RUGBY FOOTBALL

Grey River Argus, 2 May 1932, Page 3

RUGBY FOOTBALL

COBDEN’S SUCCESS United Too Good for Blaketown The opening of the Cup Competitions saw Cobden demonstrate superiority over Stars on Saturday, while Blaketown proved no match for United COBDEN (10) BEAT STAR (3). In a keemy-contested game on No. 1 ground at Rugby Park. Cobden Seniors’ defeated Star by 10 points to three. The game was qu to a good exhibition tor the fiist game of the season, and some good individual form was shown, i.-either team having much combination. Stars won the to.-s and F. Eggletou kicked off for Cobden,. Play was centred i n mid-field for some time, but S.ars were first t° attack, a passing bout among their backs carrying play into the Cobden 25. The Star attack was more or less a loose one, there being little concerted work among the forwards, but they kept Cobden on the defensive for some time. A. King eventually relieved the position when from a mark on his own line he I’ned at the 25. The Cobden pack now took a turn at attack, a free kick to Cobden lor Deere obstructing Lindbom, putting them in a good position in the Star quarter. Mahoney. Birchfield and Crossman were prominent in a solid onslaught on the Star line, but a free kick to the defenders saved a dangerous situation. Soon afterwards, a free kick to Cobden

on the side line, about ten yards outside the Star 25 line, gave A. King a chance Io put his side ahead, but he missed. From the drop-out Stars carried play down past half-way, where Fong short punted, and had Cobden in trouble. Star, however, failed to press home their advantage and Lindbom cleared. From a scrum in mid-field, Cobden secured the ball. a it travelled along the back to Kennedy, who broke through the defence and raced to the fullback, Baird, who, however, tackled him in possession. Fong secured .the ball and found the line at the 25. Star were penalised for lifting in the scrum, but Lindbom’s attempt to goal from the 25 fell .short. Beban (Star) in going down to a forward rush, shortly before half-time, was injured, and had to leave the field. Up was replaced by Reyno ds. who played on the left wing. Lei's moving in to the centre position. Ficm a line-out about 15 yards from !he Star line, Cobden gained possession .••nd King secured at the end of the Cob-, di'n chain of backs to race ever under thp posss. z Lindbom added the major points. Cobden 5, Star nil. Half-time •ounded shortly afterwards.

Stars were first to attack on the renimpt'on, Deere, Furness anj Dixon heading a determined forward rush. Play remained in Cobden territory for a short time, until A. King sent the attackerg back with a hefty line kick. The Cobden backs next gave a taste of their quality the whole line handling to the winger, King, who was brought down by the full back, well inside the Star 25. The Cobden vanguard, with J. Gordon, Bolitho and Mahoney putting in solid work, now set up a hot attack. Eggletou secured from a rush and went over for a clever try midway between the posts and the side-line. Lindbom converted with a good kick, making the scores Cobden 10, Star nil. With Cobden now comfortably in front, Star made desperate efforts to make up ;the leeway, but the Cobden defence held. First Deere and then Furness broke away with the ball at their toes, but were soon stopped. An infringement at half-way gave a penalty to Cobden and Lindbom had a shoft at goal, the ball falling .short. Baird, the Star full-back, earned applause for a long, well-judged line kick, which put Stars once again on the offensive. Scandrett. the Star half-back, was letting his backs away at every opportunity, but the Cobden 3-2-3 formation was proving every bit as effective as the Star 3-4-1 scrum, and he did not get many opportunities. A free kick tp Stars, outside the 25 line wa s taken by Fong, but hi s attempt, to goal fell short, and Cobden returned play to mid-field. A high p'unt had Stars in trouble again, for Dixon in endeavouring to kick clear missed the ball altogether and the red and blacks swarm, od down on the Star line. The defending forwards, however, battled their way back out of the danger zone, Petrie, Furness and Delore showing up well. Cobden were gradually forced back to well inside their 25, Scandrett kicking out ten yards from the line. From a scrum there. Scandrett secured and whipped out to Fong, who cut straight through the defence to score a good try midway between the posts and the sideline. Fong’s attempt to '.onvert, a good on-e, missed narrowly. Cobden 10. Star 3. Cobden immediately set up an attack again, two hefty punts by King gainng good ground. A penalty to Star, allowed them to clear to the 25 and their forwards carried On to well past half-way. Fell, Furness and Deere led the amber and black p'ack into the Cobden 25, but first Linbom and then King 1 ent them back. Time was called with p ay about half-way and the final score was: Cobden 10, Star 3. Mr T. McIntosh was referee. j

