RUGBY FOOTBALL CLOSE SCORING IN FIRST GAMES OF NEW SEASON

Grey River Argus, 12 April 1948, Page 6

RUGBY FOOTBALL CLOSE SCORING IN FIRST GAMES OF NEW SEASON

Close scoring was a feature of ail grades when the West Coast Fjugby ’ Union’s championships opened on , Saturday afternoon in excellent ' weather. The exception was the senior game at Hokitika when Kiwis . ran out easy winners eve*' St. Mary’s by 27 points to 5. At Rugby Park, Greymouth, the patrons had a choice of three senior games. In none of them was the football of more than a reasonably : good standard, but the olay indicated that the competition tlais season is likely to be very open. Stars put out a very fine pack against Excelsiors in the main game, but the Hokitika team gave good promise of becom'ng a serious contender for leading honours. The Elaketown-Celtic match was a shade lucky for Blaketown who emerged winners bv two points, while United with a little more finish, would have had no difficulty in accounting for Cobden, who won by 13 points to 11Scores, generally, were close in the lower grades, and some fine football was witnessed, particularly in the grades catering for schoolboys. THE SCORE-BOARD ? I ?!’. Senior: Stars 13 v. Excelsior 7. Cobden 13 United 11. Blaketown 19 v. Celtic 17. Kiwis 27, v. St. Mary’s 5. Junior: Blaketown 11 v. Celtic 3. Magpies 19, v. Stars 9. Tech 0.8. 19 v. Cobden f>. Excelsior 19 v. Kiwi 3. St. Mary’s 19 v. Pirates 3. Third Grade: Cobden 13 v. Celtic b. Tech a bye. Fourth Grade Tech 23 v. Celtic 3. Cobden 6 v. Blaketown 5. Fifth Grade: Stars 16 v. Celtic S. Tech 9 v. Cobden 6. Sixth Grade Blaketown 3 v United 0. Star 12 v. Celtic 0. Tech a bye. Seventh Grade. Celtic 3 v. Cobden 3. Blaketown 9 v. Star 3. STAR PRODUCED CLASSY PACK Although their six-point win over Excelsiors might suggest that Slews were better in all departments, it was the domination of the Star torwards which carried the day for Ute Greymouth side. Generally, the forwards were heavier than those ot the Hokitika team, and they secured a good share of the ball. Outstanding amongst the Star pack was G. Kelson who produced line form lor so early in the season. Peggie, Begley and Lambert also were prominent in the pack which shaded Excelsiors almost throughout the afternoon. In Excelsiors pack—together for the first time —there are the makings ui several most promising players: A. Johnston, the lock, Ron Weiblitz and G. Roberts, played most prominently. E. Hayton, who scored two great tries, was the outstanding back on the field, while others to show up for Stars were the .half-back L. McDougall, Henderson at centre, and J. R. Steel at full-back. B. Steel on the wing was not asked for much effort, but in the times he did have the opportunity, he made the most of it. The representative, W. Amberger, played the most enterprising football amongst the Hokitika backs, receiving solid support from E. Stoop who figures in some good movements. R. Leggoe was reasonably safe at fullback, and Andrews (first five eighth) and J. Robinson (half back) got through a hard game with credit. The teams were:— Star:—J. R. Steel;-B. Steel; Henderson, R. Nelson, G. Nelson, B. Hayton, D. Steel, L. McDougall, Solomon Stokes, Begley, Lambert, Beggie, Dixon. Excelsior:—R. Leggoe, R. Teller, W. Amberger, A. Adamson. E. Stoop, E. Andrews, J. Robinson,, F. Godfrey, McKay, R. Duncan, A. Johnston, K. Biper, R. Campbell, Ron Wieblitz, G. Roberts. Dull forward play marked the opening exchanges, with the Star backs failing to grasp good chances, although the opposing defences were sound. The first try came after more than 20 minutes’ play when Haytun secured in midfield and made a spectacular dash to score in a handy position. G. Nelson missed the kiex. Star maintained their pressure aurin most of the spell, and an unsuccessful attempt at a field goal by R. Nelson might have been turned to better account. G. Nelson s attempt at a long penalty fell short, and when Dixon was offside 40 yards out, Armberger put over a fine kick, to bring the scores to 3-all at naif time. Excelsiors were the first to show up in the second spell, holding Stars back in their own territory. Andrews retired with an injury and was replaced by E. G. Walker, . who had few opportunities of showing his undoubted ability. Stars’ second try was again the work of Hayton who, in a fast run, beat Teller for the line to score near the posts. G. Nelson converted. Stoop was most prominent when, the Excelsior backs swept downfield, each man handling well, but Walker was forced out near the corner. In a loose rush, led. by G Nelson, the Star forwards gained 4u yards, for Nelson to score near the corner, and convert his own try. Stars were now showing mucn more inintiative, R. Nelson being again prominent in a good move. He threw the ball high t o the centre tn the pack, but Solomon, who secured missed the mark with his pass. nXcelsiors took their turn at attack rui a period and were unlucky not to score. In the midst of the field, with no chance of penetratiing the defending backs, Roberts dropped a fine goal for Excelsiors. G. Nelson fancci with a penalty shortly before this Almost at the end of the game, Campbell had to leave the field wxvn a head injury. There was no furthei score and the game ended Stars 13 Excelsior 7. The referee was Mr J. t> Hogarth.