RUGBY FOOTBALL

Greymouth Evening Star, 4 July 1938, Page 9

RUGBY FOOTBALL

district competitions. . COBDEN AND KIWIS LEVEL. In heavy rain and wind, the West Coast Rugby Union’s competition matches were played on Saturday, and as a result of matches in the senior grade, Cobden drew level with Kiwis at the head of the competition. Only one senior match was played at Rugby Park, where Stars defeated Blaketown by live points to nil. The ground conditions at Rugby Park were bad, and the game was confined almost wholly to the forwards. At Victoria Park, United played a draw with Kiwis, hitherto leaders in the competition, and Cobden defeated Celtic. The ground's at Victoria Park were heavy, but generally in good order. A high wind and heavy rain made conditions most unpleasant. At Hokitika, Excelsiors defeated Pirates. A disappointing feature of the day was that two junior matches were won by default. Results: — Senior: Kiwis 3, United 3. Cobden 10, Celtic 3Stars 5, Blaketown 0. Excelsiors 11, Pirates 3. Junior: Cobden won by default from Celtic. Magpies won by default from Blaketown. Kumara 13, Stars 3. Te Kinga 14, Kotuku G. Third Grade: Blaketown 9, Celtic 6. United 8, Cobden 0. KIWIS HELD TO DRAW.

On the No. 1 ground at Victoria Park, United Seniors held the leaders Kiwis, to a drawn game, three points all. The Kiwi backs, without R. Roberts, who was injured in the West Coast—Buller match, were far from effective. Their forwards played splendidly, especially in the second spell, and with Davidson, F. West, and Stapleton in the backs were mainly responsible for the team’s showing. United played a line game, and may have been a. little unlucky, to lose, considering the territorial advantage they had in the first spell, when the cross-wind was in favour of their opponents. Costello, Williams, and Ellis were the best United backs, but Cox, the regular half-back, was missed. Attewell, who substituted for him, was not a success. Glen, Blair, and Browning were the best United forwards. Moon was not playing owing to illness.

Kiwis drew a slight advantage from a cross wind in the first spell, but failed to take advantage of this. The United pack settled down first, and on three occasions were unlucky not to score, Kiwis’ defenders beating them to the ball when tries looked probable. Once, Davidson made a spectacular save when lie received the ball well oxer his own line, and dashed away, tc clear near half-way, beating the opposition badly. Diedrich led the Kiwis forward well into -the United quarter on one occasion, bad' handling letting them through, but Ellis cleared with a tine run of about 40 yards, only for Atewell to drop his pass when there was a chance of scoring. Glen and Browning both went close to scoring for United, but at half time neither side had scored. Kiwis endeavoured to use their backs a good deal, but the state of the ball and good tackling by Costello. Ellis and Garde upset them.

In the second spell, of which Kiwis had a little the better, M. Davidson Kicked a penalty goal for Kiwis, and I hey looked like holding this lead until in the last minute, P. Sinclair scored for United, after a good forward rush in which Glen, Blair and Rathbun also figured. Ellis failed to goal, and the final whistle sounded. Scores: Kiwis 3, United 3. Mr C. W. Cockburn was referee.

