THE LEAGUE GAME

Grey River Argus, 12 May 1930, Page 2

THE LEAGUE GAME

WEEK-END RESULTS Senior Games Prove Even Competition games in the Rugby League Code were advanced a further step over the week-end. when, in good weather conditions, some excellent games wore witnessed. The results of the senior matches proved that the teams are more evenly matched than has been the case for some years. In every game played there was little to choose between the victors and the vanquished, and on present indications the final i.:stie remains very open. Blackball maintained their unbroken run by defeating Nelson Creek at Blackball after one of the best games witnessed on the Domain. The red and blacks this season have returned to I heir strength of two years ago, and will undoubtedly be close up at the finish. They have a particularly strong set of backq. which proved the chief factor in the Creek’s defeat. At Runanga, Marist had to lower their colours to the local team, after a hard struggle, which play was of an cv?n nature throughout. At Wingham Park. Bru line- and Kohinoors staged a memorable tussle. I p till the tinal whistle the issue remained in doubt, the Brunner team

clinging tenaciously to a two-point , lead established by them in the. first . half, against the repealed attacks by , their opponents. The game was si mi- ( lar in many respects to that of last Sunday, when Brunner ami .Marist . met. On that occasion Brunner were - the unlucky team, as they had the j best of the play practically throughout. . but yesterday saw them in a different position, as they were on the de | fence throughout the major portion of the game. Kohinoors were strength- | cued considerably by the inclusion of Charley. Auston, and Me El wee. and they have now a se‘ of backs that , will make their presence felt in future , games. Brunner’s forwards were again to the fore, and it was due to the blue and black’s pack to a great extent that the team did not walk oft' the field the losers. One feature that will have to be reiin* inhered at the Park is the encroachment of spectators on the play’ing area. This was especially noticeaide yesterday, and adequate steps I will have ho taken io stop those irre- 1 Sponsible, who walk out on the fi<*ld to the discomfort <>*’ both other specta» tors ami players alike. i BRUNNER I (2) BEAT KOHINOOR I (0). The teams were as follows: — • Brunner (blue and black): Ramsay, ('utbush. McCarthy, O’Connell. Barn aid. Wallace. McDonald. Dunn. Hunt, Mtilloy. Hatton. Ellery. Wilson. Kohinoors (green ami l»la>k): Boram. Tobin. (?. Me El wee. A. Lees. J. .Ma* on. H. Lynch, Magee, Eord. Thom son. A. McElwee, Twohill, Rogers. Marlin. From the toss-up, which Brunner won. boli> sides set a fast pace, ihe ball travelling from ■ one end to anol her consistently for the first ten minutes. 'I hen Ramsay gained possession and with a high punt gave 1 lie blue barks an opening. The ball tra-| veiled out Io McDonald, on the left! wing, and when he wes clo'-e Iq the I I line a living tackle from fees brought! him down. Fast. open play followed I u which the game centred around the) half way mark. From there Twohill pul Brunner on Ihe atlark with a good run. By dint of gruelling work Brun ner Io wards look the play back to their opponents’ 25. where Lynch was p-uniinent in some sound defensive work. Three scrums on end saw Hunt hook I hi> ball for Brunner, but the bark division failed to make use of '.this advantage. Barnard, behind the ' blue scrum, was going down in good style to the opposing forwards, and I made up ground for his team. Finally Kohinoors were penal-sed. ami O’Con- I | nell opened up the scoring by sending Ihe ball between the posts.—Brunner 2; Kohinoors 0, From tin* kick off lxohinoo"s took the pbiy to the blues’ end. A scrum f in this quarter gave Lynch the ball, ami he sent his backs away. The movement was spoiled, however, when Twohill dropped a pa w s from Mason. The green harks again set out for the Line, only to meet with a similar reverse when Tubin just failed to reach ti e leather wIo n ,n a good scoring pos lion. A smart piec? of work, by McCarthy ended Kohinoors’ siege, he utting in through two men and pitting the greens on defence by a welljudged punt. O’Connell was given another chance to goal when A. Me-[ Elweo was penalised, but his kick fell I short. The Brunner forwards followed 1 lup the kick ami kept the game on the | Kohinoor line, hut Lynch and Boram j »■ were towers of strength io their side. 9 The scrums won? giving the ball t( J | Brunner. but their barks were not! nippy enough to open up a scoring! movement. Lynch fielded a kick from | McCarthy ami with :• dodgy run I changed the venue of play, and for al time Brunner were kept busy on de-. fence. The blue forwards showed out j well and nullified any possibility of. the attackers scoring. At this stage of the game it was made clear that it was a battle between the Brunner forwards am| the Kohinoo- barks. Sev/eral scrums on end finished with Brun- ’ ner being awarded a free kick, and] I fo” some minutes the ball was hoisted ’ from one eml to another. Lvnrh exentua lv took the initiative and >pr tired up Ihe line.’ where he was I '<dlare<l past half way mark. Notli-i ing r • interest followed until the half ' time whistle sounded with the score: Brunner 2; .Kohinoors 0. | Kohinoors set off with a will from the kirk off. and a movement amongst Ihe backs gave the ball to C. McElwee, wl o. with a characteristic powerful run. speeded down the line, before kicking well down ihe field. O’Connell snapped up the ball and returned to Kohinoor’s full-back, Boram. who had an unsuccessful lo land .a field goal, 'short 1 ;i ftorwards Lynch

