LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 April 1938, Page 5

LEAGUE FOOTBALL

RUNANGA AND BLACKBALL WIN The •. West Coast Rugby League opened its 1938 season on Sunday, under ideal conditions, with a series of competition matches in the principal grades. No new teams made their appearance, but. there were a number of new players in the various teams, all of which were at full strength. In the senior grade. Blackball and Runanga, who were on top last season, scored victories, at the expense of Ngahere and Blackball respectively, but the margin of points was not large. A feature of the junior grade was the closeness of the scores, in every case, and an exceptionally keen competition is indicated in this grade. RUNANGA v. MARIST For the first, of the season there were many bright movements in the Runanga v. Marist senior game, which was played before a. good crowd at the Runanga Domain, but they were confined chiefly to the first hour, both teams tiring in the concluding stages, with a resultant drop in the standard of the play. Territorially, the game was even, but Runanga finished off their work much better than Marist to emerge comfortable victors, by L> points to six. Possession of the ball from the scrums gave the Runanga attack more scope and with speedy three-quarters, they were quick to press home the advantage. Already a solid combination. Runanga. have been further strengthened by the inclusion of the former Inangahua. representative, N. Kiely, and they can be expected to do well this season. Although Marist playde well enough on the day, they did not impress as likely to make a great deal of improvement, unless new blood is introduced, both fore and aft. The teams were as follow: — Marist: Pollock, Devonport. E. O’Brien. A. Behan. Rochford. P. O'Brien Flopkins. Hutchinson. Grogan, Malone, Affleck, Pearson. Morel. Runanga: Speakman. Ci’owe. Kiely. Williams. Manderson. Airns. Kennedy, O’Connell, Kinsey. W, Glynq. Wright. McGirr, Brown.

Winning the toss, Runanga secured

the advantage of a strong sun. but. it was some time before play left midfield. rhe opening exchanges being teen and even. Marist wear close to scoring when the forwards carried the ball through at. their feet, but the opportunity was lost when Rochford ticked too hard. Following a. hot Rutianga attack, which was repulsed Jtrough Pollock taking a timely mark. Crowe picked up a loose ball on the Marist 25 and clapped on the pace to jross the line, practically unopposed, ’or an easy try, wide out. Speakman tailed to convert. Runanga 3 —Marist ail. A thrill was provided when Affleck Troke away on his own, from half way, mt Keily had too much pace, and raced across field to bring him down ten yards from the goal-line. Marist continued to press and a bout of good passing, in which Richford, P. O'Brien and Devonport figured saw the winger across in the corner, with O’Connell hanging on to him. Devonport’s kick tailed, thus evening the tally. O’Conlell gave away a try when he overtan the ball, with an open field in •Tont of him. but Kiely quickly made imends, the ball travelling along the line of backs to him. from a. scrum m the Marist 25. He employed a neat cut-in and scored under the posts. Speakman converted, making the halftime score. Runanga. B—Marist8 —Marist 3. Both teams opened the second half with some of the best, passing of the match, and Beban was pulled down by □ ’Connell a few feet from the line, after he had made a. trick run. Roch ford, who played a sound game liroughout, was prominent in defence 'for Marist and he upset a promising movement by Williams and Kiely. Following up his own kick, which Devonport failed to take cleanly, Speakman crossed the line, but was recalled for a knock on. For a long period play was even, neither side being able to finish off their movements, but following a sally by the Runanga forwards, W. Glynn secured possession about 15 yards out and battled his way over the Marist line, with several defenders holding on io him. Speakman made no mistake, with an easy Kick. Runanga 13 —Marist 3. Marist were unlucky when Beban sent Hopkins over, only io have the touch judge rule that. Beban had pur his foot into touch, before, transferring ’the ball. However, their turn came when Rochford jinked his way through, almost from half-way, to send Affleck over for a. good try. Devonport failed ; to convert, as full time was called, j with the scores. Runanga 13 —Marist 6.

Mr. C. Currie was referee. BLACKBALL 16, NGAHERE 3. w Under ideal conditions and before a good attendance of spectators, the football season was opened at Blackball on Sunday, when Blackball and Ngahere met on the Blackball Domain. Although Blackball won by a comfortable margin, the game was more even than the scores indicated, Ngahere making many fine individual efforts, but the combination of Blackball tested the Ngahere defence in the latter stages of .the game. For Blackball, Vincent played a fine game at halt-back, bis accurate., snappy passes giving the backs a big advantage over the opposition; Dodds, Mountford, R. Clark and Bruce also played well. For Ngahere. J. Weir was outstanding, being well supported by Gibson, Mulcare, Roberts and Blackmore. The teams were: —

