RUGBY FOOTBALL

Grey River Argus, 27 July 1925, Page 6

RUGBY FOOTBALL

SURPRISE MATCH

Star Outclassed by United

THOMAS'S SENSATIONAL TRY. RESULTS AT A GLANCE. United I (13); Star I (5). Cobden II (7); United II (5). Star IV (11); Technical IV (3). ' The United-Star match, played at

<the Park o.i Saturday afternoon, in cold bleak weather, with intermittent showers, proved to be the surprise match of the season, inasmuch as the Ambers were hopelessly outclassed by ' United. The fact that the Blues won did not evoke much comment; it was their overwhelming superiority on the day’s play that brought forth the surprise packet. Right throughout the game the Ambers were “up against it,’’ and would have had a much greater score registered against them had it not been for the magnificent defence of their fullback Goodall, who proved himself a veritable bulwark. Stars seldom “got going.'’ and when they did the beautiful combined play of the Blues nullified all their efforts. True, the Ambers were without the services of the redoubtable Steel, but even if lie had been la tile team it is doubtful if the result would have been materially altered, especially so, when the fact of M. Jamieson’s absence from United is taken into consideration.

However, if the opening of the game proved a surprisi—the immediate onslaught which the Uniteds instituted provided such—the end was the most sensational of any match played o.i the (.'oast this season. With the score 13 to nil in the Blues’ favour, and with less than half a minute to go, it looked as though the Ambers would leave the field without having crossed the Blue line. For fully fifteen minutes previously Uniteds had been making repeated attacks on Stars’ citadel, only to bo driven off by the ever-reliable Goodall. It was at the commencement of such an attempt to break through once more (at midfield) when Thomas cleverly intercepted a pass, and ran right through to the Blue line, breaking down all opposition, or what there was of it, for the Blues seemed too dumbfounded to know what had happened, scoring beautifully between the posts. amidst deafening cheers. Nelson had just sent the leather sailing beautifully between the posts when the Itell rang. It .was a ding-dong ending to a match that provided more exeiten ■.-•t.t' than any played in Greymouth this season.

The attendance was a record, proof conclusive of the reviving popularity of the good old game of Rugby. Mr J. Guerin was referee. THE PLAY.

stars kicked off, and were immed lately on the defensive, “Pip’' Jamieson sending the ball into Amber territory by a great kick. Following up. he deftly caught the leather, passing to Howard, who potted a beautiful I goal. Thus, a minute after starting the scores stood at 4—o in favour of United. Stars tried valiantly to equalise matters, Turtill instituting a mag nilicent passing rush, but the Blue defence was too sound, and the ball found touch about half way. For a time things were fairly even, but United were not long in returning to the attack, and matters were looking black for Stars when a penalty relievevd, uoodall's beautiful kick finding the line at the 25 flag. Up and down play followed. At one time a certain score for Stars when a penalty relieved, scrummaging play at midfield, Thomas swooped up, ran and passed to Sid Herring, who made a magnificent dash almost to tlie Blue line, but hero the great defence of United told the tale, and play went back gradually to Amber ground. A penalty agailnst Stars for offside play enabled Beil to have a shot at goal, but the kick went wide. And tlnm United woke up properly. Time and again did they make combined attacks on the Amper line, and time and again did Goodall’s superb defence save his side. This player is one of 1li" greatest full backs playing the game in New Zealand to day. Sure, steady ami accurate, he is the “right man in the right place’’ par excellence. The second score to be registered against Stars was a penalty kick for offside play, Warnes sending the leather beautifully between the up rights from near the 25 flag—a difficult feat that was loudly cheered. United 7 —. Star 0. The Blues still persisted in the attack, and McKay, picking up at half why, passed to Warnes, who se.it it deftly to Lamberton. The latter made a good run, and recognising that he could not get through, kicked, the Blues following up smartly. Another anxious time for the Ambers was saved by Goodall, who transferred the scene of action to United ground by a mighty kick. The Star pack were on it at once, but Walton saved the situation with a powerful boot. A good passing rush by Stars enabled Halliday to get near the coveted line, but lie was grassed by Walton. Goodall took a drop kick at goal, the ball just hitting the horizontal. Several limes after, Stars attempted to cross the Blue line, on one occasion McKay making a splendid save. The bell sounded with the half time scores United 7—-Star 0.

The second spell was decidedly in favour of Unitcds, though the Ambers played a splendid uphill game. Shortly after the commencement Stars were, compelled to force, but the Blues continued to make things hor, a.id through the instrumentality of Warnes, Howard got over. United 10—Stars <>. At this stage of the game the scene of action remained dangerously close to tlie Amber line, and Lamberton nearly got over, the ball going out on the line. From the throw in, Stars “saved their bacon’’ by forcing. A minute later G. McKay secured the leather and ran through, scoring at the corner. Warnes’ kick went short. United 13—Star 0. The rest of the game

was similar to the earlier part of the spell, Stars being on the defensive a greater part of the time, and then came the sensation, provided by Thomas (described in the introduction to this match). The game ended lu 5 in favour of Uniteds.

For the winners the pick were McKay, “Pip” Jamieson, Howard, Walton, Warnes, Charteris and Lamberton. The “stars” of the Stars were Goodall. Geo. Brown, “Doc.” Brown, Turtill, Herring and Thomas. In the junior game, Cobden effected a surprise by beating United by 7 to 5 after an exciting and evenly contested game, in which the victors, by good, solid combined play, deserved their win. There was not much to pick and choose between the two teams on the day’s play.

la the fourth grade, Stars 11, bent Technical 3. Furness, McMasters and C. Richardson scored tries for Stars, the latter converting his own try, and Martin scored a try for Technical.

