LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

Grey River Argus, 11 July 1927, Page 6

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

BLACKBALL DEFEAT RUNANGA. BY FIVE POINTS TO NIL. Playing at Blackball before a Tailcrowd of spectators, the home team succeeded in defeating Runanga for the first time this season and furher enhanced their position in the Legauc championships. The ground was very bad and mitigated against good combined play. Consequently there was not much back play. The game itself was chiefly in- Blackball’s favour and although the first half ended without a score., the second was mainly in RuiTanga territory. Blackball’s score was made up of a try by Hastic and a goal by Dando; Hastie’s try being the result of a speculator by Hambly, who tried to send the leather over the dead ball line and, failing to connect with it, paid the penalty. The teams fielded by both sides wore not their best, Skelton being absent from the Blackball pack and Armstrong and Garyey from Runanga and their places were fill ed by Williams for Blackball and Pattin son and Butler for Runanga. Griffiths again played five-eighths for Runanga, but later changed with Hands and went in behind the pack where ho showed to better advantage. THE GAME. Runanga won the toss and elected to play with the sun at their hacks and down hill. Blackball kicked off and Griffiths fielded and high punted to Smith, the Blackball full-back, who re- j turned to half-way. The first scrum ■ saw the ball come to Purnell, but he ' was effectively stopped and the leather ' went out. Long was penalised for offside play, but Purnell’s kick failed to, reach the line, Smith getting possession ■ and relieving well up the field. Hastie was caught in possession later, and a penalty for Runanga gave Purnell a shot at goal from a difficult angle, the ball falling short and Kinsella clearing. O’Brien and Henderson were associated in a movement towards Blackball line, but Hands got offside and spoilt the result Timlin was in the same position a little later, where Blackball just missed scoring, the ball going over the dead ball line. The drop out was taken by Dodds, who sent it on to Kinsella ami the latter was nearly in, but was held up and a scrum ensued on Runanga line where a free kick brought them relief. Hastic put in a short run after this, but Dando got offside when looking dangerous, and Purnell cleared with a good kick. A high kick by Cutbush went to Purnell, who passed back to Griffiths, the latter being caught in possession, and for a while play was dangerously near Runanga’s line; Pinn eventually saving. Henderson was penalised for not playing the ball correctly, and Dando had an unsuccessful shot at goal, the ball falling into Finn’s hands, who put in a dodgy run to half way. From the ensuing scrum, Blackball secured and attempted passing. Kells, Dodds and Kinsella taking part. The last-named was tackled well when looking dangerous. Another free kick to Runanga brought them relief. Almost immediately Blackball were award ed a free kick and Dando got the line at half way with a formidable kick. I From the scrum following Runanga got I the ball, Purnell setting his backs go ing. but a knock' on spoiled any advantage gained. Stevens was penalised I for not playing the ball, ami Pinn failed to hold Dando’s kielc. but eventuality recovered the ball and got clear. Taking play to the other end. Blackball attempted a passing rush, but a slow I pass from Kells was intercepted by Hen iderson, who ran well down the field be- ! fore being brought down, the ball going out at the 25. Cost got possession but I when looking dangerous, he kicked, and 1 the ball was forced. From the restart. (Runanga forwards headed by O’Prien i and Timlin carried play to the rod | 25. where Hanibly put in a bit of good work for the corner. The red forwards cleared, however, and Rodgers and Dan|do were prominent. A free kick for obstruction saw Blackball carry play further up the field, but Rodgers got i offside and spoiled the movement. I Hambly put in a good run and kicking I high, shifted play to Smith, who was ■in trouble' and Runanga, lost a good I chance of scoring, Smith eventually clearing. From a serum the ball was sent to Stevens, who cut through and i passed to Gust, who failed to hold his I pass, and play shifted back to half way. I Following a series of scrums. Kinsella ’•jot possession and started a movement j which ended in Cutbush being pushed out in Runanga 25, where Runanga I were awarded a free kick which reliev•cd the pressure. From a scrum later, i Purnell passed right back, but Rodgers j got offside and Runanga were again 'relieved with a penalty. Gust made a 1 nice run and cut out a couple of Blackball backs, but his pass to Hambly was dropped when the latter had every opportunity of scoring and Dodds cleared well. Hambly was again in the picture, but after beating several men, slipped just when a clear field was in front of him. A Blackball forward i rush, headed by Williams, was effectively stopped by Griffiths, and a scrum ensued. Blackball heeled and ■ I a nice passing rush saw nearly all the line of backs handle, but Kinsella drop P<-<1 his pass and Pinn came to the rescue, and got his side out of difficulties. ( McDonald was the next to show out with a spectacular run, and when tackled he passed to Cutbush, who had run ahead of him, and this game Runanga a free kick, with which Griffiths found the half-way mark. Pinn was called upon to replay the ball, and Dando sent it out to Dodds, but the latter missed the pass and Runanga forwards headed by Hands, Timlin and O’Brien, took play to the red line. McDonald put in a good save. A scries of scrums and play of an even nature saw halftime arrive with no score on either side. ’ Immediately on resuming Blackball 'attacked and passing by Dodds and McDonald took play to Pinn, who cleared well, kicking high to Hastie, who in turn kicked 1o Griffiths, who started a passing rush for Runanga, but Timlin was forced out. Hastie kicked well down the field and following fast, had Runanga in difficulties. Hambly, in attempting to kick over the dead ball line, missed his objective, and Hastie scored a good try. Cutbush failed to convert, although the ball hit the upright. Blackball 3; Runanga nil. The reverse enlivened Runanga some what and their forwards got to work with a. vengeance, but the defence of the rods was sound and Kells initiated another passing rush which ended on the Runanga lino ;Pinn again saving brilliantly, and, dribbling through, he took play to half way. Hambly was prominent in a good bit of play but offside play nullified it. There was no further incident of note, except a Black ball penalty goal, and the final whistle loft Blackball winners by 5 to nil.

