LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 April 1943, Page 3

LEAGUE FOOTBALL

WIN FOR RUNANGA

The Rugby League season opened yesterday, in fine weather, when Runanga defeated Marist by 16 points to 12 and Ngahere defeated Brunner by 14 points to 7. In the Runanga-Mar-ist match, played on a heavy ground at Runanga, the teams were: Marist: W. Mann. T. Power, J. Teen, P. Malone, S. Knapp, L. Dunn, M. Power, J. Hatch. J. Griffin, D. Watson, H. O’Connell, P. Coll, J. Neilson. Runanga: R. Clarke, J. Fitzgibbons R. Glynn, D. Stevens, J. Clelland. R. Dalziel, C.~ Higson, G. Lee, T. Anderson, C. McTigue, N. McTigue, K. Leach, G. Bowman. Runanga won the toss, but made little headway during the first ten minutes of ragged play till N. McTigue, a three-quarter, made a good dash down the line. Bustling tactics followed, but Malone and Mann saved the day for Marist. Eventually Runanga were awarded a penalty and Bowman succeeded with the kick. Runanga 2; Marist 0. Play continued with good movements, and while in the Marist 25 Runanga dribbled and Fitzgibbons picked up to cross the line. Glynn missed the kick. —Runanga 5; Marist 0. Shortly afterwards half-time sounded.

When olay resumed a dribbling rush was 'set up by Runanga. From halfway in Marist’s 25, N. McTigue dribbled the ball over the line and fell while following up. A race ensued and Fitzgibbons reached the ball first to force for Runanga. R. Glynn converted. —Runanga 10; Marist 0. Play was in progress for 10 minutes when Anderson, from just on halfway, dribbled the ball and after a long kick raced Malone to force down. —Runanga 13; Marist 0. Marist were working hard in the 25 when a penaltv was awarded, Mann taking the kick, to put it over. Runanga 13; Marist 2.

A bright back movement by Runanga took the ball to the Marist line. An infringement occurred and Marist were awarded a penalty, Mann sending a long kick downfield. McTigue and Leach made a dash down the line, and Leach went over to score. Bowman missed with the kick.—Runanga 16; Marist 2; Marist forwards worked hard with the ball and a dribbling movement was finished by Malone and Coll with the ball over the line. Coll forced, and Mann succeeded with the kick.. B.Unanga 16; Marist 7. From half-way Mann made a tricky run to score the best try of the day. Mann converted. Runanga 16; Marist 12. Mr. B. Casey was referee. In the senior match at Brunner scorers for Ngahere were F. Gibson (2), A. Smith and J. Dowell a try each, P. Mulcare converting one. For Brunner O’Brien scored and Hogarth converted and also kicked a penalty. A third grade match, Marist v. Runanga, at Runanga, resulted in a scoreless draw.