LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 September 1940, Page 10

LEAGUE FOOTBALL

BLACKBALL’S CLOSE CALL. I MARIST DEFEAT BRUNNER The West Coast Rugby League’s senior competitions were continued yesterday, in ideal football weather, both matches being played in the country. After playing a draw the previous week, Blackball and Runanga had another exceptionally close tussle at,Blackball, in the semi-final of the Knock Out competition, Blackball eventually prevailing by the odd point in a high scoring game, which provided much exciting football. The match at Taylorville .was a contrast, Marist defeating Brunner in the Bradshaw Cup competition by the large margin of 31 points to five. Blackballs success yesterday puts them into the final of the Knock Out, with Ngahere.

BLACKBALL 17, RUNANGA 16. There was a large attendance at Blackball for the replay of the semifinal of the Knock Out Cup. Having drawn the previous week, Runanga and Blackball were expected to again provide a close game, and this promise was fulfilled, Blackball emerging victorious by a single point, in a fairly high scoring game. Although not spectacular, the game was intensely exciting, as the scores fluctuated. Blackball gained an early ten point lead, but Runanga soon reduced this and took the lead, only to see Blackball ahead again before the interval. Early in the second spell, Runanga were in front again for a few imputes, but Blackball again took the lead with a penalty goal. For the last twenty minutes, play was exciting, although Blackball held a slight territorial advantage during this period. Newton was Runanga’s outstanding player, scoring all his side’s points, while .A. Clark scored ten for Blackball. 'Masters was Runanga’s most reliable back, with good support coming from Scott and Higson, while W. Glynn and R. Glynn ably supported Newton in the forwards. Mountford was most reliable in the Blackball backs, with Ord, Clark, and Jim O’Donnell also prominent, and Penman, J. anti R. Clark were conspicuous forwards. The teams were:— Runanga? Higson, Hart, Anderson, McTigue, Currie, Masters, Scott, Thomson, Merriman, ( R. Glynn, Hatch, W. Glynn, Newton. Blackball: Jim O’Donnell, Howden", Savage, Jack O’Donnell, A. Clark, Mountford, Ord, R. Clark, Wilson, Penman, Williams, Driscoll, J. Clark. With a nice kick Mountford put Blackball in Runanga’s 25, and when Masters attempted to clear, A. Clark charged down the kick and picked up to run' round under the posts. Ord converted. Blackball 5, Runanga 0.. After Newton had missed with a penalty from near halfway, Blackball pressed, and Howden, fielding a clearing, kick, beat several men before sending out to A. Clark, who went over for a try which Ord failed to convert, and Blackball led by 8 to nil in as many minutes, A loose rush by Runanga forwards went to Blackball line, but Blackball went back to Runanga territory, and A. Clark increased Blackball’s lead with a nice goal from 35 yards out. From a scrum near halfway, Savage failed to hold a pass, and . Newton [ dribbled through and picked up to score a Tine solo try under the posts. He converted. Blackball 10, Ru- : nanga 5. When the Runanga backs 1

gained possession near halfway, Masters inpassed to the forwards, and W. Glynn passed out to Newton, who ran 30 yards to touch down in the corner. Currie’s kick fell short. Blackball 10, Runanga 8. Runanga pressed again, and the forwards caught O’Donnell in possession. From the play-the-ball, Newton kicked over the line, to score his third try. fie failed with the kick. Runanga 11. Blackball 10. Blackball took the lead when Mountford kicked through a gap and secured to transfer to Jack. O’Donnell, and the latter sidestepped Higson to go over under the posts Ord converted. Half-time sounded immediately, with the scores Blackball 15, Runanga 11. Even play marked the opening of the second spell, until Blackball went down to Runanga posts. W. Glynn came through with the ball and play went to Blackball end "where a force down resulted. From the drop out, Masters secured and made a nice run before transferring to Newton, who went over near the posts for his fourth try, which he converted. Runanga 16, Blackball 15. A spectacular passing movement in which almost the whole team took part looked certain to produce a try for Blackball, but sterling defence by Runanga held play up near the line. However, they were rewarded when A. Clark was succesful with a fine penalty goal, making the scores Blackball 17, Runanga 16. Another Blackball attack almost resulted in a score, but Higson beat J. Clark in a race for the ball and forced. The final twenty minutes resulted in some lively exchanges, but there was no alteration to the score. Mr. W. Allen was referee.

