RUGBY FOOTBALL

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 July 1941, Page 4

RUGBY FOOTBALL

BULLER v. WEST COAST In view of approaching Seddon Shield matches, considerable interest is being taken in the Rundle Cup match to be played at Rugby Park, Greymouth, on Saturday, between ( Buller and West Coast. The Buller team is almost an entirely new combination, while the West Coast learn has already proved itself in the two matches against Canterbury. However, the annual home-and-home matches between the two Unions invariably provide good football and an exciting match is expected on Saturday. A third grade representative match between Greymouth and Westland will provide the curtain-raiser. A special train has been arranged for Hokitika patrons. It will leave Hokitika at 1.10 p.m., arriving at Greymouth at 2.15 and leaving on return at 5 p.m. THIRD GRADE TEAMS The Greymouth Third Grade representative team to meet Westland at Greymouth on Saturday, is as fol-lows:—Full-back, J. Lindbom (C.); three-quarters: N. Lawson (C.), J. Bendall (Cel.), R. Wright (Tech.), five-eighths, T. Parsonage (Tech. Captain), R. Olsen (B.); half-back, J. Haglund (Tech.); forwards, B. Mettrick (C.), W. Fraser (Cel.), N. Webster (B.), R. Henderson (Tech.), J. McClure (Cel.), E. Stewart (Tech.) D. Stewart (C.), J. Heffernan (Cel.). Emergencies: R. Ellery (Tech.). S. Harker (B.). Assemble at United Pavilion 1 p.m. Westland team: Full-back, Tulloch (K.). three-quarters, Laing (S.), Ellis (K.), Thomas (S.), five-eighths, King (S. Captain), Ballinger (K.); half-back, Stoop (E.); forwards, Hanrahan (E.), McLean (S.), Duggan (Kok.), Steohens (K.), Johnson (S.), Sweeny (S.‘), Parker (E.). Emergencies: Laing (S.), Agnew (Kok.), Salvingy (E.). SCHOOL MATCH CHRISTCHURCH, July 16. By one point, the Christchurch Boys’ High School to-day beat Christ’s College, at the College ground in a thrilling and scientifically brilliant game. School won by 14 points to 13. NOTES AND COMMENTS With the vexed question of the Seddon Shield settled for this season West Coast will be deluged with representative matches in the next couple of months, commencing with the first of (he home-and-home matches with Buller on Saturday next at Greymouth. It will be a case of representative matches and club matches on alternate Saturdays, so football followers will have a feast of the game provided the Shield is retained. From the information available, it is difficult to see why the West Coast Union has now decided to play the challenge matches, but it can be presumed that the New Zealand Union, from whom _ the Coast Union was awaiting a direction, has decided that the matches are to be played. This is in direct conflict with the decision of the Council’s annual meeting, and it can be deduced that the New Zealand Union has bowed to the wishes of the nowfamous meeting of the other Shield Unions held at Nelson, when the West Coast Union was not invited. AU going well West Coast should not be easv" “kills" lor the challenging Unions', even though Nelson and Marlborough have the undoubted advantage of having Air Force. stations in their districts. The attitude of the President of the Union, in saying that he will have nothing to do with the matches, is hard to understand, seeing that it was a unanimous vote of the Union that decided that the matches were to be played. In view of the controversy over the Shield, there will undoubtedly be unprecedented interest in the matches, and if West Coast can hold the trophy, and there will be many to say they can, it should be a decided winner for the Union in these days of small gates. Next Saturday’s match with Buller will be watched with the keenest interest, for it should give a line on Buller’s chance of winning the Shield.

Not His Best:—J. Gillan, the United, and West Coast full-back, was not at his best in the match with Celtic on Saturday. His handling was not sure enough, and on several occasions he was caught out of position. The few tackles he-was called upon to make, however, were well executed. This player mad« a name for himself in tb e match with Canterbury at Christchurch, and he can be depended upon to live up to that reputation. His game on Saturday, while not poor was not up to the standard be reached in the Canterbury match, and in the United-Hokitika match on the following Saturday.

A Great Worker:—Probably the most consistent worker in the United pack is the hooker, R. Hamilton. Though he carries some extra weight, he is alwavs up with the nlav, and is a great fighter in the tight. He was particularly noticeable on Saturday for the way he almost invariably led the nack away from the rucks. His hooking was not successful, but Hansbv, with a niecly balanced scrum behind him is no mean hooker.

F?st Forward:—P. McNamara was tried on the wing for Celtic and did his iob quite successfully but he seems to have found his right place in the forwards. He has a lot of nace, and handles and tackles well. On Saturday in the match with United he was always prominent, taking part in the loose rushes, and doing his share in bustling the United backs.

