STAR LUCKY TO OVERTAKE UNITED’S LEAD

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 April 1949, Page 10

STAR LUCKY TO OVERTAKE UNITED’S LEAD

After holding the upper hand until half-way through the second spell, United was distinctly unlucky not to inflict a reverse on last year’s champion side. Star, in its first match of the 1949 competition. Star won by 14 points to 12. Lack of .condition in the final stages allowed Star to overcome a nine-point deficit and establish a five-point lead. A try in the final minute gave United a chance to save the game, but the kick that could have equalised the scores failed. Star had the advantage of a strongwind in the first spell, but was confined almost entirely to its own territory by the tactics of the heavy and forceful United forwards. There was a general lack of enterprise on the part of the Star side, and United, definitely on fop, was unlucky not to score more than two tries. They were again close to scoring early in the second spell, but fortunes changed suddenly, and by playing bright, open football —a tendency that had been missing from their play so far —Star backs scored three tries in quick succession. The forwards also got the upper hand and came close to scoring more tries in the. dying stages. While none of the Star backs was particularly impressive, D. Steel, B. Steel, and N. Hopkins did well, with I. Antonevic, D. Brien, and D. Wilson prominent in the forwards. A. C. Glen was outstanding in the United pack—easily the best forward on the field—and his companions also played exceptionally well in the first half. J. Robertson was easily the best United back, varying his play well and being particularly sound on defence. J. Gillan was the pivot of the attack in the first spell, but the second half found him surprisingly unfit. The teams were:

Star.—R. Steel; D. Steel, R. Nelson, B. Steel; B. Hay ton, N. Hopkins; L. McDougall, J. Bingham, B. Dowrick, D. Wilson, B. Dixon, D. Brien, W. Evans, I. Antonevic, G. Nelson. United. —G. Dewar; W. Leitch, J. Anderson, J. Hewitt; J. Gillan, D. Welsh; J. Robertson; N. Rose, J. Moar, F. Holmes, T. Mathieson, A. Glen, G. Paul, J. Thompson, A. Richardson. The referee was Mr C. F. Cockburn. N. Rose, T. Mathieson, and J. Robertson scored for United, A. Glen kicking a goal from a penalty, while 8.. Steel, N. Hopkins, D. Steel, and G. Nelson scored for Star, Hopkins converting the final try.