Kennedy, a new-'comer to Greymoutlj football created a good impress'on in the Cobden rearguard, he showing considerable speed and sure handling. J. Gordon. Birchfield, and Mahoney were consistently prominent among the win. ning forwards. Fong was outstanding in the Star backs, though Beban was. playing good football before having to retire. Deere and Furness led the Star nack. There was very little between the rival forwards, but the Cobden backs worked more effectively. UNITED 24 BEAT BLAKETOWN 9. On the No. 2 ground at Rugby Park United Seniors eaii. .y defeated a depleted Blaketown fifteen by 24 points to 9. Blaketown played several of their juniors who had taken part in the junior match, and were constMjuently

at. a great disadvantage. The United forwards with a 3-4-1 scrum formation' gave their backs plenty of the ball, and when they found their feet, the rearguard made good use of their oppor tunities. The game was onc-s’ded United always having the upper hand. Scandrett war the outstanding player for Blaketown. He played first in th? pack, and later as full bark, and in both he gave good exhibitions. He used his boot to good advantage- in kicking two good penalty goals for his s’de. Gilbert stood out from the iest of the United backs, while J. Bell was the most prominent of the for wards. Tries for the winners were ' cored by Baldwin. Ware. Gilbert (2), and Jones, J. Bdi converting two. For Blaketown, Bunt scored an unconverted try and Scandrett kicked two penalty goals. Mr W. Williams was referee. JUNIOR GRADE. STAR 12 BEAT BLAKETOWN’ 3. At Rugby Park on No. 2 ground, as a curtain raiser to th? United-Blake-town senior game, Star Juniors defeat, ed Blaketown by 12 pouts to 3. For the winners tries were scored by Humphreys, Seebeck and Costello and Me Nabb kicked a penalty. Blaketown’s points came from an unconverted try by Collins. Mr D. McKay was referee. BLACKBALL 14 BEAT COBDEN 6. Blackball defeated Cobden in a juni. or match at Blackball, by 14 points to 6. Le tch. Wright and O’Brien scored tries for the winners, the last-named kicking a penally goal and a lso convening one of the tries. F. Lindbom scored two tries for Cobden. Mr F. Ternpero was referee. KUMARA II (25) V. UNITED II (5). Kumara juniors defeated United by 25 points to o, at Kumara on Saturday after a fast and open exhibition. THIRD GRADE. COBDEN 6 TECHNICAL 6. Technical and Cobden third graders played a drawn game on the No. 1 ground. Leitch a nd Maddison scored for Technical, and Swift and Spark for Cobden, making the scores six all. Mr D. A. Kilgour was referee. WESTLAND COMPETITION. EXCELSIORS (IS)—RIVALS (15).

