RUGBY FOOTBALL

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 April 1941, Page 5

RUGBY FOOTBALL

NEW SEASON OPENS.

UNITED AND CELTIC WIN.

The West Coast Rugby Union’s 1941 season opened on Saturday in ideal weather. There were few spectators, and the standard of football was not high. With many of last season’s players away on military service, the personnel of the senior teams differed greatly from last year, but several of the promoted players showed considerable promise, and the standard was such as to suggest that with a greater degree of combination acquired the season’s football will be good. Cobden, champions in the past two seasons, lost to a youthful United team on the No. 1 ground, as a result of a dropped goal, the score being seven points to six. The game was fast and open, but good defence by United maintained the point advantage they gained half-way through the second spell. Star seniors were very weak, and Celtic had no difficulty in winning by 33 points to three. It was a one-sided match.

In the junior grade, Cobden defeated United by 25 points to nil, and Star defeated Celtic by 14 points to three. Cobden defeated Celtic thirds by eight points to six, and Technical A fourths defeated Blaketown by 19 points to nil. UNITED 7, COBDEN 6. On the No. 1 ground at Rugby Park, United defeated Cobden by seven points to six, after an open game. Cobden led 6—3 at half-time, but a dropped goal by D. Dewar halfWay through the second spell put United ahead, and from then on play was fast and keen. Cobden made repeated efforts to score the winning points, but the United defenders, aided by mistakes of the Cobden backs, kept them out. Cobden were stronger in the forwards, but the United backs had speed and initiative and made the most of every chance. The teams were:— Cobden: A. Lindbom; M. Nesbitt, J.

Barrett, Arthur Vaughan; B. Wilson, Albert Vaughan (captain); G. McLean; G. Friend, B. Haldane, B. Watkin; R. R. King, R. Birchfield; Alex. King, M. Devlin, J. Jeffries. United: J. Shannon; W. Leitch, J. Gillam, T. Butler; N. Sweetman, D. Dewar; L. Sweetman: J. Cringle, R. Hamilton, A. Beck; P. Taylor, D. Wyeth; D. Tucker, W. Blair (captain), C. Panther. United attacked from the outset, and kept up the pressure for nearly ten minutes, when Butler scored ■ a good try at the corner for United following a passing rush. Dewar failed .to convert. A minute later Albert Vaughan raced across the field and got over from a scramble near the line when Shannon lost possession. Lindbom failed to convert. Just before the interval Lindbom landed a goal from a penalty. Cobden led 6—3 at half-time.

G. Davidson replaced Barrett (Cobden), who retired injured in the second spell, and D. Brown replaced G. McLean. Well into the second half D. Dewar -landed a neat field goal, putting United in the lead, 7—6. He was unlucky with a second essay a few minutes later. Cobden were hammering away at United’s line without result for some time prior to the final whistle. CELTIC 33, STAR 3. Celtic had no difficulty in defending a weak Star fifteen on the No. 2 ground at the Park, by 33 points to three. Celtic were superior in all departments of the game. The teams were: —

Celtic: P. Croudis; J. Wareham (vice-captain), R. Scott, J. Cunningham; E. McDonnell, W. Clancy; J. Boswell; Hoskins, Grant, R. Hansby; P. McNamara, W. Croudis (captain); W. Butler, Brown, S. McDonnell. Stars: McKenzie; C. Banks, B. Dixon, J. Perrin; Bennett, L. Stewart: F. Goodall; Jackson, K. Fisher, J. Quinn; H. Quinn, L. Kent; D. Wilson, R. Mclvor, J. Russell. Mclvor retired in the first hall with a head injury and was replaced by S. McLaughlin. In the first spell Wareham (2), S. Brown (2) and P. McNamara scored for Celtic, R. Scott converting two. Celtic led, 19—0, at half-time. Wareham scored three further tries, and P. McNamara one and W. Clancy converted one try in the second spell. F. Goodall kicked a penalty goal for Star. LOWER GRADE MATCHES. Cobden Juniors defeated United at Rugby Park by 25 points to nil. Scorers for Cobden were Jack Skeats, G. Davidson, J. Jeffries, D. Brown, R. Richardson, G. McLean. Joseph Skeats converted two tries and kicked a penalty. Star Juniors defeated Celtic, 14 —-3. Smith (2) and McKendry scored tries for Star, and Perrin kicked a penalty, and B. Dixon converted one. ,Ebt. h „C,;. andcsoredW Playing at Cobden Domain, Cobden third graders defeated Celtic, 8—6.. At the Technical School grounds, Technical defeated Blaketown, 49—0.

IN OTHER CENTRES

DUNEDIN, April 27

Saturday’s Rugby football results are-—Pirates 11, Kaikorai 9; University A 29, Zingari 6; Dunedin 17, Alhambra 3; University B 23, Union 3; Southern 13, Taieri 3. WELLINGTON, April 27.

Rugby Union senior A first division championship games opened in Wellington on dry grounds on Saturday, 12 teams being engaged. Results: Athletic* 32, Air Force 6-; Oriental. 8, St. Patrick’s College Old Boys G - Eastbourne 3, Marist Brothers Old Boys 3; Poneke 6, Wellington College Old Boys 3; Wellington 15, Petone 14; Hutt 13, University 6.