LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Greymouth Evening Star, 5 September 1938, Page 11

LEAGUE FOOTBALL

BLACKBALL’S EASY WIN Only three Rugby League games were played yesterday, the remainder of the fixtures being cancelled, owing to the death of Mrs. M. Glynn, mother of Messrs W. and R. Glynn, of the Runanga senior team. Playing under ideal conditions at Blackball, the home senior team made sure of its victory in the Bradshaw Cup competition by an easy win over Ngahere, although the game was not as one-sided as the score would indicate.

With a bright, open display Blackball clinched their claim for the Bradshaw Cup when they defeated Ngahere at Blackball yesterday. The ground was hard and fast and the large crowd of spectators were treated to some excellent football which was not confined to Blackball as Ngahere, after facing a deficit of 19 points in the first 30 minutes, scored three excellent tries before the interval, when they were only four points down. After holding their own in the early stages of the second spell, they were unlucky to lose their captain J. Weir, who was forced to retire with an injured knee, and Blackball had all the best of the play until the end. The teams were: Blackball: Mountford, O’Donnell, Vincent, Kirk, Pascoe, Dodds, McNaughton, Driscoll, Clark (3), Bruce, Becker.

Ngahere: Hogg, Parnell, Dalzell, Lester, Gibson, Weir, Balderstone, Hill, Hahn, Tuck, Donald (2), Gibson.

From the kick off Ngahere went to the Blackball 25 where Gibson cut in, but was tackled and Mountford went to half-way. Passing among the Blackball backs sent play to Ngahere territory and Dodds, receiving from a scrum, cut the Ngahere backs out and R. Clark went over under the posts. Vincent converted. Blackball 5 — Ngahere 0. After a period of play at halfway, the Blackball forwards sent the ball to McNaughton, to Vincent and O’Donnell went over in the corner. Vincent’s kick missed. Blackball 8 — Ngahere 0. Balderstone was caught in possession near his own line and Vincent picked up to dive over wide out. He failed td convert. Blackball 11, Ngahere 0. With play in Ngahere 25, McNaughton picked up in the loose and scored a fine try, which Clark failed to convert. Blackball 14, Ngahere 0. Gibson and Dalzell were responsible in keeping Blackball on their won 25, but from this position Kirk started a great passing movement in which the ball was handled by several players and Kirk received the final transfer from Mountford to score under the posts. Vincent converted. Blackball 19, Ngahere 0. Gibson picked up a dropped pass and made a fine run before sending on to Tuck, who went over for Weir to convert. Blackball 19, Ngahere 5. This try spurred Ngahere to greater efforts and after securing from a scrum Weir, Gibson and Dalzell handled for the latter to burst through and touchdown under the posts. Weir converted, Blackball 19, Ngahere 10. Immediately after Gibson beat the Blackball defence, and sent on to Balderstone but received again to score near the posts. Weil’ converted making the scores: Blackball 19, Ngahere 15 at half-time. When Lester charged down a kick early in the second spell, Ngahere looked dangerous, but he kicked over Mountford’s head and the latter ran back and relieved with a splendid kick. After O’Donnell made a good run for Blackball, Hogg received and sent play back to the Blackball 25, where W. Clark led the Blackball forwards to the Ngahere 25. Kirk made a dash before sending into W. Clark, who was well tackled by Weir, but the latter injured his knee and had to retire. Blackball dominated the game from this stage and after Vincent sent a reverse pass to Dodds the latter threw, out a long pass to O’Donnell, who went over wide out. Vincent converted. Blackball 24, Ngahere 15. Kirk received at the 25 and ran past several defenders, before sending into R. Clark to score under the posts. Vincent converted. Blackball 29, Ngahere 15. With play again in Ngahere territory Dodds beat the defence to send R. Clark over for his third try. Vincent converted. Blackball 34, Ngahere 15. Vincent broke clear from midfield but Dalzell came across and brought him down. From the ensuing loose play Dodds found an opening to go over in a handy position. Vincent converted. Blackball 39, Ngahere 15. The final try was scored by McNaughton, who ran around from a scrum ten yards out to score but Vincent’s kick went outside and the game ended: Blackball 42, Ngahere 15. Mr. W. Allen was referee. JUNIOR GRADE. Playing at Rapahoe yesterday, Kumara juniors defeated Rapahoe by 25 points to three. Kumara were always in the lead, due to the superiority of their backs. Tries were scored for the winners by T. McGill (2), P. Gilbert (2), and C. Rochford (2), Gilbert and McGill each converting two. THIRD GRADE Displaying all-round superiority, Ngahere defeated the home team at Biackball, the final of the Knock-out Cup by 14 points to three. For the winners Krakosky, Gibson, Mulcare and Reynolds scored tries and Clark kicked a penalty. Jamieson scored for Blackball. Mr. L. Kinsella was referee.

INANGAHUA FINAL.

In a. fast, open game, Waratah (Reefton) beat Rangers (Buller) in the final game for the Knock-out Cup. The scores were 24—10 in favour of "Waratah, who were too fast for the visitors. The game was played in brilliant sunshine, on a hard ground before a. large attendance. Both sides threw the ball about freely, and the game was clean and fast, being an excellent, exhibition of the code. ’ The work of the Waratah team was marked by many fine passing runs, which kept the opposition thinking. Once the ball travelled three times over the width of the field, and hardly a man was collared by the opposition. Inangahua opened with bright sunshine at their backs, and the first points were scored by G. Ormon, who kicked a goal for Rangers, shortly after the start ot play. Cutbush scored after a. hard struggle, in a ruck near the corner, and' Scott failed with the kick. Shortly after, Cutbush again scored with a fine run, after the fortunes of the game had been evenly balanced and Rangers looked like scoring. From a mid-field struggle for possession, Fox got away for Rangers, and swept down the field, and his speed gave him a good try. The kick was successful. The score at half-time -was: Waratahs 7. Rangers 6.

In the second half the Waratah

team played fine football, and the Scott, Cutbush, August combination made good' openings. First Scott scored and then August. Rangers were not collaring well or showing any combination, and Waratahs were not bustled. Rangers half-back scored a try at the corner from a struggle, in which Waratahs could not handle the ball. Scott kept his men moving and scored twice in succession, making Waratah’s score 24. The Waratah pack was definitely superior to that of the visitors, who in the closing stages went to pieces. IN OTHER CENTRES. AUCKLAND, September 3‘. In the Rugby League matches for the second round of the Roope Rooster competition, results were: —Richmond 19, Ponsonby 6; North Shore 8, Marisc 2: City 10, Newton 3; Manukau 28, Papakura 6. WELLINGTON, September 3. Central 16 beat Petone 9, winning the Board of Control Cup. The match between Randwick and St. George was postponed. CHRISTCHURCH, September 3. Addington 5, Hornby 0; Waimaii 9, Linwood 7; Rakaia defaulted to Sydenham. SYDNEY CHAMPIONSHIP. SYDNEY, September 4. | In the Rugby League final Canter-; bury-Bankstown won the championship on Saturday by boating Eastern Suburbs 19-6. The half-time score was 4-3 in favour of the winners. The march was watched by 20,000 people.