There was a moderate attendance when Excelsiors (defeated Rivals al Cass Square on Saturday, after un-evenly-contested game, in which the greater weight of the winners’ forwards told as play proceeded. Play was even, blit uninteresting, in the opening stages, and th e R val s attacked. From a scrum in Excelsior territory, the ball camo from Webster to Houston, who gave a good pass to E. Pfahlert, the lat'rer beating several and sending Williams over for a good try far out, which was not. converted. Excelsiors got near the Rival 25. where they obtained a free kick when Webster came round the scrum and caught Rimmer (half), but it was hardly a breach, as the ball was out from the kick. L. Hughe* landed a fine goal. Excelsiors continued aggressive. Rim.*/ going from a scrum close to the Riva’, line and send, ing to Schroder, who handled without much gain, but soon after they passed into the reverse direction, four or five handling, and Schroder having this time plenty room to run round and score. Hughes converting. Rivals attacked, a loose rm h barely being checked by Hughes on his line. E. Pfahlert was prom’nent in dashes when Houston fed him, but other Rival backs were not penetrating. When Rivals again got under the opposing goal Adamson tried a pot that proved a poster. Excelsiors heeled from most scrums, and Rimmer dashed forward at times. Then the Rival backs engaged in more passing, Webster, Heinz. Houston and Pfahlert and Adamso n taking part, but the only result was a penalty in a good posit on, which Webster failed to goal. The play had speeded up as it went, but i n the second half there was an opposite tendency. Rivals, especially, slackening, evidently through need of practice and weight disparity. King. Hughes and Kelly were doing their bit. noticeably in tight play for Excelsiors. Webster, the Rival half, show, ed lack of judgment reveral times by hard kicking and attempting to go through alone. Williams showed up at centre. W. Hughes once was nearly scoring, when Carter, Rival custodian, failed to get the ball. C. Pfahlert. Schist and Fleming grafted hard in the Rival pack, but the op'posing forwards wer e dominant till the end of the game. Schroder was in the picture from time to time; but the play was generally medicore, and betrayed a need of combination. Mr Breeze was an impartial referee, but was extra strict. KIWIS BEAT RIMU.

Ross Seniors had a bye on Saturday. Kiwis meeting Rimu on the latter ’n ground, the match being pretty even throughout. Kiwi had some advantage territorially and they scored two tries to one gained by R'imu, thus winning by 6 to 3. Both teams are on the light side, but should improve as the season advances.

RUGBY RESULTS. CHRISTCHURCH. April 30. To-day’s Rugby /football matches were played in showery weather, on grounds sodden by heavy rain. Results were:— Merivale 16, beat Albion 3; Christchurch 25, beat Linwood 8; Sydenham 35, beat Athletic 3; Old Boys 25, beat Varsity 8. WELLINGTON, April 30. Petone 18, Wellington 12; Athletic 9. Varsity 5; Poneke 19, Marist 0; Oriental 8, Old Boys 6; Eastbourne 28, Miramar 11; Hutt 21, Berhampore 4. ASHBURTON. April 30. Rakaia 11, Allenton 0. TIMARU, April 30. Star 27, Zingari 6; Old Boys 11, Celtic 7. TEMUKA, April 30. Temuka 6, Waihi 0. INVERCARGILL, April 30. Pirates 26, Old Boys 15; Star 15, Blues 10. DUNEDIN, April 30. Zingari 17, Varsity B. 3; Southern

11, Taieri 3; Alhambra 12. Kaikorai 7; Pirates 6, Dunedin 3; Varsity A. 42. Union 6. MASTERTON, April 30. Red Star 8, Old Boys 0. WANGANUI. April 30. Old Boys 17, Pirates 3; Technical Old Boys 3. Marist 0. PALMERSTON N„ April 30 United 15, Massey College 3; Kia Toa 14, Feildiug 13. NEVER A SORE FOOT IN AN ‘‘O.B. ” FOOTBALL BOOT. The 1 ‘ 0.8. ’ ’ has a patent aluminium plate that keeps the inner sole always level and smooth so that the studs can never hurt the feet no matter whether the ground is hard or soft. No other football boot gives such foot protection and such comfort as the “O.B.” Worn and recommended by all leading players. Sold at 23/6 a pair by all retailers and sports depots. If unobtainable in your district, write to M. O’Brien and Co., Ltd., Christchurch, for name of nearest retailer. —4