LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Greymouth Evening Star, 19 August 1940, Page 5

LEAGUE FOOTBALL

WEST COAST WIN.

REP. MATCH AT REEFTON.

[our own correspondent.]

The first senior representative Rugby League match of the season was played at the Reefton racecourse yesterday. The weather was fine and warm, with little wind, and there was a good attendance. Play was bright and fast, and the visiting team carried the day, the scores being 23-5, in their favour. Better combination, added to superior speed, and condition of their team gave West Coast their victory, and helped them to add 18 of their 23 points in the . closing stages of the game. The teams were as follow: West Coast: A Bernard, N. Kiely, C. Mountford, L. Beban, McGrath, W. Mann, M. Ord, J. Newton, R. Clark, Balderstone, R. Glynn, Hoggarth, Williams.

Inangahua: P. Cutbush, W. Cutbush, P. Scott, R. Leggoe, D. Scott, J. Smith, A. Watson, A. McVicar, J. Hagen, B. R. Trim, N. Orsbourn, W. Hasen, C. Dalzell. Inangahua kicked off against the sun, gaining an initial advantage by driving well into West Coast territory. Three dropped passes in succession gave the home team the ball, and they pressed their advantage to West Coast 15 yards, where a long kick relieved. A spoiling game by both sides saw a number of scrums from which Inangahua hooked the ball better than West Coast, but steady collaring by the visitors gave Inangahua little advantage from their gains. Ord broke from a scrum, and set Kiely going but he was forced out. Inangahua carried play to West Coast’s ten yard line where determined work by the visitors gave them a spell of the ball, Scott being unsuccessful with a penalty kick from a difficult angle. The visitors set the place and only dropped passes stopped them from scoring. Play at half-way gave the West Coast backs a chance, and by close scrummaging, the forwards carried play to the off corner for Mountford to score an unconverted try. West Coast 3, Inangahua nil. West Coast were attacking strongly at the half-time whistle.

Shortly after half-time in a midfield scramble, J. Smith (Inangahua) received a blow on the head, forcing him to retire and O’Malley replaced him. By long passes West Coast carried play to Inangahua’s five yard line, and packing close,- made several bids to score. D. Scott eventually relieved, with a good kick. O’Malley secured in the loose and ran over in a handy position to score. Scott converted. Inangahua 5, West Coast 3. An alteration in the scrum gave the visitors the ball from most of the scrums, and they made good use of it. The West Coast backs broke away for McGrath to score, following a run from half-way. Mann converted. Attacking strongly West Coast punished the Inangahua forwards, and showed superior combination. Ord worked the blind side from a scrum, for the backs to go away, and Mann scored. Newton converted. Inangahua began to lag, West Coast forcing the pace, and McC.’th scored from a scramble at the corner. Mann converted. Inangahua rallied, but West Coast again forced them back and McGrath again picked up to score the final try as the bell sounded. Newton converted, the points making the final score: West Coast 23, Inangahua 5. LOWER GRADE MATCHES. Owing to the representative fixture at Reefton only lower grade matches were played in the West Coast Rugby League’s district, yesterday. In the semi-final of the junior Knock Out Competition, at Wingham Park, Runanga and Blackball drew, neither team scoring. This was the third time in succession that the same teams had drawn, and in their last two matches no ' points have been scored. Mr W. Allen was referee. Marist juniors secured the challenge Shield- by defeating Greymouth by 11 points to three, at Wingham Park. Greymouth were three players short, but provided strong opposition. S. Knapp (2) and Hayes scored for the winners, Ryan converting one. T. Brown scored an unconverted try for Greymouth. Mr J. Earl was referee. _ At Blackball, .Marist third graders defeated Blackball by 12 points to 10. Tried were scored for the winners by K. Rea, T. Power and J. Roche (2), while Aynsley and Dunn scored foi Blackball, Howden converting one and kicking a penalty. Mr H. Bassett was referee. Playing at Runanga, the Runanga third graders defeated Brunner by 12 points to 10. McDonald, Hinds, Clelland and O’Connell scored for Runanga, and Bell scored two toes for Brunner, Hoggarth converting both. Mr A. Williams was referee.

CANTERBURY V. COAST. CHRISTCHURCH, August 17. To play West Coasf at Greymouth on September 8, the Canterbury Rugby League selector, Mr. J. E. A. Amos, has chosen the following team: Full-back, T. Roach (Linwood); three-quarters, C. H. Davison (Rakaia), R. Brown (Sydenham), captain, W. McEwan (Addington); fiveeighths, K. Cox (Riccarton), J. O’Connor (Rakaia); half-back, L. Brown (Sydenham); forwards, J. Clark (Waimairi), L. Wehner (Rakaia), R. Dunlop (Sydenham), E. McEwan (Addington), D. Mead (Rakaia), G. Bellaney (Rakaia). Emeigencies: W. Guy (Sydenham) and C. Taylor (Hornby). The team will train on Tuesday evening at the Addington ground. For the match, Auckland v. the rest of New Zealand, the four Canterbury nominees are R. Brown and L. Brown (Sydenham), J. Clark (Waimairi), and G. Bellaney (.Rakaia). IN OTHER CENTRES. AUCKLAND, August 17. Richmond 13, Marist 5; Ponsonby 13, Mount Albert 3; Manukau 29, Newton 11; City 6, Papakura 5.

WELLINGTON, August 17.

Senior knock-out competition: Petone 22, St. George 7; Miramar 39, Eastern Suburbs 7.

CHRISTCHURCH, August 17.

The Country Rugby League team had a big win in its annual match against Town, played at Sydenham Park, on Saturday. Country scored six tries ; to two,’to. win by- 25 points to 8.