BLAKETOWN JUST HOLD CELTIC

Grey River Argus, 12 April 1948, Page 6

BLAKETOWN JUST HOLD CELTIC

Leading by six points at half-time, Blaketown were a trifle lucky to withstand the strong challenge of an improving, side, to run out winners of the early game by 19 points to 17. e Within two minutes of the commencement of the game Celtic scored their first points from a penalty, and shortly afterwards they had an eight-point lead. Some bright play was seen on tooth sides with the best effort of the game being made by D. McKendry, the Blaketown hooker, whose opening enabled Walsh to beat the Celtic custodian Plowell, for a well-earned try. McKendry, although not outstanding at hooking, was the most enterprising of the Blaketown forwards, his work producing two tr.es. The blacks’ outstanding back was C. Muir, whose kicking was excellent, and who showed up well on attack. In the Celtic pack Turvey showed that he will be an acquisition to the club, with G. Rose and T. Harker the best of the rest. The inside backs of both sides were not up to a very high standard, although W. Hamilton, the Celtic half, played a fine defensive game and was given a gruellinp- time. Patchy at times, J. Benyon, the Blaketown winger, nevertheless was responsible for some very fine work, while Richardson at half-back attained more success with the ball than did his opposite number. The teams were:— Celtic: A. Howell; K. Rea, J. Fitzgerald, P. Conaghan; H. McDonnell, J. Shinnick; W. Hamilton; W. Hill, A. Fauth, T. Buchanan, K. Turvey, J. Joyce, R. Tinnelly, H. Harker and G. Rose. Blaketown: R. Morgan; J. Benyon, N. Ellery, VZ. Reynolds; K. Walsh, C. Muir; G. Richardson; S. Robinson, D. McKendry, N. Webster, J. Hagen, M. Lines, A. Panther, C. Panther and K. Tomlinson. When Walsh was caught offside, Fauth scored with a good penalty. After 20 minutes’ play Hamilton sei cured from a scrum near the line and scored well out. Fauth converted from a difficult position. A short kick by McKendry gave Hagen a chance, and he went over in a handy position after passing the Celtic backs. Muir converted. Muir kicked a penalty for Blaketown when Celtic were offside in front of the goalposts. The best effort of the game followed when McKendry made an opening by taking the ball at his toe past several of the Celtic backs, whose handling was weak, and sending on to Walsh who had little difficulty in beaming Howell to score well out. Muir missed the kick. Blaketown brought their score to 14 just before half-time when _ Muir kicked a penalty, and the interval score was: Blaketown 14, Celtic 8. On resuming, the Celtic backs handled well in a bright movement. J. Fitzgerald in a good run penetrated the opposing backs to send Conaghan over with a good pass. Fauth missed a long kick. Blaise-, town forwards now asserted themselves and most of the backs handled until Reynolds sent a bad pass to Benyon, who failed to handle. The play was kept in Celtic territory, but poor handling lost them several good chances. Richardson finally secured, sending Muir away in a fast run which was to pass the inside Celtic backs before he passed on to Ellery who scored a fine try under the posts. Muir converted. Shinnick retired with injuries and was replaced by L. Fitzgerald. Rea’s interception of a long pass interrupted a Blaketown back movement of promise, and play went to mid field. From 40 yards out Fauth kicked a good penalty for Celtic. Again Blaketown applied the pressure and again poor handling resulted in lost opportunities. Celtic forwards took play to their opponents’ line, but the movement was spoilt. When Benyon and Morgan both failed to handle, the Celtic backs drove down on Blaketown’s line, Fitzgerald scoring in the corner. Fauth missed the kick. Blaketown were obviously tiring but Celtic seemed unable to take advantage of the position. A series of scrums, on Celtic’s line , marked the closing stages of the game, but solid defence by Hamilton ■ in particular kept the blacks out, and the game ended with the score: Blaketown 19: Celtic 17. MT A. King refereed.

