RUNANGA IN FORM: FAST PACE WAS SET

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 April 1949, Page 9

RUNANGA IN FORM: FAST PACE WAS SET

A casual observer would find it difficult to believe that Runanga was making its first appearance for the season when it beat Marist by 34 points to 8, at Wingham Park. Its fitness and the accuracy of its passing would have served for well on in the season and both were too much for Marist, which disappointed. Some splendid football was seen in the first half, but after the interval, with Marist too weakened and too far down the points ladder to have a chance, much of the interest went out of the game and the standard fell accordingly. Dual Advantage Good combined play by the Runanga forwards and some fine passing among the backs gave the country team an advantage in both departments. The Marist forwards worked hard, but they appeared to lack a leader, while the backs did not function nearly as well as they did against Ngahere, on attack or defence. Almost all .were guilty of “buying” blatant “dummies” from Higson, Menzies, and Thomas, who caused havoc at times.

With C. Mcßride and P. Coll out, the Marist forwards were frequently out-manoeuvred by the lively Runanga pack, in which A. McTaggart, R. Baxendale, and I. Marley were perhaps the most impressive, with J. Newton ably filling his role as leader. R. Neilson. F. Molloy, and J. Stokes were probably the most effective Marist forwards. There was not one failure in the Runanga backs, and the only newcomer. J. Higson (previously a forward), was a definite success. G. Menzies, M. Thomas, and J. Soster all played excellent games. In contrast. most of the Marist backs made mistakes at times and lacked the cohesion of the running backline. J. Pascoe, T. Dunn, and A. Hines (until he was injured) being probably the most effective.

The teams v.'ere as follows: — Runanga.'—J. Soster; J. Forrest, R. Forrest, J. Curragh; M. Thomas, G. Menzies; J. Higson; R. Baxendale, L. Giles, L. Forrest, A. McTaggart, I. Marley, J. Newton. Marist. —A. Hines; L. Dunn, V. Meates. A. Mooney; L. Dargan, J. Pascoe; T. Dunn; R. Neilson, J. Calder, F. Molloy, J. Stokes, P. Costello, F. Rush. Scoring Movements Marist opened the scoring with its best movement of the match. Neilson secured from a play-the-ball on the Runanga 25 and sent on to T. Dunn who passed to Pascoe and then came inside to accept a reverse pass which opened a gap in the defence, and Dunn touched down in a handy position. He

also converted. Curragh twice was alose to scoring for Runanga, but it was Eventually Marley who gained the first Runanga trv, from a loose rush near he line. Soster converted. There was in unusual incident following the next Runanga try, scored by Thomas after receiving from Menzies and Baxendale. Foster took the kick and succeeded, but is the referee had returned to half vay where a Marist player had been ’n.iured, he ordered'that the kick be taken again. At the second attempt Foster’s kick hit the upright and bounced infield. Just before half time, Higson cut round the side of the scrum and sent Baxendale over between the posts. Soster converted and Runanga 'ed by 13 points to five. P. Costello, who was injured earlier, was unable to take the field for Marist In the second half and although the depleted town team held its own for the first* quarter, Runanga gradually took command. R. Forrest and Curragh combined in a good movement for Forrest to score between the posts and Soster converted. Marist made its last rally when T. Dunn caught the defence by surprise in loose play and scored, but failed to convert.. In the closing stages tries were scored for Runanga by A. McTaggart, G. Menzies, J. Newton, and R. Forrest, two of them being converted by Soster, making the final score, Run--34, Marist 8. Just before the final try was scored. Hines retired with an injured leg. Mr J. Mathews was referee. *-■ - -