THE LEAGUE GAME.

Grey River Argus, 29 May 1922, Page 6

THE LEAGUE GAME.

WEEK-END MATCHES. WEEK-END MATCHES. BLACKBALL (10) v. RUNANGA (8). A large crowd made the Seven Alilc their attraction yesterday afternoon tf witness the senior g: me between the two above teams. It was generally expected Hu t Runanga would prove toe good for Blackball, but once again the glorious uncertainty of football ]>revail ed, and the visitors, after a hard ami interesting game, secured a good wii right on the call of time. The Runang: team were without the services of J McTaggart. whilst Uust replaced Free man in the backs, Finn going up half Blackball wore sc ver;: 1 of their seniors short owing to injuries, among the ab sontees being the veteran Todd. Anyhow, the junior members of the tean: acquitted themselves well and fully justified their inclusion. Runanga wor the toss and Blackball kicked off to wards the town goal. Purnell returning the kick, the State team set up a hot attack for a. start and were nearly over. From a penalty shortly afterwards Purnell made an unsuccessful ' attempt at goal. The kick-out was taken by Finn, who started his backs o-oing and a nice bit of passing ended iu Robson being forced out by J. Kerr, From the serum Long, J. Neilsun and Stenhouse headed a rush lor Reds and carried play to half-way, wheie O’Loughlin returned to the twentyfive and a breach by a Blackball man gave Robson a shot at goal. He also failed. A determined nttack by the Red forwards carried play to the Runanga line and when a try looked certain, Hunter saved well by running- round and fielding smartly he stmt the ball well up the field. From a scrum Blackball started ]>assing and the ball travelled out to Croft, who missed ami a scrum ensued. Henderson here was prominent in a bit of individual work, as also was Manderson (the Runanga fullback). A free kick to the Reds Stenhouse found the line with a good kick. The Runanga forwards, headed by AleTaggart, Parsonage and Barber made a good rush to the Blackball territory where Uroft made a faulty kick. The result was Robson scored an easy try <• nd goaled, making the score five to nil in favour of Runanga. This reverse awakened Blackball somewhat and J. Neilson, IL Neilson and Long were conspicuous in a rally near Runanga line, Manderson saving. Pinn broke awry ami passed to Robson who was well tackled by Kerr. Henderson, picking up smartly, relieved. A free kick to Runanga saw Kells possession and a nice bit of passing ensued, but Croft, who seemed off again, mulled and spoilt a good ch: nee. Runanga retaliated with a nice passing bout, Robson being dangerous. MeTagg: rt here got offside and Henderson had a fruitless shot at goal. Attacking again Runang.i shifted play to the other emi, where after another bout of passing, in which Pinn, Purnell, Cust and Robson tom; part, tin' last-named was thrown out at the corner. Shortly after this Robson gained possession ami beating the opopsition scored a fine try. Purnell failed to add. Runanga 8, Blackball 0. Runanga were having somewhat th'* better of it ami continually attacked with passing rushes, but mishandling spoilt several good shows. Hall, Perry ami Kells here showed prominent and shifted play to Runanga territory where Henderson h; d another unsuccessful shot at goal. Half-time sounded with the score, Runanga 8, Blackball 0. Immediately on resuming the Reds set out to even matters, ami had Runanga hard pressed, only good work by Purnell and Al.anderson averting a try. Croft m: rked ami the Blackball forwards followed the kick. Robson, however, saved and returned the ball to Kerr, who made a good dash up the line and passed to Henderson who was grassed; and a scrum eventuated. Blackball got possession but Henderson was collared with the ball, and a scramble ensued, Runanga forwards clearing. Stenhouse headed a rush for the Reds and carried play right down the field, Manderson finding the line. Continuing to attack the Reds, by good work by Hall, Kells, and Henderson, carried the leather to Runanga line, where from passing among the forwards, J. Neilson got over wide out. Stenhouse electrified the crowd by goaling with a beautiful kick. Runanga 8, Blackball u. This put now life into the game and i things got verv lively both sides stii\ing hard to increase the scores and the Reds were having somewh: t the bet ter of the play. Long, W. Neilson and J. Neilson headed a good rush for Blackball, only to overrun the ball; and Pinn was prominent in a good save. From a bit of loose play in front of the Runanga goal. Kells had a pot, but his kick went wide and Runanga forced. The kick out was taken by Hall, who kicked well down the field ami Long, 11. Neilson and Stenhouse carried ! play further into Runanga territory, , where W. Wilson broke away. He w; s i upended by Hunter. A free kick to j Blackball saw Stenhouse miss an easy shot at goal, the ball going wide. Runanga now attacked and Croft centring, Robson got possession and looked dangerous. Kerr tackled him well : nd a dangerous rush was relieved. Shortly afterwards, Blackball headed a fine forward rush, and carried play to the corner where, from a scramble, 11. Neilson scored the Reds second try. No goal resulted and the score now stood: Runanga 8, Blackball 8. Matters became intensely exciting now and some good play was witnessed despite the rough nature of the ground. Both sides were striving to open up the game, and a free kick to Reds enabled Stenhouse to find the line. With only a few minutes to go both sides made '