UNITED WERE UNLUCKIEST TEAM If they had been able to complete many promising movements, the United team should have beaten Cooden, for they secured the ball from the scrums with regular precision, but —as with most other teams — failed to exploit their chances. At half time the score was 3-all, and, although United continually pressed on Cobden’s line in both spells, fine defensive play by R. Wright, J. Lindbom, C. George and N. Borlace robbed them of possible chances. Both packs were comparatively light, but the excellent hooking of .1. Moar, who secured the ball repeatedly for United, made up for this on the loosers’ side. Apart from J. Anderson, who was injured later in the match after playing a line game, and good kicking by D. Dewar, the United backs did not over-impress. In the forwards, Mathison played sound football .with D. Tucker, A. Glen and W. Purdon showing up at times. Cobdens’ strength lay in their , defence, with Borlase doing his bes, to open up play, and get his backs away. Generally, the play of the backs was better than that of United and the forwards were evenly matched. One forward who played enterprising football was P. Ellis. The teams were:— United: D. Dewar, L. Richardson, A. Laing, G. Jefcoate, J. Gillan, J. Anderson, J. Robertson, W. Hill, J. Moar, W Purdon, A. Glen, T. Mathison, F. Holmes, D. Tucker, and K. Gillespie. Cobden: J. Lindbom, N. Lawson. R. Wright, J. McKenzie, C. George, K. Horrock, N. Borlase, E. Russell, Krakosky, M. Page, IL Watkin, P. Ellis, R. Birchfield, A. May and M. Herrick. Birchfield opened Cobden’s score early in the game when, from a line out,’ he secured near the line and went over well towards the corner. Lindbom’s kick missed. United then pressed down on Cobden’s line for some time, a penalty bringing relief to the defenders. J. Anderson scored a good try for United by cutting through when he and Gillan had advanced together through the opposing backs. Mathison missed the kick. When half time came, United were continuing the presssure on Cobden’s line. ~ . Early in the second spell, Mathison missed an easy penalty for a scrum infringement against Cobden. Wright opened a good scoring movement when he passed to George for a try in a handy position. Lindbom converted. Failure to handle spoiled several United chances as they swept towards Cobden’s line. They were almost over when they were penalised, but soon afterwards the gift try of the day came to D. Tucker, who had found a good opening in the Cobden defence, to score under the posts. Dewar converted. A r-l---liant solo effort by Lawson gave Cobden a lead again. Securing about half-way, Lawson made a fine sole run to outwit the opposition and score under the posts. Lindbom converted. After this reverse, United put up a determined attack, and would have scored had their handling been better and the defence of the Cobden backs less sure. Anderson received a leg injury and naa to

leave the field. United missed a pen- , alty well out and a series of scrums ; resulted in United securing most or the ball. Following a scrum, Mathison scored a good try near the corner, after forcing his way through. Dewar missed a long kick and the game ended: Cobden 13 United lrThe referee was Mr A. Fong. KIWIS DEFEAT ST. MARY’S At Cass Square, Hokitika, on Saturday, Kiwi seniors beat St. Mary’s by 27 to 5, scoring 21 of their points in the second spell. With a very heavv pack, Kiwis secured. 90 per cent.'of the ball from the scrums and the line-outs. The half time score was Kiwis 6, St. Mary’s 5. In the second spell, Kiwis delighted the crowd with their back movements. Try getters for Kiwis w ere R. Eastgate (2), R. Moore, P. Hurren, P. Eastgate, T. Nolan and R. Stoop, who converted two tries, Nolan converting one. For St. Mary’s, R. Breeze scored a try, and Gibson converted. The goal kicking was poor. P. Eastgate, usually dependable, made several failures, and R. Stoop was given a chance with easy shots, and landed both. T. Nolan, who also converted a try, is a good kick. For St. Mary’s, A. Gibson was entrusted with the kicking, but took time to get used to the field. The game was a good opening one. St. Mary’s will benefit by their experience. The club has the job to secure a fifteen that will stand up to Excelsiors and Kiwis, but with careful coaching and the luck to secure a couple of experienced players, the team could be much improved. Mr F. Parkes was referee. The Kiwi team has lost Hector Tainui, who has changed over to League, but P. Hurren is again half back. R. Eastgate, a rep forward, was forced to play first five-eighth owing to the non-appearance of J. Carroll. T. Nolan was second fiveeighth, R. Stoop centre, Stoop on one wing, and R. Moore (a graduate from junior) on the other. Fred Millar, a veteran, was custodian, and gave a good display. R. Eastgate proved versatile at first five-eighth, scoring two good tries, and only on one occasion did he allow R. Breeze to slip through and intercept. The Kiwi pack must be the heaviest in the competition, the locks, G. McLean and J. Leslie, being about 16 stone, and P. Eastgate 15 stone.. In the line-out they excell-

ed, one or another gaining possession and sending the ball smartly to Hurren, who never failed to set the back line going. P. Eastgate was in the thick of the game all through. T. Nolan, a last year rep, played a heady game, though better suited at first than second five-eighth. R. and M. Stoop were speedy, while R. Moore showed promise with his speed. St. Mary’s team included completely new faces, such as Aitken and Hornill. J. Walsh and T. Ritchie, former Kokatqhi men, were front row forwards. W. Tainui proved a good forward. In the back division is R. Breeze (a last year junior West Coast five-eighth’., who is keen to seize an opportunity, but he was hampered by poor service, and the half-back, T. Hanrahan, was likewise handicapped bv not. seeing much of the ball. D. Ryan played outside Breeze, also A. Gibson, a good tvpe, who has a good knowledge of the game. Ryan has speed, and made some good openings. P. Nutting played wing, but is a junior. G. Davidson on the other wing had few chances. B. Nutting, custodian for St. Mary’s, made few errors. LOCO v. MAGPIES The Magpies hailing from Camerons, played creditably. Though Loco might appear to have had a somewhat decisive win from the score, such was not the case. At half time Loco led by three points to nil. In the second half the teams threw the bail around in great style, and play brightened up considerably. Considering this was Loco’s first appearance for the season, they deserve credit for the manner in which they performed, and they should prove a force to be reckoned with in the future.