LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Grey River Argus, 17 May 1943, Page 2

LEAGUE FOOTBALL

DECISIVE WIN FOR BLACKBALL.

The main game at Wingham Park yesterday, was between Marist and Blackball, the latter winning by 29 points to 11. This victory may best be accounted for by the superb handling of the Blackball backs whose interlocking play was of the best. The game was marked by a surfeit ot free kicks. The teams were:— Blackball: C. Mountford, R. Mountford, W. Mountford, Jamieson, Nuttall, O’Donnell, Ord, Williams, McClure, Reynolds, Baillie, Howden and McNaughton. Marist: Mann, M. Power, T. Power. Coll, Newton, Hatch, Watson, Thomson, Crowe, Dunn, Malone, Rae and Ward. Marist kicked off, defending the southern goal and immediately pressed strongly. They were awarded a penalty on Blackball’s 25, but Mann s kick refused to rise. C. Mountford, eluding several tackles, ran 50 yards to pass to W. Mountford, who crossed the line half-way out. McNaughton’s kick failed. On the resumption of plav, Malone secured from a melee on the Blackball 25 and passed to Mann, who attempted a pot. His kick hit the crossbar, but Coll followed up to dive over near the posts. Mann converted. A good run by WMountford led Blackball to within an ace of scoring, but Coll forced. However, C. Mountford, in a tricky dash, made an opening and passed to his brother W. Mountford, who eluded two tackles to score under the posts. McNaughton converted. Blackball 8; Marist 5. Newton attempted to goal from a penalty ob yards out, but failed. Blackball recovered and for the space of ten minutes, play swung up and down in a scintillating manner. Then C, Mountford led a Blackball back movement, handing on to W; Mountford who went over under the posts. McNaughton converted. Another Blackball attack ended in Ord passing to O’Donnell, who dashed over in "the corner. O’Donnell’s kick failed. Excellent combination and passing made the Blackball backs dominate the play for a space. However, Newton and Coll led Marist to the Blackball 25, offside play gave Marist a penalty in front of the posts. Mann made no mistake and the first half ended with the score Blackball 1G; Marist 7. Blackball immediately returned to the attack, W. Mountford making a good run, then passing to Ord, who repassed to Mountford who, however, was offside. Play swung back to Blackball territory, where Blackball were pen•alised for “feet up” and Newton kicked an excellent goal from the sideline, 40 yards out. W. Mountford thep cut through on the halfway, sold a dummy and handed on to Jarn.eson, who went over in the corner. McNaughton failed at conversion. From a penalty 40 yards, and near the side-line, McNaughton’s kick scraped home, making the score: Blackball 21; Marist 9. Coll then kicked a penalty from an easy angle, for Marist. C. Mountford took the ball from a Marist forward rush on his own 25. eluded the Marist defence and passed to W. Mountford, who scored near the posts. McNaughton missed the kick. Another dash by W. Mountford out Blackball in a scoring position and Reynolds went over in the corner. McNaughton added Iho extras with an excellent kick. Eager play characterised the last few minutes, but when the whistle sounded the score was still; Blackball 29; Marist 11. Mi’ J. Griffen was referee.

The curtain raiser was a solid, unspectacular game between Runanga and Marist third graders which was won by Runanga by six points to five. For the winners, Soster scored twice and Willis went over for Curnow to convert for Marist.

NGAHERE v. RUNANGA.

Ngahere defeated Runanga 23 —11 in the senior fixture at Ngahere—a good, fast game with plenty' of back movements. The ground was in good order and the weather kept fine. The teams were:

Ngahere: L. Balderstone, A. Gibson, A. Hill, F. Gibson, J. Dowell, W. Campbell, L. Krakosky, J. Elmers, A. Smith, A. Clark. W. ’Kirk. F. McGuire, and P. Mulcare. Runanga: R. Clark, R. Glynn, J. Merriman, W. Fitzgibbon, D. Stevens, J. Bullan, J. Anderson, C. McTigue, N. McTigue, G. Lee, A. Higson, and R. Dalziel.

Hill. Dowell, Balderstone, F. Gibson, and Smith all scored tries for Ngahere, and Clark converted three and kicked a penalty. For Runanga Stevens, Clark, and McTigue scored tries, one of which Glynn converted. Outstanding Ngahere forwards were Elmers and Balderstone, while Smith, Mulcare and Dowell were best of the backs. Glynn and Clark were the best of the Runanga pack, and C. and N. McTigue with Lee the most outstanding backs. THIRD GRADE. Blackball defeated Brunner 21 to nil in the third grade match at Ngahere. Scorers were Smith. Lee, McBride, O’Flaherty, and Stenhouse, the latter going over three times. It was a good fast game.