Juniors defeated Brunner by a margin of ten points. Brunner was shorthanded, Malloy and Moore playing for Brunner in the second spell. Tries were scored for Marist by Duncan, O’Loughlin (2), Moore and Griffin, the last-named converting his own try. Moore scored for Brunner in the second spell, Hunt kicking the goal and also placing a good penaly goal. NELSON CREEK II 20 v. KOTUKU II (3). The Nelson Creek team succeeded in defeating Kotuku easily by 17 points at Kotuku after a hard game, which was mostly confined to the forwards. GREY 111 30 v. KOTUKU 111 7. Playing at Kotuku the Grey third grade team by a good exhibition of the code, rattled up 30 points to their opponents’ 7. MARIST IV 23 v. BRUNNER IV 5. The above game was played at Brun nor yesterday and resulted in a victory for the visiting team by a margin of 18 points. The winners displayed good football throughout, and could have put up a larger score, hut the second spell was not very seriously contested. RUNANGA IV 15 v. GREY IV 0. This game was played at Dunollie and resulted in an easy win for the home team by 15 points. Runanga were considerably heavier than their opponents and were more suited to the heavy ground. BLACKBALL IV 15 v. RUNANGA IV 11. Playing at Blackball the home team proved too good for Runanga in a fifth grade game and won by four clear points, both sides played good football and the game was refereed by Mr. Lewis. BLACKBALL V 3 v. RUNANGA V 3. On the Blackball ground an interesting and hard game throughout ended in both sides scoring a try; the game resulting in a draw. CHRISTCHURCH GAMES. CHRISTCHURCH, July 10. The League result yesterday was— Marists (28) beat Addington (17). CHRISTCHURCH SOCCER RESULTS. CHRISTCHURCH, July 10. Association football results yesterday were:— Nomads (2) drew with Technical (2). Western (1) drew with Stalbank (1). Villa (3) heat Thistle (2). Kaiapoi (3) heat Lyttelton (1).