RUGBY LEAGUE

Grey River Argus, 13 June 1931, Page 8

RUGBY LEAGUE

TOMORROW'S TEAMS. ’ Blackball seniors to play Brunner at Blackball, at 2.45 p.m.—-Ritchie, l Meikle, Neilson, R. Ware, Dodds, Kinsella, G. Ware, C. Leitch, W. Clark, L. Hodgson, Prague] 1, J. Anderson, A. Lamberton. Runanga Junion A v. Kohinoors, at Dunollie at 2.15.—8r0wn, Currie, Malpass, Williams, McPhee, Johnston, Manderson, Popo (2), Glyn, Brown, Moore, Wooitton. Runanga seniors v. Marist, at Wingham Park, at 2.45 p.m.—A. Harrison, R. Gore, J. Mossop, R. Maddison, P. Hart, A. Brown, J. Masters, Jack Tallentyre, Jim Tallentyre, W. Glyn, G. Newton, J. Medlin, N. Griffiths (ea-pt.). Emergencies: Timlin, Patterson, and Kinsey. Bus leaves Minors’ Hall at 2.10 p.m. Kohinoor junior team to play Runanga A at Dunollie will be selected from. —Culling (2), Mein roe, Lynch, Smith, Harrington, Ford, Sharp, Dowling (2), Gardyne, Thompson. Nash. Fisher, Wilson. Team to assemble at Post Office at 2 p.m. Marist seniors to play Runanga at Wingham Park, at 2.4s.—Calder. Williams, O’Brien, Coulson, Durning, Devonport, O’Connor, O’Leary, T. Anisy, Kennedy, Matthews, Ilurst, Blackaby. Team to meet at Club Hotel at 2 p.m. Marist. juniors ifo play Rapahoe, at Rapahoe.—August, Weir, Flaherty, Gillooly, Martin, McHugh, Atkinson, Hobson, S. Anisy, Stopforth, Walsh, Higgins, Burger and Restieaux. NOTES AND PLAYERS. (By •‘Spectator.”) The large crowd which attended the Runanga-Brunner match at Dunollie on Sunday last were treated to a fine exhibition of the passing game. On the play, Brunner was unlucky not to register more points than were recorded, and providing that the same combination can be produced in future matches it is quite within the bounds of possi bility that at least one of the remain ing cups to be competed for will be annexed by this club before the sea son is over.

The Runanga team, which lias asserted its superiority over all comers for years past, is still maintaining the reputation of possessing a combination of thought and action tha<t will give the Marist thirteen the hardest part to do to-morrow, despite the fact that {the greens have been within an ace of defeating their doughty black-and-white opponents on two occasions this season. Runanga supporters are confident that the Championship Cup -will again be won by the ‘‘ magpies,” but this season’s Marist |tcam, strengthened by the inclusion of J. Calder, M. O ’Brien, C. Fitzgerald and D. Kennedy should give .them as hard a struggle as they have had for years, to-morrow. If fortune should favour Marist the interest in ithe championship will be greatly increased by the fact that both these teams will then have to play off in the final. Most of the Blackball players seem to have had an off day on Sunday, they failing to give the large crowd a? Wingham Park the brilliant display of passing that is always looked for from them. When they defeated Marist at Blackball, their backs, led by J. Dodds, were superior in every department of the game, and it is safe ;to assume that Marist decided to confine play to the vanguard as much as possible. Consequently the game was anything but spectacular, and developed into a struggle for supremacy between the forwards with Calder leading a pack that had in weight a decided advantage. If Marist adopt similar tactics against Runanga to-morrow, the latter will probably win by a much larger margin than hitherto. BRUNNER PLAYERS. L. Hunt, full-back, handles well and has saved his side on numerous occasions. Anderson, wing three-quarter, although showing a brilliant turn of speed, is inconsistent in his play and at times gets his side into trouble by playing too close jto the forwards. C. O’Connor, by his consistent and heady play, is undoubtedly proving that he is one of the best backs on the Co'ast. Cutbush, as usual, is playing a sound defensive game. Kitto, at half-back, is at home on cither a dry or a muddy ground. His handling and line-kicking have helped his side out of many dangerous positions. More will be heard of this player ere the season ends. Ellery succeeded in getting his share of the ball from the scrums. Dunn was noticeable for his solid tackling against Marist. Croft is improving on his play. Creagh, Hunt and Clarke were hard to stop in the tight work. Pur ton has improved with every game, and should give a good exhibition of wing three-quarter play before the season is much further advanced. Ryan handles well and knows when to pass or kick. MABIST PLAYERS. T. O’Connor, at half-back, is a tower of strength <to his side. Blackaby, full-back, was forced to retire during the Marist-Brunnpr game owing to an injury to his knee, but it is hoped that he will again don the jersey to-morrow. Matthews, who will most likely take Blackaby’s place if the latter is not available, will have to improve on last Sunday’s play to fill successfully the place of that consistent player. T. Anisy, although one of the lightest backs playing in the senior competition, is outstanding for his consistently heady play. Hiirst, wing three-quarter, is a speed merchant of no mean order, but has had little opportunity to prove it so far this season. Devonport on the other wing, has proved that he is worthy of his place in that position, bln might do better if ho played further away from the scrum. Calder is playing as well as ever, and

