Buller Rugby Matches

Grey River Argus, 26 May 1947, Page 6

Buller Rugby Matches

The senior football matches on Saturday were played in the country. Millerton Rangers created a big surprise when they defeated the unbeaten Ngakawau team by 4 to 3.

At Waimangaroa Westport after leading 3 to nil at half-time, collapsed and were beaten 27 to 3 by United. A junior game at Granitv between Rovers and Westport resulted in a win for the latter by 6 to 5. The Tech, team beat Pirates in the third grade by 26 to nil. In the other third grade game Stars walloped Old Boys by 23 to 3. At no part of the game did Old Boys look like being defeated. For the winners, Dent and White were the best backs, while Kelly and Duncan • were the piex or the forwards. For Stars Clayton, who was playing with an injured hand was the best forward on the field, while Hagen and Kitto were their best backs.

Poor organisation was shown by the person or persons responsible for the running of this game, there being no official referee, now any ambulance man. It is from the third grade that players graduate, and therefore it warrants just as much attention as the higher grades.

STARS v. OLD BOYS

The main Westport attraction was a junior game, which was always full of interest, and in which Stars held too many guns for Old Bovs. From the kick-off Old Boys attacked. Pawley put in a bad kick for Stars and Anderson gathered at halfway. Clapping on pace he went over for a good try. The kick failed. Stars began to settle down, and had Cid Boys on the defensive. Parkinson, Stars’ half, had bad luck when he worked the blind, and was dropped inches from the line. Another good opportunity was lost when a number of Star players were penalised for offside. Old Boys’ forwards carried play to Stars’ 25. where, from a line-out, Stars gained control and A. Kearns kicked through for L. Kearns to follow up and get possession and outpace the opposition for a brillian try. A. Kearns missed an easy kick. Stars now had the uppere hand. Once again the Kearns brothers smashed gaps in the Old Boys’ defence, but it was Trodennick who. with a strong- run blind, crashede over. A. Kearns made no mistake. Lunney, the full-back for Old Boys was a thorn in Stars’ side, for it was his good handling and

brilliant tackling that broke _ up many a Star movement. At half-time Stars led by 8 to 3. At the resumption Old Boys, led by McKay, Erskin and Dillon tore downfield and when Adams, full-back for Stars, made his first mistake, it looked like a ceretain try. Parkinson, however, backing up, made a grand save. Stars were hammering at Old Boys’ line, but it was the strong running of A. Kearns which forced him over to score. L. Kearns converted. R. Pawley, Stars’ break-away, was continually causing havoc amongst Old Boys’ backs. C. White, Old Boys’ first five-eighth, cut in, but when attempting to evade the full-back, he was tackled by K. Hansby. Again Stars, with Walshe, McEnaney, Ridden, Eddy, Lowe and Stuart to the fore, attacked. From a line-out J. Stuart tore througn the opposition to touch down for the best try of the day. White again broke away, but L. and A. Kearns, who were the best two backs on the field, showed a lot. of pace to catch him and prevent a try. The game finished:— Stars 16, Olds Boys 3. Mr L. Eddy was referee.