things lively and a Ttunanga man get ting off-side gave Stenhouse a chance to win the game, and he landed a fine goal from a difficult angle amidst great excitement and Blackball were now in the lead by 10 points to eight. Kun anga made a tin:.l rally hut time die not allow them to penetrate the Ped defence ami they had to lower theii colours to their mining rivals after r hard game. Mr E. Smith had charge of the whistle and bis rulings were carrier out entirely. For the winners Perry, Hall, Kells, end Henderson (backs) and Neilson (2) and Long in the forwards were the most prominent, while for Runanga Marnier son, Robson, Cust and Purnell (backs') and McTaggart. Parsonage and Anderson were most prominent. Position of the Teams. The result of this game makes the competition very interesting, the points now standing: —

Next week-end will see Runanga meet i Waiuta and Blackball meet Kohinoor 1 when good games are in store for foli lowers. j RIVALS (51) v. BRUNNER (7). As the scores show this was decidedly a one-sided game, though neither side had a full term. It was a. ease of Rival backs first, ami the ‘rest nowhere. They threw the baP about with great freedom, and pl'aying with the wind ran up 29 points to nil by halftime. “Ginger ” Williams, from a passing ru>», scored first try, and then a movement in which Johnston (half), McCabe, Brisk ne (five-eighth >, and Pa- ; vidson took part, saw the latter score, , McCabe converting. 1). MvGirr then I ran in from the twenty-five, McCabe converting, while Williams soon after from half-way ran over. McCabe next got a try, P. MeGirr converting. Puncan then ran through Brunner, and Williams goaled. A nice dodgy run by Brisbane Landed a try. Duggan, Hill, Kitchen and Johnston played best for Brunner, and often showed up in the second half, which Fraser opened by scoring in half a minute. D. MvGirr ran the length of the field and scored. Brunner then rallied, and Puggan nearly got in. Rivals were forced, and the pressure continued till Hill kiejied a penalty. 37 —2. Good forward play then saw Johnston score a try lor Brunner, Hill converting. Rivals again attacked, and further scores were got by G. MeGirr, Davidson (2), and Brislane, two being converted by McCabe. TEAM TO MEET MAORIS. SYDNEY, May 27. The League team selected to meet the Maoris on Saturday next is: Lig- I ney, Border, Vest, Rulo, Blinkhorn, Ilodgins, Thompson, Scheultz, Prentice, Burge, Latta, Gray and Watkins*

’1 ’<1. Won. Dr ’n. Lost. Pt Wai nt:! 3 2 10 5 Blackball 3 2 0 14 Runanga . 3 1 10 3 Kohinoor . 3 0 0 3 0