FRIENDLY MATCHES ON SATURDAY INDICATE FAIR FORM

Grey River Argus, 5 April 1948, Page 6

FRIENDLY MATCHES ON SATURDAY INDICATE FAIR FORM

Some fair form was shown on Saturday afternoon at Omot.o in two friendly matches, one being between Star and United and the other between Cobden and Blaketown. The matches gave an indication of the strength of these teams and from the ability displayed, it is clear that the Greymouth end of the West Coast competition will provide plenty of excitement for the side line. It was perhaps a little disappointing on Saturday that there were not two dozen spectators for the matches. STAR v. UNITED Star won this match 20-6. In the Star-United tussle -there were some very good movements on the part of eacn team. Generally speaking the individual play and tactics of every man in the two teams was good but for the first match of the season, as could have been expected, there were few exhibitions of good combination piayThe Star forwards were not good as a combination yet were out on their own when the scrum broke up and the leather went into the open. The back line for the yellow and black was an excellent combination and proved a tough nut for the United team. However, the Star combination was found to be wanting when it came to co-operating. It was apparent though that with every man in the back line a champion athlete any side which meets Stars this year will have its work cut out. The forwards too are in excellent form and have only to develop a knowledge of each other before they settle in to it. United’s Play was good and their defeat was no disgrace. This team, which was consistently unlucky last year, has benefited from several new comers and on Saturday gave a good display against Star. The United forwards worked as a combination and got the better of the scrums. This was not so much from weight as from stability which seemed lacking in the Star scrum. This has been one of the main training points of the United pack. Although it would be unfair to state that the United back line Jet the team down thev did not settle well into the play. The speed of the Star line was too much for United who did however give indications of better things to come. For Star, B. Hayton scored two tries, N. Hopkins and J. Pegley one try each and G. Nelson two penalty goals and a conversion. United’s points came from a penalty by T. Mathieson and a try by J. Robertson. Mr L. Stewart was referee. COBDEN v. BLAKETOWN The better of the two senior games was that played between Cobden and Blaketown. ~ Blaketown were the winners of last year’s senior competition. From the kick off it was evident that the Cobden team was a good combination capable of welloalanced Rugby. Although the team lost, their play throughout the match was keen and well executed. Only nine of the team turned up and three had to be loaned from the Blaketown team. This probably created a deal of confusion in the Blaketown ranks. At the commencement Cobden rushed forward and pressed the Blaketown line. A couple of efforts to score were unsuccessful. One of the most, useful Blaketown player in this clearing of the line was R. Nelson of the Blaketown wing whose repeated dashes down the line caused a diversion of Cobden’s interest. Their own winger, J. McKenzie, was snappy and a good tactician and will be well watched this year. He was a promoted junior from last year. McKenzie’s onlv trouble on Saturday seemed to be his weight. He was too light to get the heavier men but at. the same time plaved excellent, football. Two good Blaketown backs were C. Muir and J. Benyon the latter playing on the wing. Muir’s line (Kicking saved Blaketown many an embarrasing situation and Benyon initiated good runs. Throughout the match both teams played consistently good Rugby and Cobden’s play was spoiled by their lack of ability to finish off scoring movements. Many of Blaketown’s tries. commenced on the Cobden goal line. However the Cobden team is expected to settle down to it and be in good shape for the opening of the season on Saturday. Blaketown were in fine shape tor the match against Cobden. Their only fault was in tackling. Too many men were let go “with a caution” as a would be tackler flew over head or to one side. It is likely that the black jerseys in the Cobden colours confused the Blaketown players though and this was to be allowed for. Blaketown’s scores arose from two tries by Nelson, a try each by Walsh and Richardson and conversions by Muir. For Cobden. Lindbom and Herrick scored tries and Wright converted one try. Russell kicked a penalty. Mr F. Cockburn refereed. Blaketown 18, Cobden 11,