I MARIST 31—BRUNNER 5. The ground was in good order and . there was a fair crowd present for the Marist-Brunner match at the Taylorville Domain. / For the first half hour, play was fast and even, but Brunner were unable to keep up the pace which gave them an early lead and Marist gradually forged ahead, to completely dominate play in the last halt hour, when thdy scored most of their points. Brunner were unlucky in that they lost their best defensive player, A. Bernard (fullback) after about 20 minutes’ play, and this appeared to rob them of much of the confidence with which they commenced. Some of the Brunner players tackled extremely well, but others made poor attempts, with the result that the faster Marist backs were given some fairly easy tries. Marist began shakily, but once in the lead they took risks in throwing the ball about and then provided some good football. All of the winner’s backs played well, with R. Pollock (as five-eighth), J. Roberts, and W. Hopkins showing up. The Marist forwards were an even lot, P. Grogan, J. Smith and T. Anisy doing well in the loose. A. Bernard '(until he had to retire), N; Gibson and R. Moth were the best of the Brunner backs. R. Lee was the outstanding Brunner ■ forward, with support coming from Pryor, Hoggarth and Hurst. The teams were as follow:— Brunner: Bernard (2), Gibson, Burgess, Williams, Moth, Ladbrook, Moore, Hoggarth, Pryor, Yunovitch, Hurst, Lee. Marist: Mann, Beban, Roberts, O’Brien, Pollock, W. Hopkins, N. Hopkins, Smith, Seguin, Brown, Anisy, Adams, Grogan. Brunner, who won the toss, were the early attackers, but W. Hopkins twice set his backs in motion, producing good saves by A. Bernard (fullback). Gibson secured inside his own half and with a good straight run reached the Marist 25, where he passed to Pryor, who was caught in pos-

session. Gibson, however, was still in support and picked up, to send on to Burgess, who scored a good try well out. Lee failed to convert. Brunner continued to hold a territorial advantage until A. Bernard received an injury to his ear and retired, being replaced by T. Dando. A clearing kick by Gibson was taken by Mann on half way and he sent on to Smith, to Roberts, who ran across field to score in the opposite corner. Pollock failed to convert. Soon after a miss-kick by Dando gave Beban possession on the 25 and he raced up the line for a try in the corner. Pollock again failed to convert. Just before half-time all of the Marist backs handled in a good movement from a scrum at half-way, for Beban to score. Roberts failed to convert, the half time score being Marist nine, Brunper three. In the second half, Brunner were again the first to score points, Lee early kicking a penalty goal. Thereafter, the Marist backs completely dominated play, tries being scored, almost all from good passing movements, by Anisy, O’Brien, Roberts (2) and W. Hopkins. Only two were converted, by Beban and Grogan, the kicking generally being poor. The final score was Marist 31, Brunner 5. Mr, J. Griffen was referee. REPRESENTATIVE TEAM The Selection Committee has chosen the following West Coast team to defend the Northern Union Cup against Inangahua at Wingham Park, next Sunday:— ‘ Fullback: R. Pollock (M.). Three-quarters: J. Roberts (M.), N. Kiely (R.), L. Beban (M.). Five-eighths: C. Mountford (B.B.), W. Mann (M.). Half-back: M. Ord (B.B.), Forwards: J. Williams (B.B.), J. Gibson (N.), R. Glynn (R.), R. Lee (B.), J. Newton (R.), R. Clark (B.B.). Emergencies:—Backs: H. McGrath (N.), W. Hopkins (M.); forwards: P. Grogan (M), D. Penman (B.B.).

JUNIOR GRADE There was an unsatisfactory ending to the junior Challenge Shield match at Wingham Park, the Blackball team leaving the field about ten minutes before time was up, apparently disputing a decision of the referee, Mr. W. Moore. At the time, Marist, holders of the Shield, were leading by three points to nil, a try having been scored by Hayes. IN OTHER CENTRES. ' AUCKLAND, September 21. In the Rugby League football championship competition, North Shore 33, defeated Newton 13. Richmond is champion for the season, and North Shore is runner-up. WELLINGTON, September 21. The Rugby League football season ended with a match between Petone and a Maori team, which contained some of Wellington’s best players. Petone won by 20 points to 8.