LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 May 1944, Page 6

LEAGUE FOOTBALL

NGAHERE & BLACKBALL WIN Heavy grounds militated against the best fotball when the West Coast Rugby League’s competitions were continued yesterday, but the senior matches were interesting games, with plenty of lively back play. Ngahere defeated Marist by a margin of four points and Blackball had a run-away victory over Brunner. In the lower grades, Marist and Brunner juniors and Runanga fourths were successful. NGAHERE v. MARIST Marist and Ngahere provided a bright game at Wingham Park, Ngahere winning by 10 points to six. Each side scored two tries, but Ngahere converted both of theirs and Marist failed with both kicks. Ngahere had the better of the first spell, their backs combining effectively, though Marist woh most of the ball from the set scrums. The Marist backs handled badly, but their forwards played a fine game. Watson, P. Coll and P. Malone were constant toilers in the Marist pack, and Scott and T. Malone were the. best backs. Dun nanl Clark were the pick of the Ngahere fcrf wards, and Dowell and O’Brien were always prominent in the rearguard. The teams were:— Marist: T. F. McKenzie, T. Scott, M. Teen, T. Malone, L. Dunn, B. Rochford, L. Trederinick, D. Watson, G. Martin, P. Coll, K. Coll, J. Hagan, and P. Malone. Ngahere: K. Elmers, J. Mulcare, A. Gibson, J. Dowell, P. O’Brien, F. Pascoe, A. Smith, A. Dunn, J. Howden, W. Campbell, A. Clarke, H. Parker, A. McLure. In the first spell Dowell scored for Ngahere and Howden converted. In the second Marist took the lead with tries by P. Coll and Watson, but both kicks, by Coll missed. Ngahere secured the deciding points with a try by Parker, converted by Howden, and the game ended: Ngahere 10, Marist 6. Cpl. J. P. Mathews was referee. BLACKBALL v. BRUNNER

Blackball led Brunner by only 11 points to five at the interval in their match at Blackball, but in the second spell the combination and fitness of Blackball had their effect, ana tffe home team ran out easy winners by 34 points to five. C. Mountford and W. Mountford were the stars of the Blackball backs, all of whom, however, played good football. Clark and Mcßride were the best of the forwards. For Brunner Hobbs and Chapman were the most consistent forwards and Bernard and Williams were the pick of the rearguard. Tries were scored for the winners by W. Mountford (2), Neilson, Jamieson, C. Mountford (3), and O’Donnell. Nuttall converted two, Ord one and C. Bountford two. Mr A. Kennedy was referee. LOWER GRADES Marist juniors defeated Runanga by two points to nil, and Brunner juniors dereated Blackball by nine points to two. Runanga fourths defeated Brunner by 13 points to five.