LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 April 1941, Page 5

LEAGUE FOOTBALL

MARIST DEFEAT RUNANGA.

BLACKBALL WIN AGAIN.

For the second series of the West Coast Rugby League’s competitions, yesterday, conditions were ideal and there were good crowds at the principal matches. The winning margins in the senior grade were again large, Marist defeating Runanga by 28 points to 8, and Blackball defeating Ngahere by 18 points to nil. The match at Runanga was disappointing, and never reached a good standard of football, but there were some exciting periods in the other game, which was much more even than the score would indicate.

MARIST 28, RUNANGA 8

Although they were without the services of W. Mann and L. Beban, Marist showed considerable improvement on their previous week’s form, to defeat Runanga, before a good crowd at the Runanga Domain. The gaps were filled by young players, all of whom acquitted themselves well, and the heavier Runanga team was outclassed on the day. The Runanga team also included a number of young players, whose chief fault was bad positional play, gaps being left on defence which presented Marist with golden opportunities for scoring movements. The Runanga forwards held their own, but mishandling by the backs spoilt many of their best efforts. Generally, the game was disappointing., occasional bright passing by the Marist backs and some solid tackling on both sides being the redeeming features. R. Pollock, N. Hopkins, and J. Curnow, in the backs, and P. Malone, J. Smith, K. Coll and J. Pope, in the forwards, impressed for the winners, while L. Masters, T. Anderson and J. Forrest (backs) and R. Glynn, F. Hart and J. King (forwards) were noticeable in the Runanga team. The teams were as follow: —

Runanga: Crowe, Hinks, Forrest, Anderson, Masters, Higson, Scott, King, Merriman. Kyle, Hart, Stevens, R. Glynn. Marist: N. Hopkins, O’Brien, W. Mountford, D. Knapp, Pollock, W. Hopkins, J. Curnow, Smith, Kelly, Malone, Pope, Grogan, Coll. Although facing the sun, Marist were the early attackers, and a well-placed kick by Pollock saw Crowe caught in possession near his own goal. A ruck followed and .Mountford secured to score in the corner. Coll failed to convert. Soon afterwards, all of the Marist backs handled in the best movement of the match for Knapp to score in the opposite corner. Coll’s kick again missed. Once again a high kick up the centre by Pollock found a gap in the defence, and Coll gained possession for a try well out. He failed to convert. Curnow was prominent in another Marist passing movement, and when the ball went loose near the Runangd goal line, Grogan picked up to score. N. Hopkins converted, making the scores, Marist 14, Runanga nil. The Runanga forwards took a hand at this stagehand kept Marist defending until Glynn dived over from a ruck on the line. Crowe failed to convert. Just before halftime, Curnow gained possession from a play-the-ball deep in Runanga territory and scored a solo try. Coll failed to convert. Marist 17, Runanga 3. Marist kept up the pressure in the second half, and eventually Pollock secured just inside half way and sent on to Mountford, who made a good run before transferring to O'Brien, who scored near the posts. N. Hopkins concerted. For some time play was loose and uninteresting, neither side gaining the advantage. Then, N. Hopkins fielded a clearing kick from Higson near the 2Jj and ran down the line before transferring to Knapp, who scored well out. Hopkins failed to convert. Runanga took a hand, and mishandling by the Marist backs under their own posts allowed Kyle to secure an easy try, which Glynn converted. There was little of note in the closing stages, but just before the final whistle Kelly picked up on the Runanga 25 and passed to Malone, who raced over near the corner. Curnow failed to convert. Marist 28, Runanga 8. Mr J. Griffen was referee. BLACKBALL 18, NGAHERE 0. A large crowd at Ngahere saw Blackball defeat Ngahere by 18 points to nil. Although Blackball had a wide margin in their favour at the end, the scores do not give a good indication of the run of play, as Ngahere held Blackball until well on in the second spell, when two con - verted tries put the issue beyond doubt. Ngahere secured the greater share of the ball from the set scrums, but their backs did not get far in the face of determined tackling. The Blackball backs were always dangerous when in possession. The forwards were evenly matched. For Ngahere, Mulcare, N. Gibson, and J. Gibson in the backs played well, with Lee, Gibson and Balderstone the most prominent forwards. For Blackball, the most conspicuous backs were C. Mountford, Ord and Burns, with R. Clark, K. Mountford and Williams always prominent in the forwards. The teams were:—

Blackball: James O’Donnell, John O’Donnell, Jamieson, Burns, C. Mountford, A. Clark, Ord, K. Mountford, Waters, R. Clark, Williams, J. Clark, Reynolds. Ngahere: Elmers, N. Gibson, Bullimore, Mulcare, Pascoe, Moth, James Gibson, Gillman, Moore, Balderstone, John Gibson, Hogarth. Ngahere faced a strong sun in the first spell, which opened at a fast pace. Pascoe gave Mulcare a chance out he was tackled near the Blackball line. The Blackball backs handled well from this scrum, and play went to the Ngahere 25, where Ord kicked a penalty goal. Blackball 2, Ngahere 0. From a scrum near halfway, J. Gibson secured and ran down the touchline, but James O’Donnell came across and forced him out near the corner. From a scrum under the Blackball posts, Ord cleared. R. Clark secured near halfway, and sent on to Burns, who scored wide out. Ord failed with the kick. Blackball 5, Ngahere 0. Ngahere forwards pressed Blackball hard and a force down resulted. Ngahere were attacking when James O’Donnell beat several players and R. Clark, K. Mountford and C. Mountford handled for the latter to have a clear run from halfway to score, wide out. Ord’s kick fell short, and half time sounded with the scores Blackball 8, Ngahere 0. . Even play marked the early stages

of the second spell, until Lee broke through close to the Blackball line, but Jamieson turned this into attack with a splendid run to halfway, where he was forced out. The Blackball forwards swept down on the Ngahere line, and K. Mountford forced himself over near the corner. R. Clark converted with a splendid kick. Blackball 13, Ngahere 0. James Gibson and Pascoe were prominent in defence. Blackball added to their score when K. Mountford secured from Burns near halfway and broke through Elmer’s tackle to score wide out. R. Clark converted, and the game ended with the scores Blackball 18, Ngahere 0. Mr. L. Kin-, sella was referee. JUNIOR GRADE. At Wingham Park, Marist juniors defeated Brunner by 16 points to three, after a fast game. Playing at Kumara, Runanga juniors defeated Kumara by 13 points to nine. FOURTH GRADE. In the opening series of the fourth grade competition, Marist defeated Blackball, at Wingham Park, by 21 points to five. Tries were scored for the winners by O’Callaghan (3) and Mcßride (2), O’Callaghan converting two and Mcßride one. Stenhouse scored a try for Blackball and also converted. Mr P. Sweetman was referee.

Brunner fourth graders defeated Runanga, at Brunner, by 11 points to nine. .

SIXTH GRADE

The si?cth grade (schoolboys') competition was commenced on Saturday, at Wingham Park, the results being as follow: Runanga defeated Marist B 14/3; Blackball defeated Marist A 19/nil; Blackball defeated Brunner 3/nil.