RUGBY FOOTBALL

Grey River Argus, 22 April 1929, Page 6

RUGBY FOOTBALL

OPENING OF SEASON Saturday’s Results RESULTS AT A GLANCE SENIOR. United 25 v. Magpie 0. I Blaketown 7 v. Kiwis 3. I Star and Brunner drew—no score. JUNIORS. United 20 v. Stars 0. Cobden 32 v. Blaketown 3. Brunner 8 v. Kumara 3. THIRD GRADE. United 23 v. Cobden 5. The Rugby season on the West Coast was officially opened on Saturday, when the various grades commenced the competition matches. The day was beautifully fine, and

the various grounds were in good condition for play. The teams showed marked improvement on the previous Saturday’s efforts, and, although as is only to be expected, combination was lacking, a number: of the contests supplied fast, clean football, which promises well for the 1929 season. The senior teams include many young players who, on Saturday’s football display may with every confidence be counted on to greatly improve the standard of p-ay on the West Coast. The senior match it Greymouth was between United and Magpies, the match being played before a good attendance the public. United gained a decisive victory, vrinnng by 25 to nil. At D >bson, Stars and Brunne* seniors failed to penetrate each other's defence, while at Hokitika Blaketown heralded their entry into senior grade by lowering the Kiwis’ colours, winning after a good game by seven points to three.

UNITED DEFEAT MAGPIE. Tn the presence of a good public attendance, Ui-ited and defeated Magpie seniors, by the big margin of 25 points to nil. The scores, however, do not indicate the trend of the play, for Magpies were on the attack throughout a fair period of the gam?. They were, however, unable to punch home their advantages. United won by back pay and showed decidedly ; promising combination. Magpies are ; a team of young players that have the ■ necessary material to develop into a ’ solid team, and their rawness so marked in Saturday’s play, will be rhaken off after a game or two, by which time they should be able to offer n stout resistance to the other club?-. The teams lined out as follows:— United. —Walton (eapt.), Bunt, Jamieson, Kennedy, Millar, Jenkins, Bunt, Dennehy, Jaggers, Wilson, O’Hal’oran, Rodgers, McKay, Gleeson and Hughes. Magpie.— Clarke (capt.), Gage, Dalkie, King, Waddell, Gibbons, Seebeck, Ferguson, Mayo, Upjohn, Wilson, Birss, Flaherty, Hobbs, Lane. United won the toss, and following the kickoff a period of even play took place; then United backs came t... the Magpie corner, whore Bunt just failed to get across the line. An infringement by a- United back brought relief to Magpies, Clarke finding the line at his own 25. Mayo now put in some good work, hut the United backs came away again, Jenkins making n fine run, only to swing a blind pass to Bunt when a score looked likely.

Magpie forwards swarmed round and worked play back to half way. Bunt was seen to advantage in marking a difficult ball with the opposing forwards right up with him near his own line. United were getting the ball from the scrum, despite the fact that Magpie were pushing them away from it. and using the back line to* advantage, hey came down to the black and white corner again. Play travelled across field, and Jamieson was upended near the corner, after making a determined run. Jaggers was noticeable for good following up in the blue and white vanguard, and played consistently right through. United lost a good chance to score by unsafe handling, enabling Clarke to effect a good save. Jamieson made another strong ( run up the line but was brought down

inches from the goal. Not to be denied, however, he repeated the run almost immediately after, and Was successful in crossing at the corner, to touch down in a handy position. Walton missed a simple kick at goal.— United 3, Magpie 0. Magpie threatened danger upon resi.ming, but they were unable to finish off their efforts, and then a period of up and down field play took place. Jaggora followed through strongly and had Magpie bustled, but Waddell saved by forcing. The United backs now combined in a number of movements, Bunt finally receiving from Jenkins to cross in a handy position. Jenkins failed to goal. Half time arrived without further score.

The second spell commenced with Magpie on attack, but after fifteen minutes condition soon began to tell, and United quickly gained the upper hand, placing the black and white fifteen on defence practically throughout the remainder of the spell. Clarke received an injury to his leg, necesI a ting his retirement. He had been playing good football, and his loss was s big handicap to Magpie. Dropped and forward passes prevented United gaining more points than they did, but the football for an opening match was interesting and certainly gave promise of a good season ahead. Further scores for United were gained by Jamieson (2), Walton, Rodgers and Kennedy, the latter converting two. Mr Williams made a capable and efficient referee. STARS AND BRUNNER DRAW. At Dobson on Saturday the Stars and Brunner seniors played a drawn game, no score being registered. There was a large attendance, some 200 persons being present. The game was a good one, being stoutly contested on either side and a draw was the best result on the day’s play.