G 'ad Display:—P. Croudis, the Celtic ''"11-back. and the custodian in Ihe West Coast team which plavod Can+n'hurv Grpmo” l ’ l . nlnvnfi a Gne on CMiirdv’ T-Tic nOHt’ennl olav was not all that could be desired, and unfortunately be has not the Dace to cover up any bad errors of judgment. but he handled better than his opposite, and he tackled splendidly. One particular tackle that stood out was the one he downed Shannon with when the latter looked to have a good chance of scoring. Croudis still wastes far too much of his powerful boot in height, and this is a contributing cause of his inaccuracy. Some of the other backs in the match could well learn a lesson from Hendry in the matter of line-kicking. He seldom fails to find his objective, and knows the value of gaining perhaps only ten vards for certain, instead of trying for too much length, missing the line and giving the ball to the other team.

Back Aaairi:—S. Hendrv is back again in the representative team, having been chosen as first fiveeighth in the team to play Buller on Saturday. He is one of the veterans of the side, but is still the best first five-eighth on the Coast. He has had more than his full share of knocks in his football career, and has not fared too well this season, but he will be a big asset in the team. He has a good understanding with the halfback. Sweetman. In the United backs on Saturday he was the stumbling block for many Celtic attacks, and his line-kicking was excellent.

Useful Winaer:—The United leftwinger', I. Leitch was in good form on Saturday, and his two tries were well deserved. Both were determined efforts. and the result of his quickthinking. Leitch has a good turn of speed, is an elusive runner, and a great trier. He does not always, get the credit he deserves. His right

winger, Butler did not get many chances, btft he found Wareham a hard man to pass. On the other hand on the few occasions that Wareham had a chance he usually found Butler barring the way successfully. The .defence of both these players left little to be desired. 1 LEAGUE FOOTBALL. NEWS AND NOTES. Interest in the Bradshaw Cup ior competition has increased as a result of last Sunday’s matches and although it is only a one-round competition, it still bears an open appearance. Runanga showed great improvement to defeat Marist and, on the run of play, Ngahere were decidedly unlucky not to upset the so-iar unbeaten Blackball thirteen. Even before the results of last Sunday’s matches were known, a move had been made for Runanga and Black-' ball to meet at Wingham Park and now this game should prove one ol the outstanding club fixtures of the season. Blackball have had a number of close calls since they won the championship so comfortably/ and if Runanga can reproduce the form that they displayed in the second half of last Sunday’s game they may be the ones to spoil Blackball’s unbeaten record. The positions of the teams in the competition are now as follow:—

Representative Match: It is now definite that Canterbury representatives will play at Wingham Park on July 27, although it has not been finally settled as to whether the Anisy Shield or Northern Union Cup, both held by West Coast, will be at stake. The West Coast team will be announced after next Sunday’s games, but after the good display put up by the team which won the Massetti Cup at Reellon, few changes can be expected. Possibly, an attempt will be made to improve the handling of the inside backs, and the set scrummaging, which were about the only faults to be found at Reefton, apart from the inclination of the backs generally to run across field.

A Major Problem: It is well-known that it is seeking the impossible to find a referee who can-please everybody, but the present policy of appointing referees for the West Coast Rugby League’s senior matches appears to be" inviting criticism. Even allowing for the acute shortage of referees it does appear that the selections are often unwise, from the viewpoint of maintaining harmony in the game. The cry of “all referees are neutral” has, in the past, submerged demands for an interchange of referees for important matches, but such a cry will not stifle criticism, even though it might be ill-founded. Although there were no untoward incidents in Sunday’s matches, the appointment of the referees left room ior complaints. The referee of the Marist-Runanga game was a leading official of the Marist Club and similarly the referee of the BlackballNgahere match could not be called a “neutral” referee. It is not suggested that either of these men were other than perfectly fair or that they did not control their games to the best of their ability, but the fact remains that, in such circumstances, they will always be accused of bias and such accusations quickly crystalise into complaints when scores are close. Undoubtedly, it means expense to travel referees away from their home grounds, but from all viewpoints, it would be money well spent.

Outstanding: An outstanding.Marist back on Sunday was J. Smith, who has been tried in various positions. He was completely at home on the wing and made several fine runs. His handling was good and his coolness in tight corners saved Marist several times. In addition, his following-up was an example to some of the other players, both backs and forwards. Too Much Kicking: While the standard of football in the MaristRunanga game was good geierally, the meaningless exchange of kicks on several occasions was far from inspiring and, for the time being, the real League game was forgotten. What the backs responsible aimed to do is mystifying, what they actually did was to tire out their forwards uselessly. Improving: An improving player is Hinks, the Runanga winger. He made several good runs on Sunday and his try, which opened the scoring, was a gem. He accepted a pass, at full speed, just inside half-way and apart from a slight swerve, to sell a neat dummy to the opposite winger, made for the line on tne shortest route.

P. w. L. For Ag. Pts. Blackball 2 2 — 49 20 4 Marist 3 2 1 38 26 4 Runanga 3 2 1 41 36 4 Ngahere 3 1 2 38 36 2 Seaview o — 3 14 62 0