Kiwis Were Well Marked In First Club Game

Greymouth Evening Star, 5 April 1948, Page 8

Kiwis Were Well Marked In First Club Game

A feature of the Runanga-Black-ball game was the light hold the opposing players on both sides kept oil! the seven internationals taking part ' in the match. They were given few chances and as the result of good marking and solid tackling, they were by no means a dominating factor in the game. With half the Blackball pack New Zealand representatives, honours, on the day, were with the Runanga forwards. Many infringements helped to make the game much tighter than might have been expected under the conditions and with the backs on both sides failing to handle with accuracy, there was not a great deal of spectacular back play. The game, however, was always fast and both teams gave promise of reaching a high standard as the season advances. Failed in Scrum Although Blackball had the services of the New Zealand hooker, R. Aynsley, its scrum’ work was not good and the scrum did not appear to be well balanced. This, coupled with mishandling close to the base was a big factor in Runanga’s success. The Runanga forwards played well as a team and were always on the ball, gaining much ground by keeping the Blackball backs bustled. As a whole, the Runanga backline showed more enterprise, but opportunities were lost through the ball not being supplied quickly enough to the three-quarters. Both sets of backs lost points through being slow to get the ball away, especially in view of the spoiling tactics adopted on both sides. The forward play generally was of a high standard. There was little between the packs in the tight, btit in the loose Runanga gained more ground. J. Newton was an excellent leader for Runanga, but every forward gave him good support, with A. McTaggart •and J. Higson perhaps the most effective. C. Mcßride was easily the hardest worker in the Blackball pack, with K. Mountford and R. O’Donnell also prominent. Mcßride, Mountford and R. Aynsley were too well marked, however, to make any spectacular moves.

The most enterprising Runanga back was J. Curragh and he played an excellent game. J. Soster was also at top form and on the day was better than R. Nuttall, handling and kicking with greater accuracy. G. Menzies and J. Forrest were also impressive, although Forrest had few opportunities. The newcomer in the Runanga backs, M. Thomas (former Union representative) took a while to settle down, but was afterwards sound in all departments. An excellent try was scored by W. Boyd, the new Blackball winger and with W. Mountford he was the best of the three-quarters. C. McGougan, a promising colt, was the most effective of the Blackball inside backs. W. Pascoe, on the other wing, was dangerous whenever he got the ball. The teams were as follows: — Runanga— J. Soster; J. Forrest, R. Forrest, J. Curragh; M. Thomas, G. Menzies; L. Sweetman; R. Baxendale, J. Higson, W. Anderson, A. McTaggart, F. Thompson, J. Newton. Blackball.— R. Nuttall; W. Boyd, W. Mountford, W. Pascoe; C. McGougan, P Morrow; J. Lee; K. Mountford, C. Mcßride, W. Kerr, R. O’Donnell, R. Aynsley, J. Kirwan. Scoring Movements A penalty goal kicked by J. Curragh gave Runanga an early lead and with the spell half completed, R. Forrest trapped a low clearing kick from Nuttall to run 15 yards for an excellent try between the posts. Curragh converted. Runanga enjoyed the territorial advantage and at half-time held a seven-nil lead. Early in the second spell, the Blackball backs produced the best passing rush of the match. The;ball travelled out to Pascoe who sent in infield before accepting a reverse from McGougan to score well out. Nuttall failed to convert. With a brilliant solo try, however, J. Newton partly recovered the situation. He intercepted from a play-the-ball almost in midfield and showed an unexpected turn of speed to run round Nuttall and touch down near the posts. Curragh failed to convert. A similar run by Boyd, after he had received from Mountford 30 yards out produced Blackball’s next try, which Nuttall failed to convert. With only a few minutes of play remaining, A. McTaggart secured in a ruck 15 yards from the Blackball line and forced his way over the corner. Soster converted almost from the sideline, to make the final score. Ru nanga 15, Blackball 6. Mr J. Mathews was referee.