had hard luck with a penalty attempt. The Kohinoor backs now began to swing the ball about in approved fashion, and their thrusts had Brunner toiling to save a score being registered. C. McElwee proved a source of trouble to the blues, on two occasions he being within an ace of scoring. An interlude was provided when Ellery broke away from the ruck, but he tried to beat too many men, when a kick would have been of more advan- j tage. His run. however, enabled the Brunner forwards to get clear and they soon had Kohinoors confined in - the latter’s 25. Here McCarthy made a solo effort to cross the line, but wtfs well held. The blues lost their posi- . tion when Barnard attempted to pick the ball out from a scrum, the penalty kick putting Kohinoors again on the attack. A combined back and forward rush by the greens had Brunner r bustled, O’Connell being mainly re-|J sponsible in staving oil a try. A scrum 1 1 <m Brunner’s line saw Kohinoors pen- 1 alisod. The respite from the kick was only temporary, however, as Magee opened up a back movement when he collected the kick by transferring to Lynch, who sent on to Twohill. the | latter sending the ball to C. McElwee, a fine tackle by Ramsay stopping the Kohinoor winger from scoring. The ensuing play saw the greens over the I line, but McElwee lost the ball., and O’Connell forced down. The next incident of note was when MacDonald broke through, ami set off for the green line. By endeavouring to boat too many men he met with the usual fate, being well grassed. The ball s went back to Boiam, who took a pot shot at goal, the ball going wide, although the effort was a splendid one. C'utbush, with a determined run, broke through the opposing line, ami then passed to Walla‘o. The- Brunner wing looked to have a good chance of scoring, but C. McElwee came across the field in lime to push him out of play. Over-anxiousness on Brunner’s part lost them several good opportunities, ' and eventually the play was again ( brought hack to their end by the Kohinoor backs. A penalty in favour Brunner saw their forwards .swarm down the field, only to meet with a solid front from Boram, who lined well < down the field, after evading two tackles. Lynch and Mason took the ball to tl.e Brunner end where both were prominent in some determined attempts to put Kohinoors in the lead. ' On one occasion MacDonald had to kick over the dead line lo save a score. Lees followed up a kick from Boram and just failed to hold the ball I before it wvmt over the dead ball area. |(July one team was in tin* picture from now on. Time a'ter time the onslaughts of the greens were met with a determined front, and on occasions j, a fry was misled by one of the backs failing to make use of the ball to proper advantage. It appeared almost a certainty that Kohinoors would go over, Hut their movements came to nil. Jusl on time Kohinoors were given a chance to equalise when they were awarded a free kick in a handy jiosition. Instead of doing this, Lynch. | who took the kick, elected to go fori a. win. ami sent the ball up and under. 