RUGBY FOOTBALL

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 July 1945, Page 8

RUGBY FOOTBALL

BLAKETOWN DEFEAT ’ COBDEN Defeating Cobden decisively by nine points to three Blaketown. played their way into the lead in the senior championship at Rugby Park, Greymouth, on Saturday afternoon. There was a strong and bitterly- cold easterly wind, but othermise conditions were ideal for what promised to be the best match of the season. The game fell far below expectations, and except for some of the forward play and one or two bright individual, efforts there was little in the play that even approached the best standards set by these teams earlier this season. There was no life in the first spell, but it improved in this respect in the second. The other senior match set down to be played at the Park, Celtic v. Star-United, did not eventuate, Celtic winning by default. Results of the various matches played were as follow: — SENIOR GRADE Blaketown 9, Cobden 3. Kiwi-Excelsior 23, St. Mary’s 6. JUNIOR GRADE Blaketown 6, Cobden 5. THIRD GRADE Celtic 11, Blaketown 10. / FOURTH GRADE Technical A 8, Celtic 3. Technical B 22, Star-United nil. NEW CHAMPIONS? Earlier in the season Blaketown defeated Cobden, who have been champions, practically undisputed, for a number of seasons, and they repeated the dose on Saturday when They won by nine points to three, and fully deserved their win. Blaketown had the better of the game throughout, though Blaketown did make a strong effort in the second spell, and they scored two tries, while Cobden failed to cross their line. It was not a good game, despite favourable conditions, and there was little excuse for the bad handling and useless kicking which were so noticeable. In the first spell Cobden had the advantage of the strong wind, which was blowing diagonally across the ground,, but they made little use of it, and they finished 'the spell only three points up, a goal from a penalty. In the strong attacks Cobden did make the Blaketown defence was too solid. Cobden were handicapped by the fact that Fisher hooked the ball regularly and many of the line-outs were indecisive. ' The Cobden backs made little headway, and Blaketown, as a combination, were equally ineffective. This was partly due to solid tackling in close. In the second spell Blaketown used the wina at every opportunity and gave Cobden plenty of trouble, though again in this spell there was little combined work among the backs, the ball seldom reaching the wingers in passing bouts. The tussle between the two packs was keen, with Blaketown superior because of their great dash and their consistent backing up. . • Wright, Horrack and Hopkins were the best* of the Cobden backs, Horrack passing well from behind the scrum and Hopkins tackling well. Wright was easily the most dangerous and was a little unlucky not to get a try. Vaughan kicked too much, especially with Wright outside him. Dindbom had rather an off day. He was good at times, but got into serious trouble at others. Nelson was the best winger on the ground and scored an excellent try, but was handicapped by McDonald’s poor handling. Thomas and McLean played solid games, but ran across the field too 1 much. Tamui played his best game at half for Blaketown and he scored a good try. In the Blaketown forwards Mitchell, McKendry, Sinclair and Inwood were a fine quartette. Inwood played a splendid game in the loose and worried the opposing backs. Fisher hooked the ball regularly and was useful in other departments. Skerton, Birchfield, Keith and Marley were the most consistent Cobden forwards, though Skerton spoiled an otherwise fine game by’ infringements. Cobden missed R. R. King and A. Thompson.

The teams were: — Blaketown: Lines; R. Nelson, McDonald, Currie; McLean, Thomas; Tainui: Tomlinson, Fisher, McKendry; Mitchell, Muir, Sinclair, Smith; Inwood. „ T . , , Cobden: Lindbom! Lawson, Wright, Olsen, Vaughan, Hopkins; Horrack; Krakosky, Marley, Mettrick; Skerton, Birchfield, Watkin, Keith; Gilmour.

