RUGBY FOOTBALL STARS TAKE LEAD IN SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP

Grey River Argus, 7 June 1948, Page 7

RUGBY FOOTBALL STARS TAKE LEAD IN SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP

St. Mary’s First Win of Year The first round in the West Coast Rugby Unions senior competition concluded on Saturday. The grounds at both Greymouth and Hokitika were in excellent order and fast open play eventuated. Results of importantce were the defeat of Cobden, (who with Star held the lead in the competition) by a strong Blaketown team, and the defeat of Celtic by St. Mary’s, who thus gained their first win this season. Playing at Cass Square, Star maintained their winning form and position as competition leaders when they defeated Kiwis in a lively encounter. Excelsiors also had another victory when they defeated United in a keenly contested match, and it was anybody’s game until well into the second half, when Excelsiors scored the deciding points to put them beyond range of defeat, Among those who turned out for the various teams on Saturday were P. Duggan, J. Odell (St.-Mary’s) and McLeod (Coblen), who wer e playing their first game this season in Coast Rugby. All three 1 gave a creditable performance. Outstanding players at Greymouth were A. Gibson, playing at first five-eights for St. Mary’s and G. Richardson, the half-back for Blaketown, who played his best game to date. Judging by Gibson’s form as a five-eight, he is well on the wav. to representative honours. His handling was safe and he had a good' knowledge of tactics, and is a consistently good kicker. Olsen, for Cobden, played a steady game ,and it will be interesting to see his performance to-da v against Canterbury. He can be relied upon to give a good account of himself. J. Odell, a former Westland rep. played as break-away forward for St. Mary’s and showed good form. In the rucks and line-outs, he was a danger to the Celtic half-back, Hamilton. Cobden appeared to • experiment during this last game and after puting Lindbom in as centre changed the back-line round and put him in as full-back. Charging a player round when a team is fighting hard for points does not always have the best effect. Blaketown owe their victory to the solid rushes and hard rucking which their forwards kept up throughout the second spell, also to the good combination of their backs, who were quick to take advantage of any mistake made by the opposing team. An interesting feature of the Cobden v. Blaketown game was the number of times Blaketown hooked the ball at the critical moment. Judging by past experience there is little to choose between Mettrick and McKendry, but on this occasion the Blaketown forwards seemed to pack more fire into their play than did the Cobden pack. ST. MARY'S HOOK BALL The Celtic half-back, W. Hamilton played a steadv game, but he received the ball very infrequently from the scrums and line-outs. J. Walsh, (St. Mary’s) hooker gain.ed the ball about three times out of every four. J. Henderson (St. Mary’s) in the lineouts over-shadowed his apponents. In both games at Rugby Park a noticeable feature was the very few times that the wingers were able to see anything of the ball, this being evidently due to poor passing and positional play by the inside backs. Next week-end with the commencement of the second round, two teams, Excelsiors and St. Mary’s are going to provide strong opposition, and several upsets can be expected. The final outcome will prove interesting. ' Saturday’s Results SENIOR:— , „ Blaketown 18, Cobden 9. St. Mary’s 22, Celtic 16. Stars 21, Kiwis 11. Excelsiors 14, United 6. JUNIOR:— Pirates 6, Kiwis 3. Celtic 14, Tech. 0.8. 13. Magpies 6, Cobden 5. St. Mary’s 8, Excelsiors 3. Star defaulted to Blaketown. THIRD GRADE:— Celtic 26, Hokitika ml. Tech. 6, Cobden 5. FOURTH GRADE:— Blaketown 23, Tech. 6. Hokitika 12, Cobden nil. FIFTH GRADE".— Star 17, Tech. nil. Cobden 14, Hokitika 6. SIXTH GRADE:— Tech. 9, Celtic nil. United 41, Star nil. SEVENTH GRADE:— Celtic 8, Blaketown ml. Star 5, Cobden nil. INANGAHUA RESULTS Waiuta 6, Ikamatua 6. Cronadun 6, United 3. Junction 6, Waratahs 3.

BLAKETOWN UPSET COBDEN IN LIVELY ENCOUNTER

Cobden were defeated by Blaketown by 18 points to nine, in the main attraction at Rugby Park on SaturaWith several of their kev Payers away, or on the injured list, Cobden fought gamely, but were finally beaten by the overpowering weight of a strong Blaketown forward attack. By this defeat Cobden have been unseated from a position they held with tne Stars As the two leading teams m the senior competition. During the first half of the game Cobden attacked strongly and often forced Blaketown back onto their goal-lme Opening with a rush in the second spell Blaketown spared no effort, and after the first fifteen minutes had the game won. The teams were:— . Cobden: A. Vaughan, J. Lmdbom, Lawson, J. Vaughan, McLeod, Olsen Horrack, H. Mettrick, B. Mettrick, R Watkin, A. Krakosky, R. Birchfield W. Hornby, and M. Herrick. Blaketown. Blaketown: R. Morgan., J. Benyon. N. Sweetman. N. Ellery. K. Walsh, C Muir, G. Richardson, K. Tomlinson D. McKendry, K. Fisher, A. Panther M. Lines, J. Hagen, J. Smith and N. Webster. THE PLAY Sudden forward rushes and fast backline movements gave Cobden a decided advantage from the outset that pushed Blaketown steadily back into their own 25. Cobden had tnen first chance to gain points when they were awarded a penalty, but Vaughan’s kick lacked sufficient height to clear. Keeping up the attack, the Cobden forwards led by Herrick, Hornby and Birchfield, kept Blaketown hard on the defensive. Securing from a ruck, Horrack, the Cobden half-back, sent his backs away in a race for the line, but the movement broke down rn tne face of the Blaketown defence. From