like the other New Zealand rep. for-; ward, Griffiths, is a favourite with the public for his gentlemanly play. Coulson is hard ito tackle, and is always liable to break through when near the line. Martini has proved that fitness I counts a great deal, being always on the ball. He has one fault, however, that should be easily remedied, name- I ly passing wildly. Williams (hooker) although a junior at the start of the season, can get his share of the ball from the scrums and is solid in attack and defence. O’Brien, the former N.Z. rep., played better last Sunday than he did during any previous match this season. O’ Leary showed a fine burst of speed on Sunday last, and is improving •very match. BLACKBALL PLAYERS. W. Ritchie is one of the safest fullbacks on the Coast. He never waits . for the bounce, and his hard to bustle. I R. Ware, wing three-quarter, is play- ' ing well, and was exceptionally un- j lucky not to register a try for his sido | on Sunday. Leitch is playing his usual consistent game. t Clarke handles well, but seldom ; makes the most of the opportunities '• made by Dodds, who is quicker to , anticipate a movement. G. Ware, half back, is improving in ’ his play, and gives his backs every chance when the red-and-blacks hool' the ball. Hodgson follows up well and misses few opportunities. Kidd, hooker, is consistent in the loose, and succeeds in getting a fair 1 share of the ball. RUNANGA PLAYERS. Harrison, the Runanga full-back, al- ' though still handicapped with an in- : jured knee, played a sound game . against Brunner. He did not show out j so well against Blackball on the, wing. Mossop, at centre, on present form, should be sure to gain a position in j the reps. His attack and defence are j first-class. Xnjd oi samnjuoa ‘jpjq in -.ioa st ojf ’sinonoq "doi ioj u great football and must be considered 1 satile and happy in his play, though a I bit too loquacious. Griffiths, the brains of the Runanga forwards, is playing better football now than at any part of his career. Other players should study his methods. W. Glynn, is a forward of high standard, and is always on the ball. He | will be seen leading the forward rushes I to-morrow. G. Newton is another young forward with a future. He possesses plenty of I speed and strength, which he uses to > advantage. Jim Tallentyre, although hooking for a light pack, continues to get the lion’s j share of the ball. His only fault is in pulling about a tackled player in- | stead of letting him play the ball. I ! 'Timlin is hard to stop when the ball j is at his toes, and he is solid on dc- ' fence. Maddison, at full back, handles well j ■ and should improve as the season con- ' tinues. Gore, wing three-quarter, plays a , heady game, and makes the most of • k I every opening* Broom is at home on a muddy or dry ground, and seldom wastes any chance?.