GREY MATCHES

Grey River Argus, 27 May 1935, Page 2

GREY MATCHES

STAR BEAT BLAKETOWN. UNITED’S NARROW WIN. There was ideal weather for 'the competition matches of the West Coast Rugby Union at Rugby P.-.rk on Saturday, and there was a good attendance. The absence from 'the Blaketown and United sides# of players taking part in the West Coast-Builer match, had its effects. Blaketown seniors, until Saturday,. unbeaten this season, were defeated by Stars in an even, and at times exciting contest by ten points to

eight. Blaketown showed superior attacking powers, particularly the back which, however, was lacking linesse. Their forwards worked tirelessly and were within striking dist-

ance on several occasions, but were driven back by Stars’ solid defence. Over-eagcrne.i-s on the pant of the Blaketown side spoiled many opportunities when they had Stars defending in the latter stages of the game. Star forwards won ‘the day. The backs, although given several opportunities, did not combine very effectively. United had a close call in their match with Cobden winning by eleven points to nine. The result was in doubt right up to the final whiytlq. but the play produced few interesting passages being principally a battle between the it wo sets of forwards. Celtic juniors defeated United, Blaketown juniors defeated Stars and Cobden thirds outpointed Stars.

STARS DEFEAT BLAKETOWN. In it he early wtages of the StarBlaketown match on 'the No. 1 ground, both sides took turns at attack. Beban was driving Blaketown back and placing Stars in a good attacking position with his well-judged high punts. From a line-out at Blaketown’s twenty-five, Behan secured from and dropped a neat field goal from a handy position. Stars 4, Blaketown nil. Blaketown immediately set up a hot attack and their backs’ were associated in a pretty passing movement from their twenty-five, Heasley pushing Preston out near the corner. Pascoe was given a chance to goal from near the side-line,, but failed. Star forwards forced their way buck to Blaketown’s 25* where Pascoe was caught oil-side, and Furness# raised the flags from a handy position. Stars 7, Blaketown nil._ Blaketown forwards, headed by v Olscn, Longstaff, and Scott broke through to Star’s line, Heasley saving with a timely mark. Preston, who was playing a fine attacking game Pt-half-back. made a dash and sent Reg. Olyen in-. but he lost possession on the, line and a force down resulted. Halftone came soon afterwards without, further score.

Blaketown. forwards;, at the start of the second halfi, set up a warm attack, and took play to Star’s 25>. where Furness was caught off-side and Pascoe goaled with a great kick. Stary 7, Blaketown 3. Buchanan broke away and was almost over for Stars, l)iit knocked on, amd a force down resulted. Following a high kick by Pascoe, Blaketown forwards,bore down on Heasley, and he lost the ball going out at the corner. Bunt secured from a scrum, and made a dayh, but was well held. From the ensuing melee Scott scored wide out. Pascoe goaled with another fine kick to give Blaketown the lead. Blaketown 8, Stars 7. Star forwards immediately came back <to Blaketown * territory. M. Olsen was caught offside, and Fuimess goaled with a good kick and Stars again took the lead. Stary 10, Blaketown 8. Blaketown made several excursions into Star territory but failed to penetrate the defence. M. Olsen. hooked the ball freely from the giving his backs every chance, hint the defence was sound and t.he players generally were inclined to become overeager. The match developed into an exciting and willing encounter ( , and following an incident in Star’s 25, Pascoe way order'll off. Blaketown forwards crossed ‘the line but a force doW resulted.: They came back but a serum

infringement in front of the goal spoiled any possibility of a score. Full I time sounded with Stars victorious by ten poinits to eight. Mr N. Eggleton was referee. UNITED DEFEAT COEDEN. In the early stages of their match on the No. 2 ground|. Cobden appeared to hold the upper hand, but United forged ahead in the second spell, and won by eleven points .to nine. The play travelled up and down the field for about tern minutes. United just failing on one occasion to get over when their forwards made a combined effort. Cobden forwards worked in unison 'to take play to inside United’s 25, and the backs swung into action from a line-out t Tennent cutting in cleverly to force his way over near the |>osts. L. Lindbom missed an easy kick. Cobden 3, United nil. Cobden forwards kept up 'the good work, but their backs were a poor combining force. The forwards were almost over on two occasions. Caldwell accepted a long pass out just outside United’s 25, the Cobden backs being caught out of amd he put in a fast burst down the side-line to score at the corner. Vincent failed to goal. United 3| Cobden 3. McDonnell (United) was despatched down the side-line, but fell short of the line by inches. Cobden worked hard taking play to United’s 25, where from a melee, Wilson picked up and forced his way over near the corner for a good try. 1.. Lindbom failed to goal. Cobden 6, United 3. Early in the second spell United backs swung into line, and at Cobden’s 25, Costellov who was United’s outstanding back,, cut out two and handed on to Caldwell, who outpaced the opposition to score at the corner. Adams converted with a good kick, making the score United 8, Cobden 6. A long kick to the line, gave McDonnell an opportunity and nipping in between two Cobden players he scored wide. Adams failed to convert. United 11. Cobden 6. United backs began a passing bou't just outside their 25, when A. King intercepted,, amd scored well outt (failing to convert. United 11, Cobden 9. Although Cobden made several determined efforts they failed to score and the final whistle came with United the victors. Mr W. McLaughlin was referee.

JUNIOR MATCHES. CELTIC DEFEAT UNITED. Playing at (Rugby Parlq. Celtic juniors defeated United by nine points to six. McGinley (2), and Cullen scored for Celtic, whilst 1. Ferguson scored for United. BLAKETOWN BEAT STARS. Blaketown juniors defeated Star juniors by eleven points to six. The scorers- for Blaketown were Alderton (2) and Millett, Goodall converting one. L. (Mills# and J. Minch in scored for Stars. Cobden third graders defeated Stars by 21 points to nil. WESTLAND COMPETITION. At Cays Square a spare c attendance on Saturday saw the Kiwi seniors defeated by nine to nil by Excelsiors,, who .played seven juniors. It was a very poor displays lacking combiraattion. Kiwis, of course, missed West, D. Diedrich and Heinz but ought to to have been equal to the opposition, who did the most attacking. Tries were scored by Richards, Lewis and Connolly. Muir stood omt in the wiuining backs, as did Stopiortli (a forward) behind the Kiwi scrum, siors did endeavour to make passing the order, whereas# Kiwi preferred kicking), and that explains the result. Mr Collett was a very efficient referee. CANTERBURY COMBINED TEAM DEFEAT OTA G O-SOUTII LAND (Per Press Association). DUNEDIN, May 26. The All Black trial match on Saturday between the Canterbury-Ayhbur-ton-Sowth Canterbury team and the North Otago-Otago-Southland team was played in perfect weather. The Canterbury combination wore the winners by ten points (two converted tries#) to 9 (an unconverted try any two penalty goals). AUCKLAND, May 25. Varsity 15, Grafton 6; Grammar Old Boys 11, Technical 9; Otahuhu 17. Ponsonby 14. WELLINGTON, May 25. Senior A, first division: Marist 17. Wellington 13; Wellington College Old Boys 8, Athletic 3; Petone 10, Hutt 6; Poneke 6, Eastbourne 6. Second division: Johnsonville 9, Melrose-Selwyn 3; St. Patrick’s Old Boys 11, University 10 CHRISTCHURCH, May 25. Football matches were played to-day •in brilliant sunshine, but the grounds were heavy after rain during the week. Rugby Union results were: Athletic 9, beat Sydenham 4; Sunnyside 16 beat Christchurch 5; Linwood 21 beat Manvale 0; Old Boys 18 beat University 6