LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Grey River Argus, 15 June 1931, Page 3

LEAGUE FOOTBALL

RUNANGA CHAMPIONS I i Marist’s Narrow Defeat j Yesterday saw the final of the 1931 | senior championship played at Wingham Park, when after a most, exciting and close contest Runanga defeated Marist by six points to five. Blackball beat Brunner by the narrow margin of two points. The weather was excellent for football, but the grounds were not in a very good state, the greasy ball at times giving players considerable trouble. RUNANGA I 6 V. MARIST 5. A record crowd of about two thousand spectators were thrilled by the brilliant handling of a somewhat greasy ball at Wingham J’ark yesterday afternoon, when Runanga defeated Marist in the championship final by ’six points to five, after a hard-fought 'and keenly contested gamp. The Runanga backs seldom made mistakes, and i i although they were at times hard] pressed near the line, they would sud- | denly carry the play from end to end| of the field with good passing and handling. The marist thirteen, led by Calder, O’Brien ami Coulson. made (‘very effort to confine the play to the forwards, and were at times very un ucky not to have scored at least another try. On the play th? Runanga backs outshone their opponents, and it is due mainly to the deadly tackling of the Mar>Bt forwards that the mar- , gin of defeat was not greater. Hart ' (Runanga) amt O’Leary (Marist) were the pick of th? backs, O’Leary espec-1 ially giving a fine display, although handicapped by the faulty handling of Matthews and Hurst. Masters, as u c ual. played a heady gam? and lost few opportunities to get the leather mil to Broom and Hart. T. Anisy (Marist) had few opportunities, but again proved that he is one of th? outstanding backs in the competition. Blackaby, who up till yesterday seldom made mistakes, was the weak link in the Marist rearguard, and repeatedly got his side into difficulties. Of the Marist pack there was not one for ward who did not play brilliantly in a hard-fought game. Calder. O’Brien. Coulson and Devonport probably being the most outstanding. Griffiths, the Runanga captain, was brilliant, whilst, other forwards who stood out were Glenn, Newton and Medlin. The teams were: — Marist: Blackaby. Hurst. Kennedy. Matthews. Anisy, O’Leary, O’Connor, Calder. Williams. O’Brien. Devonport,) D timing, Coulson. Runanga: Harrison, Gore. Mossop, Maddison. Hart. Broom, Masters. Tai-’ lentyre (2), Glenn, Newton. Griffiths,i Medlin. Griffiths kicked off. and following' up, Newton led the Runanga forwards, in a rush that culminated in a| scramble on the Marist line. Marist I forwards then broke away, but Broom/ secured and set his hacks i n motion.j O’Brien saving. Runanga forwards) with a combined rush came back again. Hurst saving with a good kick into touch. Hart started an attacking movement being tackled by Blackaby. Griffiths then secured and scrambled over for a good try. Th? ■ k'ck at goal failed. Runanga 3, Mar-; ist 0. Runanga backs were then seen in action, Coulson saving with an effective tackle. O’Brien and Durningj broke away in a dribbling rush but Runanga forwards returned and Blackaby was caught in possession, play resuming in Marist territory. O’Brien) was then responsible for a brilliant run, ’ but was forced out. A green back ( movement broke down at Kennedy.'. Hart intercepted and in company with Gore took [play well into midfield. Burning and Coulson were then prominent in a dribbling rush, but Runanga forwards returned, and Blackaby mis-, handled. O’Leary saving by kicking) out. Runanga forwards broke away* and Gore finally gained possession to •' daOi over for a try. Th? kick at goal j failed. Runanga 6, Marist 0. Pollowing up. from the kick-off. Marist for-1 wards led by Coulson attacked, and I Marist were awarded a free kick, the kick from an easy position failing. Runanga were again penalised and ( O ’Connor punted. A further free kick was awarded against Runanga. hut i Calder failed dismally. Runanga forwards took piny to Marist line, where, two scrums took place, but relief camp to Marist when their stalwart pack broke clear with the ball at toe. Marist forwards took play right to Runanga ’s lin?, a free kick bringing the latter relief. Runanga were then penalised and Devonport goaled. Runanga ' fi. Mar.st 2. Runanga backs were often I seen in passing movements and wer? < handling nicely and taking play well] into Marist territory, Matthews final- I ly clearing with a good kick. Run- . anga backs got going again, hut Gore was well held by O’Leary. Anisy wa*’ 1 then responsible for a fine run and l th? Marist forwards carried 'on th»*| attack, a force down resulting. Marist forwards attacked and took play to Runanga territory, Hart saving with a j well-judged line kick. Half time was soon after sounded, with play in mid field. On resuming Medlin was prominentin a brilliant solo effort, but Marist* were forcing th? play, w’hich remained even in midfield. Marist forwards| were then °n Runanga’g line but fail-1 ed to cross. Matthews was then prom-1 inent in a fine run, and almost scored, j A forward movement started by O’Brien resulted in Marist crossing ‘ but a force down resulted. Runanga. brought play to Marist territory for a , brief period, but O’Brien broke awav taking play to half way. Coulson led | the Marist forwards who were now I forcing the pace. Masters clearing withi a good line kick. A determined Run- j anga forward attack was well saved 5 by O’Connor, who went down on the I ball at the oncoming forwards’ feet. I Marist forwards kept up a wonderful attack. Runanga being compelled to force down on two occasions. A pen-

alty was awarded Marist when in a * good position, but th? kick failed. A Marist back movement broke down at Kennedy. With a great effort Tal entyre took play right to Marist line. Marist attacked consistently but failled to penetrate Runanga’s solid de'fence. Just 011 time Calder secured [from a Marist forward rush to score. ) Coulson just failed to goal from near the side line, and the game ended with Runanga vict-rmus by six points to 1 five. Mr L. Hunter was referee. BLACKBALL I 8 V. BRUNNER I 6. At Blackball yesterday afternoon, before a good attendance. Blarkba 1 ‘Seniors, in a very even and willing game, narrowly defeated Brunner by j eight points to six. From start to finish the play was brilliant. (’. Leitch and Kinsella scored for the winners, .Wright converting the latter’s try. • Ellery and O’Connor scored for Brun. ner. Mr W. Allen was referee. AHAURA 11. 10 V. WAIUTA B 11. 3. In a norther:] division junior match at Waiuta yesterday, Ahaura defeated Waiuta B by 10 points to 3. after a fast and open game. Grey and Savage each scored and Gilman converted on? try and kicked a penalty for ’ Ahaura. Hempseed scored for WaiI uta. | Waiuta A forfeited to Ngahere ow(ing to not being able to field a team. MATCHES UNPLAYED. Two junior fixtures, Runanga A v. Kohinoor at Dunollie. and Marist v. Rapahoe at Rapahoe, were not played yesterday, neithe r of fhe Greymouth teams putting in an appearance. AUCKLAND RESULTS. AUCKLAND, June 14. ■ Yesterday’s League results:— Devonport. 9, beat Ponsonby 8. Marisit 39, beat Ellerslie 3. CANTERBURY GAMES. I CHRISTCHURCH, June 14. ! Th? League football results were:— Addington 35, beat Sydenham 14. Hornby 11. drew with Linwood 11. The position of the teams is:—Ad- 1 dington 14, Hornby 9, Linwood 7, Sydenham 2.