LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Grey River Argus, 31 May 1943, Page 3

LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Runanga Win Comfortably

NARROW VICTORY FOR NGAHERE.

Ideal conditions .prevailed for yesterday’s League fixtures. The senior match at Wingham Park, Runanga v. Marist was won by Runanga, 23 points to 8. The standard was rathre medicore, though Runanga backs especially Lee and' N. McTigue, enlivened play with spirited dashes. Merriman hooked excellently for Runanga. 'The teams were:— Runanga: T. Anderson, Leitch, McTigue (2), Fitzgibbon, Lee, Higson. Clark, Dalziel, Clelland, Stevens. Merriman R. Glynn. Marist: Watson, Mann, Minehum, Roche, Newton. Malone, Hatch, G. Newcombe, Teen WTird, Dunn Crowe. Knapp. Marist, who won the toss and defended the southern goal, were early penalised in their own half, but Stevens’ kick failed. Bad handling spoilt a Marist move, and also a Runanga one started by C. McTigue. An Unexpected opening found Newton in possession in midfield with a clear run. Mann’s kick from in front of the post missed. Marist 3—Runanga 0.

Bustling tactics by Runanga forwards drove Marist to their line, but their defence held. Lee made an excellent dash to pass to 1 N. McTigue who outpaced Crowe to score. Stevens converted. Runanga s—.Marist ’offside play saw Runanga penalised inside their half but Newton’s kick missed. A threatening Runanga movement was spoilt bv offside play by N. McTigue. A break through by Higson nearly put N. McTigue over, but his pass, was dropped. From a penalty 30 yards out, Sullivan kicked a good goal to make the score, Runanga 7—Marist 3. A snappy passing rush by Clark, Dalziel and Glynn was followed by a break through bv Higson, but offside play stopped a certain try. A bad Marist pass was snapped up by Dalziel who passed to Lee. who scored well out. A powerful kick by Sullivan just missed. Runanga 10—Marist 3

A couple of strong: runs bv Dunn put Marist on attack, and Watson nearly charged over as the half time whistle blew. Oh the resumption. Clarke led Kunanga forwards t<? the Marist hne but the ball went dead. Good dashes by C. and N. McTigue gained many yards. From a free kick on the half

wav xnark» Clarke kicked high and long, and Dalziel collected to score well' out. "Stevens kicked an excellent goal. Runanga 15 —Marist 3. From half wav Dalziel again broke through, and when Runanga were awarded a penalty, Stevens rang the bell with a magnificent kick of 4b yards from the side line. Runanga 17—Marist 3. At this juncture, Roche was ordered off for illegal tackling. A hard scrimmage saw Higson injured and he went off. A long dribble by Merriman enabled Clarke to pick and pass to Leach and C. McTigue who scored under the posts, which N McTigue’s kick missed. Runanga 20— Marist 3. . „ A sustained dribble by Newton, gaining 60 yards, brought applause from the grandstand, • and Newton capped it by going oyer Manns kick missed. Runanga 20—Marist 6. Runanga were penalised just inside their half and Newton made no mistake with an excellent kick. Runanoa 20—Marist 8. _ Bustling tactics bv Marist forwards handicapped Runanga backs. Lach side, was now playing an extra back. N. McTigue eluded Marist forwards, but Mann- tackled him near the Ime. From the ensuing scrum, Merriman forced his wav over. Stevens’, kick faded. Runanga 23—Marist 8. Runanga again attacked and Clarke just missed a penalty goal from oJ yards, when the whistle blew. Mr. J. Griffin was referee. Playing at Ngahere under excellent conditions, Ngahere seniors defeated Brunner bv eight points to five. Gibson scored two tries am. A Clark converted one for Ngahere, while a try bv McLean converted by Thompson gave Brunner their points. The game was hard ana even. Brunner being rather unlucky m not beiim able to call a draw. Brunner backs were, in excellent form, throwino- the ball about freely, but ha.d tackling on both sides put damper on too open plav. Mi. L. Kmsem controlled the match., Blackball seniors yesterday playeu an exhibition match at Reef on against a Reefton thirteen. y was very fast with phenomenal scoiino- The Blackball backs dominated plav but did not dictate the game. ■Thd score was 43 to 14. m ia\’our m Blackball. Scorers for Blackball were.— W. Mountford (5). O’Donnell (2) McNoughton. C. Moumfsid, Phillips and Reynolds. McNaughton converted three and S

Eckland (2), Shaw and Coghland scored for Reefton and Grifton converted one. Mr. T. F. McKenzie was reteree. THIRD GRADE. playing at Brunner, Runanga thirds defeated Brunner, 32 points to

nil. Mr. C. O’Connor was referee The Ngahere third grade curiam | raiser, Blackball v. Marist, was Won 1 by Blackball, 20 points to five’. Mr. A. j Kenendy was referee.