RUGBY FOOTBALL

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 May 1939, Page 9

RUGBY FOOTBALL

EXCELSIOR DEFEAT STAR. BRIGHT MATCH AT PARK. A decided improvement was noted in the standard of play at Rugby Paik on Saturday, when a good attendance was treated to a tine exhibition of fast open football, in the match in which Cobden seniors defeated Blaketown. Cobden played, the best football seen on the Park this season, and, with an unbeaten record so far, they seem destined to go close I lc winning the championship. The surprise defeat of Star by Excelsior, at Hokitika, gave Cobden a. one-point lead in the competition, the positions of the teams being: Cobden 6, Star 5, Blaketown. 4, Kiwi, Excelsior, United 3, Celtic 0. Cobden, Kiwi, Excelsior and Celtic have played one game less than the other teams. In the second senior match at Rugby Park, United defeated Celtic by a big margin. SENIOR GRADE. Cobden IS, Blaketown 3. Excelsior 7, Star 3. United 32, Celtic 6. JUNIOR GRADE. Cobden 21, Star 3. Te Kinga S, Kumara 0. THIRD GRADE. Technical 15, Cobden 3. United 15, Celtic 6. FOURTH GRADE. Technical B 33, Blaketown 5. United 17, Star 6.

COBDEN’S VICTORY

Playing the best football seen on Rugby Park this season, Cobden seniors easily defeated Blaketown, on the No. 1 ground by IS points to three. Cobden led by six points to nil at half-time, and when the second spell 'had been in progress about a quarter of an hour, the Blaketown defence began to crack up under the continued pressure, for Cobden to riin right away from their opponents over the concluding stages. Cobden owedi their victory to their enterprise and better tactics. They won the greater share of the ball not only from set scrums, but also from rucks, where most forwards seem content to let the ball remain, and the backing up of both backs and forwards was the first worthwhile attempt at this' necessary stratagem seen on the Park this season. The Cobden forwards had more weight, fire and purpose than their opponents, but the Cobden backs marrid a lot of their play by running across field. The Blaketown backs did not impress as a match-winning: combination, and their tackling was not good. The best work of the Blaketown forwards was in loose rushes. Thomson, Alex King, Kirkwood and Laredo were always prominent in the good Cobden pack. Thomson, playing a loose forward game, was in everything that was going. Price and Preston were outstanding in the Blaketown pack, who lacked the experience of their opponents. A. King, Kiely and Williams were consistent Cobden backs, though all made good use of chances. King was faultlessi at fullback. Pedro'tti and Goodall were the best Blaketown backs, and both, with more than their share to do, had a heavy day. The teams were: — Cobden: A. King; Eggleton, Williams, Arthur Vaughan; A. Vaughan, Collins; Kiely; Moss, Sptncer, Kirkwood; Laredo Watkins, Alex. King, Manning; Thomson. Blaketown: McDonald; Samuels, McHerron, Forster; McHugh, Pedrotti; Goodall; E. Preston, Shannon Quigg; Price, Faulkner, Herbert, J. Smith; Eyeington.

Cobden did all the early attacking, but the backs, through running across ,field and good tackling, made little headway. Cobden’s enterprise was rewarded when Collins threw a long pass from the back of a ruck to Williams, to Arthur Vaughan, who swerved his way brilliantly past several men in a 25 yards run, to score a fine try in a good position. Kiely failed to goal. Cobden 3, Blaketown 0. A. King’s line-kicking proved useful ior Cobden. Pedrotti showed up in a run down the middle of the field, inpassed to Shannon, who made further ground, but his pass back to Pedrotti went astray. A bright bout of passing initiated by Kiely and carried on by Thomson, Kirkwood and- Spencer (at his feet) took play to the Blaketown line, but Goodall cleared. Halfway through the spell, A. Vaughan was moved On to the Cobden wing, Egglcton to centre, and Williams to second five-eighth. From a line-out about halfway, Thomson broke clear away, drew the. full-back, and sent Alex King over in a handy position, with Kirkwood in support. Thomson missed the kick. Cobden 6, Blaketown 0, at half-time. Soon after the resumption, A. Vaughan showed 1 a lot of speed at the end f of a Cobden back movement, and was tackled just short of the line by Forster. Blaketown cleared, and; the forwards carried play to the other end. Watkins was penalised, for obstruction in a line-out, and Goodall kicked a splendid penalty goal from near the side line. Cobden 6, Blaketown' 3. McDonald and McHerron exchanged places in the Blaketown backs in the second 1 spell. Laredo and Kirkwood starred in a spectacular run with the ball at their toe, almost to the line. From a scrum there, Cobden hooked, and Kiely shot through on the open side, with barely a hand laid on him, to score a nice try. Kiely failed to goal from a good position. Cobden 9, Blaketown 3.

Cobden came again with a fine bout of passing in which Collins, Vaughan, Thomson and Watkins participated, but Watkins passed forward with three men. in support and an open field ahead. Then Kiely had bad luck to lose possession, almost over the line, after beating two men. Cobden maintained the pressure, and Moss added a try when a Blaketown back miskicked' back over his own line. A. Vaughan missed the kick. Cobden 12, Blaketown 3.

Cobden, led by Thomson and Kirkwood, forced their way back to the Elaketown line, where 'Samuels fumbled a pass from Goodall, and Arthur Vaughan snapped up to dive over in the corner. He missed the kick. Cobden 15, Blaketown 3. A. Vaughan cleverly gathered in a bad pass from Williams at the end of a rearguard movement started by Collins, and scored the last try fairly well out. Thomson missed the kick. Final: Cobden 18, Blaketown 3. Mr. C. W. Cockburn was referee.

