THE LEAGUE GAME.

Grey River Argus, 3 July 1922, Page 6

THE LEAGUE GAME.

KCHINOOR (5) v. WAIUTA (0).

Saturday was certainly no day for football, but the W'aiuta seniors having made the trip to Grey mouth Io meet Kohinoovs, thu game w: s duly played at the Rec. despite the wretched conditions. Throughout the match gusts of wind and cold rain prevailed, and the field became a quagmire. In the face of such a handicap it must be said the form shown was good, and had the day been fine, it is certain the game would have been one ot the finest this season, because the fielding and. handling were remarkably accurate. Watts, Waiuta full-bauk, did not miss a catch : Il dav, ami he had plenty, while Thomas, the Kohinoor full-back pirked up and defended exceedingly well also. The victory for Kohinoors by a converted try to nil, gained as it was in the verv last minute, was not a true indication of the merits, because the town team's luck was in as far as th: t the wind was with them in both spells, changing from nor-west to sou-west at half-time. Waiuta backs were on the whole the superior ones, while Kohinoor . forwards provetl too good for their opjponents. Waiuta made rep-ated efi.orts to open play up, their half- Gray, showing good judgment and marked initiative all through, while ('. DlcUdwce did a lot of good work individually, and at times co-operated nicely with his brother and Cutbush and the other backs. Some of the Waiuta back movements gave the Kohinoors : nxiety, whereas with the exception of the try, Kohinoors confined such attacks as they made to forward efforts. Kohinoors attacked for a start, DlcElwce and Watts getting in kicks to the touchline. Blight got in a useful speculator, and Dando, a new Kohinoor five-eight handled the greasy ball very accurately. When Kohinoors got close, Gerraghty tried to push through over the goal line, but the result of the attack was a rebound over and out of bounds. Dando and Thomas got in a run, but aiula pack took play to the other end, where Giffnoy marked. A centre by ('. McElwee saw his brother Austin racing Thomas for it over the line, but th? latter got it and forced. Waiuta forwards came again, but Steele w: s prominent in a return movement, and Smith got in some good play. Kohinoor men were several time penalised for offside, Referee Lawrence being indeed very strict, with the whistle for such an awfully wet day. Giffney marked in front of Waiuta goal, but the referee (lid not see it. Steele led another rush and Rimmer tried to score in the cornier from a scrum. Howley then stopped I a Waiuta forward rush, but Gutbush ! soon after made a fine run on the wing in the mud, beating half a dozen. Lim [ ami Blight took play past (trey, \\ ntts stopping them. Cutbush centred from

a mark kick by Mcßae, but Kohinoor ]>ack got it ami Watts had to go down to save. Gray McElwee and another Waiuta b: rk made a passing run, and when (Titbush ceutre'l it in Kohinoor 25, a score looked likely, till a blue man picked it up when offside. Kohi noor pack now improved, and Watts had to save again. Grey, MeElwee and Cutbush attacked ng.in well, Me Rae grassing the last named. Persist ent Waiuta attacks forced Kohinoors,

Gray and C. McElwee being very active. Watts soon r fter stopped another rush led by Blight. C. DlcE'wee and Cutbush look it to the other end, forcing Kohinoors. The town forwards then attacked, dribbling past Grey, C. DfcElwee sending it out in the corner. Hard kicking then lost Kohinoor’s a probable try. Giffney made a tine run and gave it to Rimmer, but the whistle went. Then Waiuta backs ]»• ssed smartly, gaining little ground, and half time came with play in midfield. Waiuta were aggressive on resuming, and for a lime it looked as if they were going to win, their b: eks making great efforts. Then the wind changed and the conditions were “the limit.’’ It was hard to follow the play ami -lodge the rain at this stage, but it was fairIv even pegging in the water holes for a, good while. Gray was doing great work, and A. DluElwee c me oftenor into the picture. Eventually Kohinoor ' forwards took charge of th(‘ game, Dlahonev breaking through repeate-lly, with Brown, Lim, Fraser and Blight along with him. W'aiuta wore forced about, once a minute for 10 minutes. It became evident the odds were now on tin 1 town team :nd the wind. They w-?ut very (dose to scoring several times, • though Gray on occasions by good judgi ment took play individually past, half- ( way, while Watts did great defensive work, never missing a catch, despite the ball being like a greasy 'pig. It was gruelling work, but Kohinoor p: uk kept pressing right up till the end, pinning W’aiuta down. Fnally, from a serum Gorragaty got it, ami passing just at the right moment to Giffney, the latte:' sailed into the W'aiuta phalanx and by dint of a dart, .just got the lu ll ovei the goal-line. Thomas goaled, ami the referee whistle'! the curtain down. It should be mentioned that Kohinoor pack got the ball in the scrum oftenest, but the day was against back play, and tow: rds the end they tried rather to take it with them. On a fine day, it is (piite possible Waiuta would hav'?i won, though their ]?ack is not the best. It may be added that there is still a lot of room for improved com bi nat ion in all the teams, ami mon* practices on the field would do a lot of good. I It is no use p* ssing to a man when he has lost weigh, as he is sure to lie tackled before getting going again. Grav is the finest half in the League competition, and a hard man to tackle, and with good backs on a fine day he would nr ke the opposition sit up. Th? standard of play is improving as the s'sason goes on, and it is probable a West Const rep team just now would give a better showing than any yet selected. CHRISTCHURCH RESULTS. (Special to “Argus”). ("IRiSTCHI'IM’H, July 2. Ye ferday’s results in the League mutches hero were:— Addington 21 beat W’oolston 5. Federal 13 beat Linwood 8. Sydenham had a bye. RUNANGA 11. (13) V. KOHINOOR 11. (3). This game was playd at Rapahoc yesterday afternoon in the presence of a large crowd of spectators. 'flic ground was in a frightful state owing to the incessant rain of Saturday; consequently good football was out of the question. Nevertheless, some of the players shaped well and a fairly even game ended in Runanga’s favour as above. For the winners tries were scored by Griffiths (2) and O’Grady, whilst Scott kicked two goals. For Kohinoor Curnow scored a. good try after taking the ball from half way. 4 Mr Hopkins refereed.