Blackball: Mountford, W. Weir, HoWden. O’Donnell; Pascoq. Dodds, Vincent, Bruce. Neilson. Bailey, Clark, Driscoll, ClarkNgahere: Cooper, Mulcare. Gibson, Hogg, .1. Weir, Nolan, Balderstone, E. Blackmore, Lester, Roberts, Egan, P. Blackmore, Reyno 1 dsAfter Ngahere had the better of the opening exchanges, Blackball took up the offensive and Vincent opened the scores with a penalty goal. Blackball 2, Ngahere 0. After a brisk passing bout between Vincent and Dodds, R. Clark ran in for an easy try. Vincent failed with the kick. Blackball 5, Ngahere 0. Roberts broke up a Blackball attack and J. Weir beat several men and transferred to Gihson, who scored wide out. Weir’s kick went outside. Blackball 5, Ngahere 3. Mountford, the Blackball full-back, was responsible for a fine effort when ho high-kicked’ to the Ngahere fullback, who lost, possession and Mountford kicked through, picked the ball up, and ran in unopposed. Vincent missed an easy kick. Blackball 8, Ngahere 3. Bailey sent out. a long pass to W. Weir, and he crossed, the line, but ran over the 'dead-ball lin’e. Half-time s unded with the scores: Blackball 8, Ngahere 3. On resumption, Gibson broke away, but Mulcard was brought down hear

the line and Mountford cleared to midfield. Several Blackball players handled in a spectacular movement, but Ngahere forced down. Soon after, Vincent made a dash round the scrum for R. Clark to go over in the corner. Bailey converted with a line kick. Blackball 13, Ngahere 3. O’Donnell scored another try at. the end of a passing bout as the bell went, with the final score: Blackball 16. Ngahere Mr W. Allen was referee. JUNIOR GRADE Playing at Kumara, Marist juniors defeated Kumara. last season’s champions, by 11 points to 10. The game was fast and even, indicating the likelihood of some splendid football in this grade this season. Greaney was at the top of his form and kicked three penalties for Marist, also converting a try, scored by L. Beban. For Kumara C. Goad and McLean scored tries, Keating converting both. Mr. A, Fielding was referee. BRUNNER v. BLACKBALL

A close, hard game resulted at Taylorville, where Brunner juniors defeated Blackball by five points to three, after leading two-nil at half time. . For the winners. Meager scored a. try and Bernard kicked a penalty, while Mountford scored an uncon-1 verted try for Blackball, I Mr. S, Sijaith was referee. RAPAHOE v. RUNANGA. Another even game was played - at

( Rapahoe. where the home, junior team defeated Runanga by 24 points to 21, due largely to the superiority of their forwards. Tries were scored for the winners by Newton (3), Mundy, Hill and F. Pinn, three being converted. ' Higson (3), Clay (2). Crerar and Buchanan scored for Runanga. Mr. M. Hall was referee. ‘ FOURTH GRADE Although the lower grade competitions have not. yet commenced, a friendly fourth-grade fixture was played at Wingham Park, Marist defeating Runanga by 17 points to nil, ’ after an interesting game. ' Tried were scored for the' winners ' by J. Curnow. F. Kennedy. C., Curnow, K. Rea and F. Heveldt. W. Meates J converting one. ? Mr. B. Rathbun was referee. ? CHRISTCHURCH MATCHES 3 CHRISTCHURCH, April 23. Linwood 20, Rakaia 13; Addington 13, Waimairi 6; Svdenham 12, Hornby 8. '

DON MAX’S IMPRESSIONS. j -I IPEB PRESS ASSOCIATION.] I WELLINGTON. April 26. I Sheep are being soldi for threepence per head in the western districts of New South Wales, which are in a terrible state, owing to the prolonged drought, said Mr Don Max, of Nelson, ex-New Zealand Rugby representative, who returned by the Awatea, after :i tour of Australia with 44, New Zea- ! landers. ’ “The A’litile of the area, litis 1 dried right up,” he said, “and. many places ’ have hot had raiw for over seven months.” He was. greatly impressed 5 iby the Royal Sydney Easter Show. At ’ Canberra, he went through all the research plants, and/ considered them similar to the Cavvfhron' institute at Nfeisoh. Agricultural research, in paf- ' ticular, was undertaken fully. He was very piedsed to have met a number; of Rugby players- against Q whom he played, ih the past. They wdfe .greatly looking forward to the New Zealand team’s tour.

PORT OF LONDON. Mr T. R. Toomey, M.8.E., Australian and New Zealand representative on the Port of London Authority, arrived bv the Awatea, on a six weeks’ visit, to New Zealand, bis first visit in his present capacity. Formerly, he was principal assistant to the general manager. His headquarters will be at Sydney, and he will frequently visit the Dominion, keeping in contact

| with the principal ports and producjing centres. He says that he intends |to keep before the producers the advantages of London as a market and port, and the special facilities offered by the Port of Loiidon Authority’ for dealing with trade from New Zealand. and to supply, any information, required. INSECTS AND HARDWOOD. “ Dr. David Miller, of the Cawthron Institute, returned from Australia by the Awatea, where he has' been investigating the insect infestation of hardwoods in New South Wales, follbWing the discovery of this trouble in sleepers intended for the South Island main trunlc__railway.,,,