COBDEN OUTSTAY CELTIC. ] Tiie ruggedness of the Cobden forwards won tij.e match for their team against Celtic by 10 points (one. try, ’ a penalty goal and a field goal) to three (a penalty goal) on the No. 2 ground at Victoria Park. it was a hard, even struggle, with the packs on both sides playing splendid games, and the backs a negligible part, as far ' as attack was concerned. Cobden . played with the wind in the first spell, and when they led only 4—o when they changed over, Celtic looked to b.ave a royal chance, but the Cobden forward's played too well for them. A. Lindbom and L. Williams were the best of the Cobden backs, and Lynch and McGinley of the Celtic rearguard. Kirkwood, A. King and Manning were the pick of the good Cobden pack, and O’Connell, Leahy and Dudley of the Celtic forwards. Within the first five minutes, a good kick by Lindbom took play well into Celtic territory, and E. Collins potted a neat goal to give Cobden first points. The Celtic forwards playing with great d'ash frequently took their side out of trouble, and gave Cobden many anxious moments. The Cobden hacks kicked a good deal in an endeavour to u,se the wind, but Lynch was in his best form at full back for Celtic, and handled and kicked splendidly. The Cobden backs close to the scrum "were not at their best, and usually ran too far with the ball. Half-time score: Cobden 4, Celtic 0. Playing so splendidly against the strong wind in the first spell, Celtic were expected to make a bold bid for victory in the second, but though they battled hard, they fell away in the later stages. Then’ backs were disappointing. Cobden repeated their first spell performance, when they went further ahead with a good try by Watkins five minutes after the start. A. Lindbom missed the kick from near the side line. Cobden 7, Celtic 0. Celtic fought hard, and several times looked' like scoring, but the sound Cobden tackling, and their robust forward play was too much for the greens. A penalty to Celtic saw Lynch kick an easy goal, but before the close Lindbom kicked a fine penalty goal for Cobden, who thus won by 10 points to three. Mr W. Rapley was refereee. STARS DEFEAT BLAKETOWN On the No. 2 ground at Rugby Park, Star Seniors defeated Blaketown by five points to nil, a try by Bowes, converted by Martyn with a fine kick from well out, early in the game. In the bad conditions the game was conI fined to the forwards, and the Blake- ‘ town pack held their opponents well.

Bowes was the best Star forward, and Pascoe and Olson were the pick of the Blaketown pack. EXCELSIONS 11, PIRATES 3. Both Excelsiors and Pirates were two men short for their match at Cass Square on Saturday. Excelsiors were too good for their opponents in the forwards, and this turned the fortunes of the game, in the deplorable conditions, Excelsiors winning by 11 points to three. Mclntyre and Pfahlert were the pick of the Pirates backs, and Ritchie, and Parker stood out in the forwards. McCarthy, and Keys were always prominent in the winners’ pack, and Tainui and Fleming were the best backs. Excelsiors led 11 —0 at half time. Wallace scored a try. and Tainui kicked two penalty goals and converted the try. In the second spell,Pirates scored a try after Mclntyre and Pfahlert had traversed nearly the length of the field exchanging passes. JUNIOR GRADE. TWO DEFAULTS. Blaketown and Celtic Juniors defaulted to Magpies and Cobden respectively. Kumara easily defeated Star Juniors at Kumara by 19 points to three. Mr. W. McLaughlin was referee. Te Kinga Juniors defeated Kotuku, at Kotuku by 14 points to six. THIRD GRADE. Playing at Cobden,. Blaketown Thirds defeated Celtic by nine points to six. Lowry, Panther and Willis scored tries for the winners. For Celtic, G. Kennedy scored a try, and dropkicked a fine goal from a penalty, 35 yards out. Mr S. West was referee. United third graders defeated Cobden by eight points to nil. HIGH SCHOOLS’ MATCHES Playing at Hokitika on Saturday morning, two teams from the Greymouth Technical High School defeated teams from the Hokitika District High School. The scores were: First fifteens, Grey six, Hokitika nil; second fifteens, Grey five, Hokitika three. GREY REPRESENTATIVES The selector, Mr. J. Steel, has chosen the following team to represent Greymouth against South Westland on Sunday next at Hari Hari: — Full-back: M. Lynch (Celtic). Three-quarters: A. Vaughan (Cobden), W. Mann (Star), L. Wilson (Star). Five-eighths: D. Eggleton (Cobden), D. Ellis (United). Half-back: L. Williams (Cobden). Forwards: A. Bowes (Star), M. Olsen (Blaketown), R. Kirkwood (Cobden); A. Glen (United), P. Pascoe (Blaketown), H. Dowling (Star), C. Dudley (Celtic); M. Connolly (Star). Emergencies: J. Costello (United), buck; J. O’Connell (Celtic), forward. J. Hammond originally chosen as a forward is not available for the match. Dowling takes his place in the scrum, and O’Connell has been added as emergency forward.