'l’h<‘ move was unsuccessful, and full I time went with Brunner holding theirtwo point lead. Mr (’. Dewar made an impartial re< ferae. RUNANGA I. (12) BEAT MARIST I. (7). I A large crowd, including many I visitors from Greymouth, were pre'sent at the Runanga Domain, to wit I ness the Runanga senior' s heat Mmist. I From start to finish the play was keeu-| 'ly contested, and was interesting t hroughoul. From Ihe kick off by Runanga, Marist were almost immediately awarded J a free kick. The ensuing play saw a penalty in favour of Runanga, Purnell opening up the scoring account with a nice goal. The play following was of an even nature, until Mossop scored a firn* try, which Purnell converted, putting Runanga seven points up. From the kirk off Marist were awarded a free kick and Doogan sent the leather through the posts with a j splendid elfort. With a leeway of live points to make up Marist. put in some good work, which was eventually rewarded when Coulson smashed his way over the line, Doogan brought (the scores level with a good kick. Half I lime saw Ihe -scores 7 all. The ?< , cond half started with both teams eager to gain the advantage, Runanga getting slightly the best of matters. Mossop added another try, which Purnell converted. Marist strove lard to add to their score, but the Runanga defence held sound, and time was called with tin? score RUNANGA 12, MARIST 7. The Runanga forwards all played' well, Newton ,a promoted third grader I especially showing out. In the- backs Harrison and Purnell were oiftstand ing. both playing sound, defunsivi ’games. For Marist, Coulson in the I forwards and Doogan and O’Connor lin the barks were the most prominent. I Mr W. Armstrong was referee, \ BLACKBALL I. (21) BEAT NELSON CEEEK I. (15). | At Blackball yesterday, Nelson j (’reek seniors were defeated by the I home team, before a fair crowd of | | spectators. The Domain was in first-r jclass order. The game was one, of the | | best witnessed on the ground for many | I years. Nelson Creek predominated in the forwards, but Blackball b|f.cks I’ i were superior, at times producing some brilliant efforts, especially shining in attacking movements. The home forwards also showed out to advantage at. times against their heavier op1 I ponents, and it was a big factor in 1 Blackball’s win that their forwards showed such tenacity and spirit. Mr If. Neilson was referee, f : RUNANGA till. (28) BEAT MARIST 111. (0). I Tl.e third grade game between , Runanga and Marist resulted in an easy win for the former, they running (i j out the victors by 28 points to nil. 1 MARIST 11. (13) BEAT RUNANGA d . 11. (8). <> d Playing at Wingham Park, Marist h juniors defeated Runanga by 13 points

to eight. The game was contested at a fast rate from start to finish, with the result that the spectators were treated to an exciting display. AHAUKA 11. (22) BEAT BRUNNER I 11. (2). In the Ahaura v. Brunner junior i ’game, in the Northern Division, the 1 ] former won by 22 points to two. BRUNNER 111. (8) BEAT BLACKBALL 111. (2). At Brunner, the local third grade team defeated Blackball by 8 points to CHRISTCHURCH GAMES. CHRISTCHURCH, May 11. Yesterday’s Rugby League results arc:—Hornby 21 beat Waimairi 7, Addington 11 beat Linwood 1, Marist. 18 beat Sydenham 13. ENGLISH FINAL DRAWN. ’ ' LONDON, May 10. The Rugby League Championship final was played at Wakefield. It re- 1 suited in a draw between Leeds and Huddersfield, each side scoring two points. There will bo a replay at Halifax on May 12th.