Referee: Mr N. Eggelton. . Lindboin opened the scoring with a splendid goal from a penalty from about 10 yards on the Blaketown side of half way, and this was the only scoring in the first spell. Early in the second Thomas kicked a fine goal from a penalty 40 yards out, the penalty being against Skerton for offside play. Soon afterwards Tainui scored a neat try when he dived on the ball over the line as it was released by his forwards following a scrum. Thomas failed to convert. A poor pass by Hopkins on the Cobden 25 went astray and Nelson snapped the ball up and raced away to score a fine try well out as he was tackled by Lindbom. Mitchell missed the kick. Blaketown went close to scoring once or twice again and Wright was rather unlucky not to score when he followed up a kick by Vaughan. Final score: Blaketown 9,. Cobden 3. KIWI-EXCELSIOR AVIN EASILY ■ Playing at Cass Square, Hokitika, Kiwi-Excelsior showed further improvement in defeating St. Mary s b;y 23 points to six. The winners playea fine football and it was a fast game throughoutout. Tries for KiwiExcelsior were scored by Amberger (2), J. Tainui, Monk, Douglas and Chapple. Hurren converted one oi the tries and Monk lacked a goal from a penalty. J. Warren and K. Davidson scored tries for St. Mary's. TECHNICAL SCHOOLS’ MATCH

The Westport Technical School first fifteen defeated the first fifteen of the Greymouth Technical High School by i 4 points to three at Westport on Saturday. Svendsen and Steel scored tries for the winners and F. Newman kicked two goals from penalties and also converted one of the tries. For Greymouth, McKenzie scored a try. INANGAHUA MATCHES

I The competitions of the Tnangahua Rugby Sub-Union were advanced a further stage on Sunday when Waratahs and Cronadun met at Reefton and United travelled to Ikamatua to play the local team. The matches were the commencement of second round play for the McMahon Cup. Cronadun defeated Waratah by nine points to six. Conditions were ideal. Cronadun fielded a dangerous back-line and, as they received the bulk of the ball from set scrums, would have macle their tally much higher but for faulty handling. Scott, whose game has shown marked improvement, gave a good display and was assisted by Watson and Roughan. In the forwards, T. Coghlan, G. Hunt and Little were consistent toilers and E. Story -was a steady worker. The Waratah back-line was not as strong as usual and, except for occasional dashes, the backs confined their activities to defensive play. Patterson was sound at half-back while Barnett, Stewart and Skelton came through the day creditably. Gilmour was below form in the full-back position although his line kicking was good. The Waratahs forwards performed well with Murphy and W. Hunt in the van and Rosanowski, Griffen and Carter lending close support. For the winners, T. Coghlan scored two tries and Watson kicked a goal from a penalty. 'Waratah points com-

prised a beautiful try by Stewart (who raced almost the full length of the field) and a pentlty goal by Murphy. Mr. J. Crossman. was referee. IKAMATUA 38 v. UNITED 3. Playing at Ikamatua, the home team completely outclassed the United (Reefton) side. United was forced to make use of several substitute players. United were unable to withstand the determined rushes of the Ikamatua forwards led by Bannan, Burrows, Purvis and Venus noi’ was their defence at all effective against the Ikamatua rearguard in which Don McVicar played an outstanding game. Most support was forthcoming from Curtain, H. Lines and Jones. Bannan s play was good and his leadership was responsible for the overwhelming superiority of the Ikamatua forwards. The United forwards were inuch lighter than the opposing pack. They were without the leadership of T. Chandler and E. Fattorini and their play suffered considerably. On the day, they were outclassed. Coghlan, Latham and Gilmour showed to most advantage. With Ikamatua exercising a monopoly on possession of the ball, the United backs were at a disadvantage and the strong back movements which have usually been a feature of their play were not .in evidence. However, their defensive play was of little use' in the stopping of rushes, and the tackling was much below' standard. Kerr, Cutbush and Keily worked hardest. Scorers for Ikamatua were McVicar (3), P. Burrows, Purvis, Bannan (2), Bradley, V. Curtay.ne and Woolhouse. Bannan converted three and Bradley converted one try. For United, T. Gilmour kicked a goal from a penalty. Mr. J. Deilaca was referee. WANGANUI V. MANAWATU WANGANUI, July 22. In the brightest representative Rugby football match seen here for years, Wanganui beat Manawatu on Saturday by 32 to 22.