MAORI NOMINATIONS. 1 1 Mr. R. Webb, West Coast Maori sei- < ector, nominated the following West Coast Maoris for inclusion in the trial 1 match at Oam'aru on July 9 for selec- \ tion of the South Island Maori team: t Five-eighths, R. Vincent, H. Tu’iiru, j and D. Tainui; halLback, H. Tainui; ] full-back, T. Beard; forwards, A. Tai- j nui, and J. Parker. t MASON FOR FIJI. It was decided at a meeting of the Buller Rugby Union, on Saturday evening, that the Maori Rugby Advisory j Board be advised that this union nom- } inates G. Mason for selection in the Maori team to tour Fiji, but to state j that he would be unable to take part in the trial match to be played on July 9, at Oamaru. g 1 c AUCKLAND V. TARANAKI. j AUCKLAND, July 3. 1 The inter-provincial Rugby match between Auckland and Taranaki was j won by Auckland by 16 points to 9. A Although Taranaki led at the inter- , val by 6 points to 5, mainly through the efforts of its back line, Auckland’s forwards were the deciding factor in the second spell. Auckland was without the services of its regular three-quarter line, Prentice . having ( contracted measles and 1 the wing nien D. Martin and the All Black, J. Dick, being abs'ent with influenza. The side gave a surprisingly good display under tho circumstances. The new line comprised Killeen at centre and 1< lett and Ramsay on the wings. The attendance at Eden Park was the largest this season. Taranaki opened the scoring two minutes after the kick-off, Meuli kicking a beautiful penalty goal from a difficult position. Eight minutes later Auckland took the lead, when A. Brown broke away, after Cooney had received from the scrum. McLean converted. Auckland 5, Taranaki 3. Auckland looked like scoring on one or two occasions, but goodi defensive work on the part of the Taranaki backs kept the opposition at bay. After Taranaki had turned its defence into attack, C. McLean, a visiting forward. scored well out. There was no further score when half-time came. Taranaki leading by one point. The game up to this stage was fast and open, but after the recommencement play was confined, mostly to the forwards. Sullivan, the All Black five-eighths, shone for the first time in the match, when, two, minutes after the interval, he made a brilliant dash from midiway, and touched down in the corner. The kick failed. Taranaki 9, Auckland 5. Less than five minutes later Pearman short-kicked from a scrum, and. Brady carried on a movement to cross the line with the ball at his feet and score near the posts. McLean easily converted. Auckland 10, Taranaki 9. With Auckland hooking consistentIv, the home side held most of the 1 ground. McLean then kicked a. penalty goal for Auckland, making the score 13-9 in favour of the home side. Taranaki looked dangerous, but Auckland’s defence, thanks to the ac--1 curate kicking of Solomon at full- ■ back, was sound. There was no additional score until five minutes before ' the final whistle, when Cartoon broke from tho ruck and. grassed the ball, making the score 16-9. Shortly afterwards Johns, tire Taranaki full-back, missed a penalty , shot at goal, and the game ended with r the score unchanged. Auckland’s back line was; not seen c in action as much as it mig— t - iavs 1 been because of faulty passing tiom - the base of the strum by Cooney. - Pearman, however, at five-eighths, ■ was brilliantly incisive, and Brady

gave good support. Killeen mishandled on occasions. McLean, Hull, Pepper, and A. Brown were the best of Auckland’s forwards. Arnold played a good game at halfback for Taranaki, and Meuli, on the wing, was very safe, his kicking and tackling being sure. Johns, as the last line of defence, played well. The best of the Taranaki forwards were Richards, C. McLean, Benton, Coull and 1 Fowler. IN OTHER CENTRES. WELLINGTON, July 2. Poneke 13, Eastbourne 10; Athletic 13 Marist Brothers Old Boys 6; Petone 18, St. Patrick’s Old Boys 6; Wellington 26, Johnsonville 9; Wellington College Old Boys 6, Hutt 5. DUNEDIN, July 2. Because of wet grounds the only sports played were the three principal Rugby matches. Results:— Southern 12, University A 3; Taieri 12, Kaikorai 8; Pirates 18, ZingariRichmond 18. CHRISTCHURCH, July 2. Linwood 3, Sunnyside 3; Air Force 15. University 6; Sydenham 11, Merivale 6; Albion 14, Christchurch 0; Technical 15, Old Boys 3. BRITISH TEAM. WINS. CAPETOWN, July 2. A message from Bloemfontein states that the British Rugby football team beat the Orange Free State by 21 points to 6.