, by 20 points to 6. KiAvis backs played with speed and combination in the second spell, and the Pirates backs Avere found wanting. KiAvis backs were supplied Avith plenty of the ball from the scrums. C. Wilson, a wing three-quarter, was outstanding in the Kiwis backs, scoring three tries, while Cooper, Roberts and F. West scored the remainder. Roberts connected one try. Davidson and Brown scored unconverted tries for Pirates. ROSS 22, CELTIC 11 Tavo new senior teams, Ross and Celtic met at Ross, the home team winning easily by 22 points to 11. The Avinners were superior in all departments, and though Celtic did not have their best team in the field, Ross played Avell enough to suggest that they Avill develop into a good side. Ross led by eight points to nil, at half time, and were never seriously endangered. COEDEN 35, KUMARA 3. /After leading only nine—nil at the interval, Cobden’s superior football and fitness Avon them an easy victory by 35 points to 3, over Kumara at Kumara. The home team did fairly Avell in the first spell, but the hard pace found them out. Scorers for Cobden Avere: Kirkwood (4), Allsopp, Collins and Vaughan. Vaughan and D. Eggletou connected one try each. A. Lindbom converted tAvo and kicked a. penalty goal, and Kirkwood also kicked a penalty goal. G. Ryan kicked a penalty goal for Kumara. Mr. C. 11. Hoskin Avas referee.

JUNIOR GRADE.

BLAKETOWN DEFEAT CELTIC.

BlaketoAvn juniors defeated Celtic on the No. 1 ground at the Park, by nine points to nil. The Celtic team Avas Aveak, and included six third graders. F. Foster and E. Preston scored unconverted tries for the winners, and F. Goodall kicked a penalty goal. Mr. F. Adams Avas referee.

TE KINGA DEFEAT STARS.

To Kinga, iicav entrants 1 in the junior competition had l a comfortable victory over 'Stars at Te Kinga, Avinning by 18 points to 5. Te Kinga led only three-nil at half-time, but rattled on 15 points in the second spell. Mr D. Jarvis v.-as referee.

COBDEN DEFEAT UNITED. Playing at Cobden Domain, Cobden juniors defeated United in a hard game by 11 points to nil. I. MacMillan, C. Hector, and M. Nesbitt scored tries for the Avinners, Clarke converting one. Mr M. R. Bunt Avas referee. AT HOKITIKA. Junior matches at Hokitika resulted: Arahulra 17,' ixiAvis 3; Kokatahi 11, Excelsiors nil. THIRD GRADE. CELTIC DEFEAT UNITED On the No. 2 ground at Rugby Park, Celtic third graders easily defeated United thirds by 18 points to nil. Scorers for Celtic Avere:— T. McGuire (2), D. Shuker, L. SAveetman, M. Curtis and J. Taylor, none of the tries being converted. Mr. W. F. Ellis avus referee. BLAKETOWN DEFEAT TECH. Blaketown thirds defeated Technical on the No. 2 ground at the Park by 12 points to 3. Blaketown were the heavier team, but the School fifteen provided stout opposition in a good game. Malhieson (2), D. Watson and R. Bennett, scored unconverted tries for Blaketown, and R. Parry scored for Technical. Mr. W. Raplcy avus referee. COBDEN DEFEAT STAR. In the early match at. Cobden Domain. Cobden thirds defeated Stars by 2i) points to 3. Mr H. Longstaff avus referee. BULGER RESULTS. Rugby matches played in the Buller district at the Aveek-end resulted: — Senior —Old Boys 29, Rovers (Grandy I 13. at Westport; Tiroroa 20, StockUm-Ngakawau t>, nt Westport: Wcslport 41, Mokiliinui 0, at Mokihi-

Junior—Old Boys 2G, Pirates 8, at Denniston; Rangers t>, Star 3, at West-

port . Third grade—-Old Boys 6, Pirates 0, at Denniston; Granity High School G, Star 3, al Westport.

PLAYERS INJURED. Whilu playing in a third grade Rugby mutch at Denniston yesterday, Thomas 'Muir, aged 17, a member of ;im Denniston P.ru.te team, suliered a i.ickci! left arm. He was admitted to ijie Buller Hospital, where his condilion was reported to be satisfactory. Neighbours, a member of the Westport Club's senior fifteen, suffered a broken collarbone, when playing in a match against Mokihinui, at Mokib.’nui yesterday. Allan, of the Mokiltiimi team, had t" retir I '. wh'm he received injuries to |ij.; i>jii JT'mi a henry kick. IN 01 HER CENTRES WELLINGTON. April 12. Athletic I), ’Wellington C: Wellington College Old Bovs I’7. Hutt 6: Mar-

ist Brothers Old Boys 13, Petonc 6; Poncke 17, Eastbourne 0. DUNEDIN, April 18.

Kaikorai G, Pirates 3; Southern 12. Ziugari it; University A 39, Taieri 14; Union 9, Alhambra 9; Dunedin 20, University B 5. CHRISTCHURCH, April 18.

Sunnyside 25, Christchurch 5. University 10, Ohl Boys 8. Linwood 21, Albion 20. Sydenham 6, Athletic 6. iMcrivale JO, Technical Old Boys 19.