ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL Runanga Defeated For First Time: Taylorville’s Win

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 June 1948, Page 8

ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL Runanga Defeated For First Time: Taylorville’s Win

For the first time this season, Runanga was defeated in the Westland Football Association’s senior competition for the Westland Cup. It was beaten by Taylorville by three goals to one in a" keen and interesting match which was played at Taylorville on Saturday. The result makes the championship issue more open and puts Taylorville into the running with Runanga. The match was played at a fast pace throughout with Taylorville having a slight territorial advantage. The forwards made the most of their opportunities, while Runanga appeared to miss the steadying influence of Scott and Glen who were not available. Taylorville’s goals were obtained by J. Dando (2) and H. Graham. Campbell notched a goal for Runanga. All the scores came as a result of combined forward ‘moves, good centres, and strong finishing shots. For Taylorville D. and H. Graham, J. and E. Dando and W. Erskine were outstanding while Armstrong, Clark, Watson and Boole played well for Runanga. Blackball's Victory

In a fast game played at the Recreation ground on Saturday, Blackball gained a good win in the senior competition at the expense of Greymouth by three goals to one. Two of the Greymouth players received injuries and had to leave the field, and under the circumstances, the Greymouth eleven put up a creditable performance. The Blackball team had a slight advantage throughout and kept the pace fast until the final whistle. This was -the deciding factor. Goals were scored for Blackball by Allen (2) and Rarity, while Marshall netted for Greymouth. In a senior match played at Reefton on Saturday Cobden had a comfortable win at the expense of Reefton by six goals to nil, match in which the vistors had a decided advantage. The Reefton eleven was considerably weakened and took the field several players short. Goals were scored for Cobden by Roche (4) and Ewan (2).

WESTLAND TEAMS SELECTED TO PLAY BULLER

The following Westland teams in the senior and schoolboy divisions have been selected to play Buller at Victoria Park, Greymouth on July 10:—

Seniors.—Goal: Ledson (Reefton); right back Marshall (Greymouth); left back Clark (Runanga); right half McMahon (Blackball); centre half Armstrong (Runanga); left half Balderstone (Blackball); .outside right White (Runanga); inside right McLaren (Reefton); centre forward Roach (Cobden); inside left Scott (captain) (Runanga); outside left J. Dando (Taylorville). Reserves: G. Graham Taylorville); Kerr (Cobden) Phillips (Blackball); Boyd (Greymouth); T. Graham (Taylorville). Schoolboys.—Goal Rae (Blackball); right back Shadbolt (Blackball); left back Boote (Runanga); right half Meiklejohn (Greymouth); centre half Pizzatto (Runanga); left half McNeil (Cobden); outside right Green (Runanga); inside right Taylor (Blackball); centre forward Pollock (Cobden); inside left McNaughton (Blackball); outside left Lynch (Cobden). Reserves: Marley (Cobden); Brown (Blackball);. Buchan (Blackball).

FINE DISPLAY BY TEAMS IN INTER-ISLAND GAME ,

(P.A.) DUNEDIN, June 27. A fine display of Association football in difficult conditions was given when the South Island held the North Island to a draw, 2-all, for the second time in the four matches played so far between the islands. Overnight rain had made the ground heavy and greasy on top, and in the early stages of the play the players on both sides had difficulty in keeping their feet. Adopting a short-passing game and keeping position much better than their opponents, the North Island team was more effective in the heavy going than the South Island, and had a lead of two goals to one at the close of the first spell. Up to that time the North Island players had been assisted by the wind, but in the

second spell the South Island came more into its own.

‘ Both sides provided excellent football, but on the run of the play the I South Island was unlucky not to I score its first win in the series. The i covering of the North Island players was much superior to that of their opposite numbers in most cases, and when the North Island players had possession of the ball they made more use of it. Both goals for the South Island were scored by Gordon Smith, the Canterbury centre-forward, and D. Blackie and G. Neesham, both of Auckland, scored for the North Island. For the South Island, M. Gordon (Canterbury) was the mainstay of the side. He was magnificent on defence and held his team together well. C. Graham (Canterbury) was the best of the backs, and T. Gilchrist (Otago) supported Gordon well. At right half, G. Smith (Canterbury) was well marked all day, but acquitted himself well, and R. Dowker (Canterbury) and F. Naumann (Otago) were excellent in the outside forward positions. i R. G. King (Auckland), goal--1 keeper for the North Island, lived up to his reputation, and both R. Hodgson (Auckland) and R. Harris (Wellington) were solid full-backs. D. McKissock (Wellington) and R. Boyes (Wellington) were hardworking halves, and K. Flett (Auckland) and R. McKinley (Wellington) stood out in the forwards.