LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Grey River Argus, 21 July 1941, Page 8

LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Blackball Beats Runanga NGAHERE’S WIN. Although played under ideal conditions, tne league football match at Wingham Park yesterday between. Runanga and Blackball, cud not produce good football and was mainly uninteresting. At times play looked like opening up and producing good rootoall, out the spoiling tactics of the forwards soon brought the play back to its former solid level. The game was played in the Bradshaw Cup Competition, and Blackball’s win by 10 points to 3, puts tne Club in an unbeatable position. The score was not an indication of the game, for although tne game was uninteresting it was exceptionally even in both the backs and forwards. Blackball established an earlv lead when a lucky try was scored, ’the Runanga backs slipping over in the mud, out Runanga scored later, failing to convert. Runanga had many opportunities to even up in the second spell with penalty kicks, but the Captain, Pattison, elected to kick up and under. the kicks were badly judged and tailed to gain any ground. It will be recalled that last year Blackball los t m tne final of tne senior competition when they made the same mistake. 'lhe Runanga backs played good football and were better on attack than their opponents b. Masters played a fine game and was the best back on the field, He was ably supported by Anderson and Hinks whose enterprise made many openings for Runanga. In the forwards W. and R. Glynn were prominent. while C. Currie and Hart also showed up favourably. uas. O'Donnell, the full-back, played the best game for Blackball, nis handling, kicking and tackling beingideal. Ord and C. Mountlord also played well. In the forwards, R. Clark, K. Mountford, Howden and Williams played solid football, , and were the leaders in all forward attacks. Runanga was first to attack, but Blackball soon advanced, and when a kick by Currie was fielded by Jack O’Donnell and kicked upfield by C. Mountford, O’Donnell following up fast scored a lucky try under tne posts, when J. King and the Runanga full-back. Armstrong, slipped in the mud and failed to reacn rhe ball. Howden converted. Blackball were again on Runanga’s has] but mishandling by the forwards spoiled a certain try. Ait this junction J. King, a Runanga forward, retired with a head injury, C. McTigue replacing him. Currie failed with a penalty kick for Runanga and Howden missed a kick for Blackball. Masters made « good opening in a Runanga attack and ran 3d yards through the Blackball backs He then kicked through and was about to score when the bail was kicked out of his hands by a Blackball back. However, from a ruck. W. Glvnn secured and sent out to Scott, 'to Masters, who dummied to go over for a well deserved try. K. Glvnn failed to convert. Some exciting football took place for some time, with Runanga dominating tne play, but half-time came with Blackball pressing and the score: Blackball n —Runanga 3 On the resumption of play. Blackball attacked and were unlucky not to score. Runanga lost a golden opportunity to even up when they were awarded a penalty kick in a handy position, and Pattison chose to kick up high and the kick went over the dead ball line. A fast back passing rush by Runanga. resulted, in Hinks nearly scoring, O'Donnell forcing him out in the corner. Blackball took a turn at attack and O’Donnell was forced out in the corner, after a fine back movement. After some dangerous play on Runanga's line, the defending team were compelled to force, and Armstrong cleared. The Runanga forwards, led by W. Glynn, attacked, and were soon pressing on Blackballs line, but a forward rush led by K. Mountford cleared. Blackball again attacked and many attempts to score were unsuccessful. However, Blackball secured from a scrum live yards from the line, and R. Mountford collected to dive over. Howden gcaled. Kull time sounded shortly afterwards with the score: Blackball 10 —Runanga 3.

NGAHERE 32—SEAVIEW 12. Flaying at Seaview, Ngahere easily defeated the home team by 32 points to 12. The ground was in good condition. and superior back play by Ngahere led to rapid scoring. LOWER GRADES. Seaview Juniors, playing their first game on Wingham Park were deleated by Marist by 13 points to two, after an interesting game. Kumara Juniors defeated Rapahoe by 25 points to 10. Runanga Fourth Graders defeated Brunner by 13 points to 5. At Wingham Park, Marist defeated Kumara Fourth Graders by 21 points to 3. WEST COAST v. CANTERBURY. The West Coast League team to play Canterbury for the Anisy Shield at Wingham Park next Sunday, is as follows:—Full-back: R. Pollock (Marist); three-quarters: P. Mulcare (Ngahere), W. Mann (M.), R. Burns (Blackball); five-eighths: C. Mountford (Blackball), Pascoe (N.); halfback: J’. Curnow (M.); forwards: K. Lee (N.), R. Glynn (Runanga), W. Williams (B.); R. Clark (B.); W. Glynn (R.); K. Mountford (B.). Emergencies—Backs: L. Beban (M.); A’. Gibson (N.); forwards: J. Hart (R.), Ivl. Fauth (M.). The selectors were Messrs A. Behan, Jnr., and J. Dodds. CANTERBURY TEAM. CHRISTCHURCH. July 19. The Canterbury Rugby League team to meet the West Coast, at Greymouth next Sunday was announced by the selector (Mr J E Amos) after a trial game at Sydenham Park this alternoon. H.s selection was:— Full-back. —T. Roach (Linwood). Three-quarters.—C. 11. Dawson (Rakaia-Hornby). R. Brown (Sydenham). H. Stocker (Woolstonß Five-eighths.—C. Buckley (Ral-.aia-Hornby), J. Anderson (Wnimmn ■ Half-back. —L. Brown,. (Sydenham). Forwards. —R. Dunlop (Sydenham), L Wehner (Rakaia-Hornby), B. Fraser (Addington), D. Mead (Rakaia-Hornby), N. Waghorn (Linwood), and V. Scott (Sydenham). Emergency.—R. Wright (RakaiaHornby). QUEENSLAND v. N.S.W. (Rec. 7.30). BRISBANE, July 20. Yesterday, the Inter-State Rugby League football match between New South Wales and Queensland, was played here. The result was a win for'New South Wales by a margin of seven points, the. victors scoring 23 to Queensland’s 16.