Stars kicked off against a strong sun and a light wind. Brunner immediately rushed play to the Stars’ 25, where Fong returned it to half Way. Stars were then penalised, and Bell essayed a shot at goal, but failed to find the uprights. The Brunner forwards pressed to the opposing 25, but Reynolds sent them back. Continuing to press Stars, Brunner were having the best of the play and Stevens found relief in a force down. Coming baek to the attack Brunner were almost ove-, Chamberlain falling in possession just short of the line. Reynolds now showed out in a good solo run, Brunner being called upon to concede a force down. Up and down play followed, then Stevens had a shot at goal for Stars, but failed, as also did Bell, who made an attempt to goal for Brunner soon after. The Stan back line now made a good passing movement, Brown being forced out at the corner. Stevens again missed a shot at goal from well out. Both teams were endeavouring to open up the play and excitement ran high. Powley and Chamberlain were going well for Brunner and Reynolds and Fong were noticeable in many good efforts for the Star team.

On resuming in the second half Stars carried play to the Brunner 25, but Coumbe effected a good save. Fong attempted a “pot” at goal, but missed. The game continued to be interesting, first St"T and thui Brunner holding the advantage. Towards the finish Brunner maue a determined effort to penetrate the defence, and looked like succeeding, when a forward offside saved the position for Stars. Stars retaliated and came away to the Brunner line, but the defence held, and a very evenly contested and exciting match finished shortly after, with no score being registered. Mr T. Mclntosh was an ab’.e referee.

BLAKETOWN’S SUCCESS. HOKITIKA. Making their debut in the senior grade, Blaketown team notched a victory on Saturday in the presence of a numerous crowd at Cass Square, Hokitika, Kiwis being beaten by " to 3. The teams were as follows: — Kiwis. — Mills, 8. Fleming, George, Wakelin, Pawson, Stopforth, G. Pfahlert, Stephens, Webster, Hagar, Hutchison, Marshall, Wilson ,Muirhead, Moynihan, Schist, Pierson, and F. Carter. Blaketown. —Hanham, Mason, Negri, McDonald, Moore, Pascoe, Cooper, Sadler, Wilson, Caulton, Webster, Deere, Scott, Dimond, MeEnaney. The visitors were the aggressors in the early stages, their play being nipp v and eager. The first time they neared Kiwi line, the ball came out to Pascoe, who coolly potted a nice goal. The run of the play favoured Blaketown for, a good while, tfteir pack being the weightier and better combined. Dimond consistently hooked for them, but Hagar, the Kiwi wing forward, was a thorn, upsetting the half-back and five eigthehs, although he till goes too much on off-side stuff, which le‘s a team down at the critical moment. Sadler and Caulton showed up in the loose for the visitors, while Deere’s weight told in the “ght play. This player, after missing an easy penalty kick at goal, got the ball in the ruck and bullocked over to score at the corner, no goal being kicked. There was no further score before, half time, but t'n% visitors had on the whole the best of the spell. They tried to open play up, while their opponents relied chiefly on jostling tactics

and kicks. Pfahlert and Stevens were -.heir best backs, but had to icly on individual effort, though the home full back was equal to any call on him. Moynihan was Kiwis’ best forward all the way. On changing ends, Kiwis improved, but after gaining well with a kick when they attacked, Pascoe threw a chance away with a low pass to McDonald, who on the wing had a lot of work to do for Blaket'-vn all day, and while rather slow in this position, he never Let his side down. Pawson, who is fairly fast, dribbled the ball past half-way, and Blaketown were lucky to avert a score, but Hagar then led another rush, after tvhieh Pfahlert secured, passing to Fleming, who sent on to Stopforth, and a bright movement ( was crowned with a try in the corner, ,which was not converted. Fast play followed, Deere and Caul”m being no-

ticeable, the latter going close to a score until getting offside on the line. Cooper sent Pascoe and Negri away in a likely movement, but Negri, instead of trying to beat the only man left, in-passed and the chance was lost. The same player, then failed with a penalty kick in a handy position. Five visiting backs handled in a movement that gained little ground. Hannam who was a safe custodian, twice prevented Kiwi scores, once when Moore failed to catch a ball, and again when Fleming was grassed a yard from the goal line. Pfahlert made several dives through the visitors, but should, remember to have men backing him up. Blaketown palpably tired in the second rpell, and it was anybody’s game. When Hagan had to go off after a crack on the face. Blaketown pack were on Kiwis’ line in a minute, and