I UNITED DEFEAT CELTIC. United seniors easily, defeated, Celtic on the No. 2 ground at Rugby Park, by 32 points to six. United' were the better side, and deserved their victory, but Celtic were unlucky in not lessening the margin. The greens were expected to test United fully, but the blue and white forwards showed improvement and played' with more dash than their opponents. The teams were: —

United: Hamilton; Garde, Dowell, Joseph; Costello, Dewar; Cox; Sinclair, Leach, Rose; Scott, Sorenson, Blair, Moon, Gallagher. Celtic: Millett; McDougall, McGinley, McEvedy; McDonnell, W. Clancy; L\ Clancy; Byrne, Rea, Robertson, Buller, Dudley, Croudis, Roulston, McElwain.

Garde. Scott and Moon scored tries for United in the first spell, Blair converting one. and kicking a penally goal. McDougall scored an unconverted try for Celtic. Roulston, who retired with a rib injury r , was replaced by Gudsell. Celtic reduced the leeway in the second spell, when McElwain scored a fry, which was not converted, but United were never in danger of defeat. They; came away over the concluding stages, and tries were added by Garde, Costello and Blair (2) / Dewar converting two and Garde one. Garde retired injured' near the close of the game. Mr. O. T. Grattan was referee.

EXCELSIOR DEFEAT STAR. In a good game at Cass Square, Hokitika, Excelsior upset the competition leaders, Star, the home team winning by seven points to three. Star had the better of the early stages, and looked like scoring on. several occasions as a result of back movements, but Excelsior finished better. The home team led by seven points to three at half-time, and neither side added to its score in. the second spell. Star drew first blood, Watson kicking a penalty goal. Johnston put Excelsior ahead with a field goal, the ball striking the bar, and' bouncing over. Johnston scored a lucky try just before half-time, to put Excelsior further ahead. Rev. Dr. Harrison was referee. JUNIOR GRADE. On the No. 1 ground at Rugby Park, Cobden juniors defeated Star by 21 points to three. It was a good game, and more evenly-fought than the scores suggest. McElwain, Moss, Gilmore, McLellan and Henderson scored for Cobden. Pike converted two. and Henderson one. Prestige scored a try tor Star. Mr. M. R. Bunt was referee. Te Kinga juniors defeated Kumara, at Te Kinga, by. eight points to nil. Mr A. Fulton was referee. THIRD GRADE.

Technical thirds defeated Cobden, at Rugby Park, by 15 points to three. G. Parry, R. Parry, Fleming and Parsonage scored for the winners, and G. Parry kicked a penalty goal. Marley scored a try for Cobden. Mr. W. Ellis was referee. United thirds defeated Celtic, at Victoria Park, by 15 points to six. Mr. R. Longstaff was referee. FOURTH GRADE. Technical B fourth graders defeated Blaketown on the School ground, by 33 points to five. Mr. J. Minchin was referee.

United fourths defeated Star by 17 points to six, at Victoria Park. Mr. F. Adams was referee.

IN OTHER CENTRES

AUCKLAND, May 14

Ponsonby 11, Grafton 8; Grammar Old Boys 16, Training College 9; Marist 14, Technical Old Boys 3; North Shore 9, Manukau 3. HASTINGS, May 14.

Hastings High School Old Boys 14, Celtic 8; Havelock North 8, Napier High School Old Boys 5; M.A.C. 19, Pirates 3; Marist Brothers’ Old Boys 7, Hastings 0. Marist and Celtic lead in the competitions with 8 points each.

WELLINGTON, May 14

Four teams —Petone, Wellington, Marist Brothers’ Old Boys, and Hutt —are still undefeated after the third series of senior Rugby matches in Wellington. Saturday’s results were: Wellington 14, College Old Boys G; Marist Brothers’ Old Boys 9, Athletic 6; Poneke 22, University 3; Hutt 16, Oriental 3; Petone 15, Eastbourne 3; Johnsonville 24, St. Patrick’s Old Boys 11.

GISBORNE, May 14

By defeating Celtic juniors in a match at Gisborne, the Old Boys B junior team won its fiftieth game in succession. The team has played games at Rotorua, Napier, Hastings, Tolaga Bay, and Gisborne, and has twice won the local junior championship. Old Boys to-day won a hard game 8/0. NEW PLYMOUTH, May 13.

Tukapa 27 defeated Stai’ 6; Eltham 6 defeated Old Boys 3; Stratford 3 defeated Clifton 0; Inglewood 9 defeated Okato 3; Opunake 21 defeated Patea 6; Athletic 6 defeated Waimate 3; Kaponga 16 defeated Hawera 3.

MASTERTON, May 13

Carterton 10 defeated Red Star 6; Old Boys 8 defeated Masterton 0; Greytown 10 defeated Gladstone 3. DUNEDIN, May 14.

Pirates 6. Zingari 0; Kaikorai 3, Union 0; Alhambra 15, University A 9; Southern 16, University B 3, Taieri 5, Dunedin 4. CHRISTCHURCH, May 13.

An exciting match between two of tho strongest teams in the competition. University and Athletic, roused to-day’s large Rugby crowd at Lancaster Park to a high pitch of enthusiasm. Athletic inflicted on University its first defeat of the season, and after four rounds the conjpst for the championship is in an position. Air Force, with a narrow victory over Albion on Saturday, is now the only unbeaten side, and it is followed in the championship by Athletic, University. Old Boys, Linwood, and Merivale, each of which has been beaten once. Results of to-day's matches were Athletic 12. University 11. Air Force 5, Albion 3. Merivale 14, Sunnyside 3. Old Boys 24, Christchurch 8. Southern 11, Technical 11.