WESTLAND GAMES.

KIWIS BEAT EXCELSIORS. Three matches were played cm Saturday at Cass Square, Hokitika, the chief being tho senior fixture, in which the teams of the two local clubs fought out a hard tussle, with the result that the Kiwis proved the victors, delealing Excelsiors by 8 points to 5, which figures fairly indicate the run of rhe game. The losers had the heavier pack, but the Kiwi forwards were the more vigorous, except for the early part of the second spell, when the red forwards dominated the game, and it appeared as if they would win. There was no score for a good while, the plav being mostly of the ruck order, in which the blue forwards more then held their own. From one of their loose rushes, the ball was carried across the opposing line, and Griffin was the first to ground it, but the kick at g al from near the touch line, was a failure. Soon after changing over, the Excelsior pack asserted themselves, backed up by good kicking on the part of Doull, a new weighty back, with a proper idea of the game. Doull put in several excellently-judged long kicks and made a couple of runs. Once lie picked up in the loose, and dodging his way neatly through the opposing backs' scored a try in a handy place. When this was converted, the Excelsior followers were in glee at the prospect of victory, because the Kiwis seemed to be failing, but the blues r asserted a slight superiority thereafter, and working their way gradually ni> the field, pinned down the reds. Here Stopfcth got the ball near the line, and forced his way over to score, for V» »w k er to convert. The play moved up and down freely till the end of the game, but there was no further score, Kiwi thus winning by 8 to 5. For the winners, Shaw, Griffin and Shannon were the most noticeable o* an even pack, though Perham was very prominent in the early stages. In the backs, McCleary, Walker and Devaney were very serviceable to their side. Bannister and Gugich were about the pick of the Excelsior forwards while Henderson, Doull and Wright were the best of the backs.

The game was not spectacular, and there was quite too much kicking. It was noticeable that ainy attempt to play the passing gave better results than hard speculating—as distinct from dribbling—but the players mostly thought the best thing to do with the ball was to give the other side the use of it. There was also some pretty hard tackling; in fact the tacklers often forgot the ball for the man, but the teams were, on the whole matched evenly, and the game caused a lot of excitemnt. Westland 11. beat Denniston Pirates. Denniston Pirate Club’s touring team played a Westland junior rep team < n Saturday, but lacked the pace :<> keep up with them in the second spell. Al half time Westland led by S to 6. whi e they added 18 points in the second li'i.f, an J ran out victors by 27 to 6 For the winners, outstanding back games were played by T.unui and Pf it'eit, .he five eight:,-, whose runs repeatedly penetrated the visitor", and w<re mainly responsible for the score n.< U'liting so high. In ie first halt Maher ■< Webster scored for the visitors while Leslie and Preston did likewise for the home team, Staines converting one try. In the second spell, as the result mostly of. nice passing movements, tries were added I'"' th" winners by Starnes, I’faiiiert (2 ~ Stopforth and Wylie, while I'a'i’.J potted a nice goal. Barnard (half), T. Dellewey (five eighth), Brom,!: ami Maher 'forwards) and Webster (full of the. Denniston club’s fifteen were about the pick, b”‘ rlii team as a whole lacked combination, being generally scattered all over the lit Id, . 1 they kicked except Barnard and Delloway, almost every time tlie ball came to them.

The Hokitika High School team proved altogether too good for the Kiwi Thirds, whom they beat by 32 to 8. me winners showed nicer combination than when Excelsior Thirds defeated them the previous Saturday.

CANTERBURY GAMES. (Special to Argus). CHRISTCHURCH, duly 25. There was fine weather, but heavy grounds for all games here to-day. No senior hockey was played, and most lower grade football games were put off. The Rugby senior results were: Old Boys 25 beat Linwood 3. Merivale I!) beat ’Varsity 6. Albion 11 beat North Canterbury 3. BULLER BEATEN. FIVE TRIES TO A PENALTY. BACKS PLAY BADLY. BLENHEIM, July 25. The first match of the season for the Seddon Shield was played to-day between Marlborough a.id Buller, and was won by Marlborough by 15 points to 3. There was a record crowd present, and fine weather prevailed. Buller relied entirely on their forwards, who, however, were lighter than the opposing pack, but the visit-

ing pack were extremely clever. As the game progressed, however, the Buller backs contributed to their side’s defeat by their indiscriminate kicking up the field. As the result of this, their forwards wore themselves out chasing the ball. The Marlborough forwards were able to get into action again and again. Only the safe tackling of Kearns, the Buller full-back, and his übiquitous Beard, tho fiveeighths, prevented Marlborough putting up a big score. As it was, Marlborough scored five tries, all in the second lalf, but the heavy ball was a factor in the poor goal kicking, no try being converted. The scorers were Connolly, Hodson, J. O’Brien, Philips and Washington. Buller's only score was a penalty goal by Kearns. WELLINGTON MATCHES. rONEKE BEATEN. WELLINGTON, July 26. Yesterday’s Rugby results were as follows. Petone 2!) beat Varsity 0. Old Boys 28 beat Poncke 14. Marists IS beat Oriental 4. Athletic 21 beat Berhampore 4. Wellington 33 beat belwyn 0. The defeat of Poneke came as a great surprise. They are now leading by three points in the championship contest. WELLINGTON REPS. WELLINGTON,’ July 26." From the following, the Wellington team to play Southland will be chosen: Baeks: Waters, Svenson, Johnson, Bedell, Hickey, F. Tilyard, Love (’Varsitv), M. Nicholls and Warwick. Forwards: 11. Wilson, Shearer (2), Martin, Smith, Sly, Young (Selwyn), Porter, Thomas, O’Regan, Matheson (Wellington), Duncan (Athletic).