Caulton broke through, but a scrum resvVed. From this it came to Negri, and he sent McDonald over, but the latter lost the leather: after crossing the lin». MeEnaney, following up his own kick, nearly got over. Mason, who was very nippy among the Blaketown backs on many occasions, failed on one occasion to pass when a chance offered for a try. Pfahlert, when making a dashing run, was heavily grassed by Moore. For the last ten minuses both sides, being tited, resorted to kicking, and the match resembled tennis at times far more than it did good Rugby. The final whistle left Blaketown winners by 7 to 3. For an opening fixture the play was fast and fairly good. Blaketown eould do with speedier wingers, but must be congratulated on their good start. Hannam played well as custodian, and Mason was the most noticeable threequarter. Moore tackled better than

he fielded. Pascoe is a promising fiveeighth, whle Cooper at half did some good opening work, but had a rough

spin from the opposing winger. Deere, Dimond, Caulton, MeEnaney and Sadler all showed up in the pack. Kiwi full baek Vas safe, while Pfahlert, Stopforth, Stevens, Pawson and Webster all played well. Hagar was the outstanding forward, with Moynihan next best of an even lot. Mr A. Cutbush W’as «, strict referee. JUNIOR GRADE. UNITED (20) DEFEAT STAR (0). At Victoria Park on Saturday after noon, the United Juniors proved too solid for Stars, winning by 20 points to nil. The first half was evenly contested, United leading by only three points at the bell. In the second half, however, the blue and white fifteen showed to distinct advantage. Scores were obtained by Guy (2), Shuttleworth, Stevens, Ferguson, and Saunders, while Ferguson also converted one. COBDEN (32) BEAT BLAKETOWN (3). Cobden, fielding a |muich heavier team than Blaketown, had little difficulty in running out winners after a fast game by 32 points to three. ro: r — THIRD GRADE. United, and Cobden third grade teems played at Victoria Park on Saturday afternoon, the former winning after a fair display, by 25 points to five.

SCHOOL MATCH. Hokitika School team defeated Excelsior thirds on Saturday by 30 to 10. The losers were several men short. The heavy school backs repeatedly got through the opposition, while Stapleton did some good goal kicking. CANTERBURY GAMES. CHRISTCHURCH, April 21. Yesterday’s Rugby football results were:— Christchurch 14, beat Varsity 3. Mori Vale 8 beat Albion 3. Weat Christchurch Old Boys 13 beat Linwood 10. High School Old Boys 16, beat Tech nical Old Boys 0. DUNEDIN RESULTS. Varsity A 43 v Union 3. Alhambra 19 v Taieri 6. Varsity B 27 v Southern 3. Pirates 18 v Dunedin 13. Kaikorai 52 v Zingari 3. CANTERBURY RESULTS. CHRISTCHURCH, April 21. Tiie soccer games-here yesterday resulted:— Thistle 6 beat B. Western 2, beat New Brighton 0. Nomads 3 beat Kaiapai 1. St Albans 6, beat Rangers 3.

THE ENGLISH TEAM. TO TOUR AUSTRALIA. LONDON, April 19. The Rugby Unilon Selection Committee has provi'sionally self’cted the following to tour New Zealand and Australia in 1930:— Pull-backs: K. Sellar, T. Brown. Three-quarters: J. Ganly, C. Arr void. W. Simmers, G. Macpherson, L Smith, A. No vis, H. Bowcott. Half-backs: J NeHson, W. Powell, 11. Greenlies, F, Williams, M. Sugden. Forwards: Ivor Jones, D. Parker, V. Arthur, S. Cagney, G. Beamish, ? Dunne, C. Payne t H. Mackintosh, J. Paterson, H Dew 4 , D. Gummer, E. Coles;, W. Wakefield, and S. Martindale. Th’J team will leave Englund during the second week in April 1930.

THE FOOTBALL BOOTS THE “ALL BLACKS” WORE. There are any amount of Football Boots on the market, but only oni “O.B.” Don’t be content with a second Grade Football Boot, wear only the best. The “O.B.” (patented). “The studs cannot hurt the feet,” and players find they have more energy left at the end of the game when this boot is worn. Out * ‘ All Blacks” wore them during the whole of the South African tour. Price 25/a pair at all retailers and sports depots. If unobtainable in your district, write to AL O’Brien and Co, Ltd., Christchurch, for name of nearest retailer.—l.