THE LEAGUE GAME.

Grey River Argus, 25 July 1922, Page 3

THE LEAGUE GAME.

KOHINOORS V. BLACKBALL. former score a meritorious win, Each, week-end secs tho public interest increasing in the League matches, in which the form generally is on the improve, while the code is fortunate in the fact that the competitions in each case remain open and small margins of cup points separate the teams. The last week-end results show, in two instances, that teams with leading positions were defeated by teams lower on the list. The senior game Kohinoor v. Blackball was splayed at Blackball on Sunday in the presence of a large crowd, and proved a fast and exciting game. The Grey boys succeeded in defeating the home team by 1U points to 5. Blackball kicked oil’, and immediately put Kohinoor on their de*once. From a free kick against Kohinoor, house goaled. Play then nvened up soniev.hat, and Kohinoor forwards, led by Mahoney, brought operations into lUackball 25. Ofl-sido play here by Todd, gave a free kick to Kohinoor, and Thomas, taking the kick, goaled. Blackball 2; Kohinoor 2. From the drop out, Blackball pressed the greens and off side play by Kohinoor gave Blackball a shot at goal but St-enhouse this time failed. Blackball still continued to press, and from a scrum, Blackball secured but bad passes spoilt nil chance. Shortly afterwards Rimmer broke away, but, having no support, he was unable to carry on, Blackball finding the line. From the scrum Blackball secured, and Smith put in a good run. For som-e little time, Blackball were pressing hard, until finally Kohinoor were compelled to force down. From the drop out, Blackball continued their (prtjssniro. When a free-kick was awarded to Kohinoor. it was spoilt by a man in front of the ball. From the serum Blackball secured, but faulty passing again stopped their progress. From a later ‘ scrum, Leitch and Rimmer broKe away, and carried play to Blackball 25. Hero another scrum saw Kohinoor secure it, ' but Haisty, intercepting, made a good j opening, the ball reaching Thomas, the green full back, who put in a good run, only to be grounded, and. failing ' to play the ball, he gave Blackball a | chance. Stenhousp, however, failed. Blackball again pressed, and Rhodes ; marking, Stenhouse placed it, missing an easy goal. Kohinoor now livened < up, and reversed the order. Gerragh- . ty, obtaining possession, sent the ball out on the blind side, which move ended in Howley scoring near uie corner. Thomas’s kick at goal fell short. Halt . time sounded soon after with the scores: Kohinoor 5; Blackball 2. On resuming Kohinoor pressed. A free kick was awarded to Kohinoor. Thomas however, failed with a shot at goal. Kohinoor ptill pressed, but, from another free kick, Thomas again failed. Blaekb:Jl livened up, and attacked in Kohinoot urea. From a I scrum here. Blackball secured, and, working the blind side, Kells crossed and scored for Blackball. Stenhouse failed to goal. Blackball 5; Kohinoor 5. The game then considerably brightened, with a lot of up and down play, i Thomas by a fine effort brought the ball to Blackball 25. Blackball were not to be denied, however, forcing Kohinoor back to their goal line, where Gilbert picked up, and, by a fast run and kicking high returned the pinyBlackball had to force down. Kohinoor continued to attack, and when, ■ from a scrum, Blackball secured, Rimmer intercepted. With a fast run, after side stepping several, h-e scored under the posts. Thomas this time was equal to the occasion, adding the additional two points. Kohinoor 10; Blackball 5. Upon the drop out, Kohinoor returned the play, but off side play by Brown relieved Blackball, who made a final effort, but were unable to add to their score. With play in mid field time was called. Mr E. Smith had charge of the game and gave every satisfaction. On the whole it was a fairly even game, not as spectacular as it might have been, but strenuous and exciting. Mahoney got over the line once, but was held up by Blackball, and could not ground it. Blackball did a lot ol attacking, but their passing lacked fiuFor the winners. Rimmer was the best back, his fielding being good, whilst Thomas, Howley and Gilbert all played well. In the forwards, Mahonev and Leitch were the most prominent, the latter playing his best game so far. In the Blackball team, Kells was the shining star, ami is playing good football. His try was a good effort. He was ably supported by Ball and Smith. Of the forwards Skilion and Long played tine games, whilst Neilson also showed out. BLACKBALL 11. (10.) V. RUNANGA 11. (8). Prior to the senior game, Blackball juniors defeated Runanga by 10 points to 8, after a close go, in which Runanga surprised all. 'I h-ey were leading ri <r ht up to tire call of time, but Blackball scored before the ball was dead and pulled the game out of the fire. Mr Todd refereed efficiently. SENIOR CUP. The senior competition has now be some vei‘£ iutorjsting indeed oni£ two

points separating the top team from the bottom oue. The position is as follows:—

There arc still two matches to play for all teams, and then the 4‘knockout’, round for Mr J. I). AVingham’s Cup will take place. COAST REP. The choice of the West Coast selectors to represent the Coast against the Buller representatives at Greymouth on Saturday next is, I think, open to criticism. Goodall at full back is as good as could be wished for and has made. no mistakes this season —easily the best full back available. The three-quarter line also is good, Stevens, in my opinion, thoroughly meriting the right wing position. Russell, at centre, played his best attacking game for a long time on Saturday, and is in place; the same applies to Reynolds, who is all right when supported by two or three good backs. His game on Saturday was his best for a long time. I. fail to see the reason why Ryan has been, shifted from half-back after his display on Saturday. It was his quick action and heady play that enabled the backs to play their rattling game. Ho is replaced by Mclntosh, whose place is not there. Me is a good all-round man and an excellent general, but is at home at wing forward. I would have suggested Ryan half, Heaphy or Powley first and Nelson second liveeighths. Powley is the only member of the Inangahua backs worthy of a place, according to Saturday’s play. Selection of the forwards seems to have been made, in lottery style—names in a hat; for I cannot imagine how King and Maloney were excluded. King would have replaced Inglis to advantage, as the latter, although following up well is too light for a pack like Buller, and does not seem too reliable in defensive work. King, on the other hand, is a tr« u ■ ! both attack and defence. Be plays well with Hall and Deere. Egan is hefty, but does not, in my opinion, come up to the standard of Maloney. Mclntosh should certainly replace Hagar at wing forward. The latter is all right in the pack, but not in open game. Bring, Deere, and Hall are all right: as shown by their consistency recently. La wry played fairly well on Saturday and may justify his selection. Going on the Hokitika game recently Best should bo handy in tire pack. Nightingale should not be emergency before Heaphy. BULLER REP. TEAM. The following team has been chosen to play Coast representatives at Greymouth on Saturday: — Smith (R.), O’Brien (M), Phibbs (AV), Friend (R), Palmer (S), Corby (M), Corby (ML Longstaff (R), C. McLean (W.), Kelly (R), A'. Goodall (R), G. Stuart (M), McNaught (Sj, Tunnicliffc (K), Pearson (R). Emergencies: T. O’Neill (S), McKcn dry (AV). Jo-e Mumni and L. Griffiths are not available. The team will leave Westport at 10 a.m. on Friday next for Greymouth.

NOTES. | The AVestport “News” states that judging by the talk on Saturday evening when the Buller Rugby rejilesentulive team was made kuown, no one seemed to think the selectors had made the best use of the material available, ALL BLACK PLAYERS. I Mealing individually with the merits of tho All Black team according to their play in the recent match with Wairarapa, a critic says it is admitted that Bell (full back) was a dis- ■ appointment. More than once he onI gaged in speculating, and on one oc- ■ easiou gave away a try through al- , lowing the ball to go through his legs. ■ His fielding was poor. His kicking I lacked sting. In the three-quarter line Lord and i Svenson carried out a good deal of j work, and were often seen to advantage in solo movements. .Steel, on his play in the first spell, seemed to | be off colour, but showed an iinprove- | meat in the second half. I The five-eighths line saw two good | performers in Fitzgerald and M. Nij cholls. The former would, however, ! have done better work had he passed j more instead of using the. short punt, M. Nicholls mad. 1 the most of the few I opportunities he had .in attack, and was not found wanting where defensive work was concerned. At half-back .Mathioson played a I poor game. His forwards admittedly did not assist him greatly, but his dispatches from the serum were not the kind required, and he lacked initiative. The play of the forwards did not | impress. They were a hard-working I lot, mid surely were not seen at their | best on the day. I In one of the football games up the | Wanganui River, recently between two 1 of the native teams a player (states I an exchange) was hurt in the concludi in"' stages and the emergency who took his place turned out in riding brooches, leggings, hob-nailed boots and a pair iof spurs. The golden rule is to tackle ! low, but it would »ee,m that there j are exceptions to every rule. ROUGH DAY IN WELLINGTON. WELLINGTON, July 24. There were, an unusual number of football accidents on Saturday. B. Algar, captain of the Poneko Club dis- ■ located his shoulder for tho second

time this season. Last year, he was laid aside most of the season by an injured leg. McCuffoy of the AVellington Club also dislocated a shoulder, and several other players required medical attendance for concussion or other injuries.

Club ,1’ld Won Dm Pts Runanga .. i •-> - 8 Blackball .. 7 :j 1 7 Waiuta 7 ■ J .1 7 Kohinoor 7 2 2 u