a melee about 10 yards from the goal-line, Lawson snapped up the ball to force his way over for a try. Vaughan's attempt to convert tailed Cobden 3. Blaketown nil. Cobden shortly after missed a good chance when Olsen gathered up the ball and passed to Lindbom, who fumbled a pass to Lawson when the field was clear for .a try. Hitting back hard, Blaketown, led by Fisher, A. Panther, and McKendry carried the play deep into Cobden territory, where Richardson secured ocm his backs away in a prom ising movement. Benyon, Sweetman and Muir, combined perfectly and raced down the field to catch the defending backs out of position, enabling Sweetman to go over gor a good try. Muir converted. Blaketown 5. Cobden 3. "Just before half-time Cobden forwards broke away with the ball ".it their toe, and gained considerable ground before hooking back to Horrack who passed to Olsen, to McLeod, to J. Vaughan, who burst through the blacktown defence to score a well-merited try. The kick failed. Cobden 6. Blaketown 5. With the commencement of play in the second spell, Blaketown forward: kept up heavy pressure that often had Cobden in trouble. Blaketown’s next points came when Webster scored a clever try, after beating several ' opponents. Muir converted. Blaketown! 10. Cobden 6. Blaketown were penalised when one of their players upset Lawion, the Cobden winger with a leg tackle. Lindbom took the kick from a difficult angle, midway between the 25 and half-way fine and placed the ball between the uprights. Cobden 9, Blaketown 10. Lindbom ,who was playing i 1 centre during the first half of the game, now went back to his usual position as full-back. Vaug-.ian coming up into the back-line. The Blaketown forwards led by Panther, Tomlinson and Lines' kept forcing the pace and soon had Cobden pressed back into their own 25, where Richardson sent the backs) away, the ball going rignt. across to ( Sweetman who fended off two opponents to secure a well-earned try. Muir who was in good kicking form again convrted. Blaketown 15. Cobden 9. nl Blaketown now had the game all their own way and kept Cobden continually on the defence. From a scrum Richardson, secured and made a 20-yard dash for the line, being pulled down about 5 yards from his objective. He had his chance from the scrum went down almost on top of the goal-line, and dived round the blind-side to secure a brilliant try. The kick at goal failed and the game concluded without any further scoring. Mr A. Fong was an efficient referee.

St. Mary’s Decisive Victory Over Celtic

Rugged forward tactics, determination and fast back-line movements won St. Mary’s their first game this season, when they defeated Celtic by 22 points to 16. The final score was no indication of the standard of piay, which at times appeared ragged. However there were good movements, and as well as being entertaining the players showed several enterprising attempts at scoring. St. Mary’s were the aggressors throughout the game, and it was only poor tackling and bad positional play by one or two of their backs that enabled Celtic to get anywhere near the goal-line. The teams were:— R. Roberts, J. Davidson, G. Davidson, D. Nutting, R. Breeze, A. Gibson, D. Ryan, J. Walsh, W. Agnew, T. Aitkins, P. Duggan, J. Henderson, G .Odell, T. Conza, T. Hanrahan. Celtic: McDonald, D. Lucas, T. Rose, K. Rea, J. Fitzgerald, Conoghan, W. Hamilton, Hill, Faqth, A. Fitzgerald, V. Hahn, Joyce, T. 1 Harker, D. Morrison, J. Rose. Hamilton played fullback for Celtic during the first half, and went back to his position as half-back in the second spell. THE PLAY An opening movement bv Celtic looked promising and they made considerable headway against the ragged St. Mary’s defence. The Celtic advance was finally halted on the 25yard mark where defensive play by the visiting backs, Gibson, G. Davidson and Breeze forced play towards the side-line where the ball was kicked into touch. From a line-out St. Marys’ secured, but were later penalised. Fauth took the kick for Celtic and made no mistake placing the ball cleanly between the posts. Celtic 3. St. Mary’s nil. A strong St. Mary’s attack lead by Henderson, and supported by Walsh, and Duggan carried play towards the opposing goal-line. From a scrum St. Mary’s secured, when an infringement by Celtic gave St. Mary’s a chance to even the score. Gibson took the kick from a position well out, and with a well-aimed kick gained the first three for the visitors. St. Mary’s 3, Celtic 3. The game became more lively as each side threw the ball around in an endeavoui’ to gain andvantage. At this stage Celtic had again advanced into the St. Mary’s 25, and Fitzgerald securing the ball attempted a long pass to Rea, but a knock-on halted this movement. Keeping up the pressure, Celtic were rewarded when a well-timed burst of speed by Joyce enabled him to cut in and intercept a pass, to cross for a spectacular try. Fauth converted. Celtic 8. St. Mary’s

3. The visitors stung by the comparative ease with which Celtic had gained a five-point lead, got down to real hard play and Henderson again led a forward rush, supported by Odell and Hanrahan, carried play to within 10 yards of the Celtic goal-line. Just before half-time Henderson secured and sent the ball out to the backs where each played handled well sending the ball right across the field to Gibson, who snapped in a pass and crossed for a try. His kick just failed to go over. Half-time score St. Mary’s 6. Celtic 8. The visitors be pan the second half with a sweep down-field, which soon had thp Celtic defence bustled. Hamilton received little support and was at the mercy of the fast-breaking xorwards in the visiting pack. The St. Mary’s backs, Gibson and G. Davidson were playing a steady game with every movement calculad to aid their attack. This was strongly backed un by Ryan and Breeze. The Celtic defence wilted under this strong attack. From a back movement Gibson secured and crossed for a well-merited try amid applause from the spectators. Gibson earned further honours by converting h‘s own try. St. Mary’s 11. Celtic The crowd were now applauding the visitors, who were playing a fast, open game and continually taking the play into Celtic territory. For St. Mary’s G. Davidson added a further three points when he dodged several opponents and made his way across for a good try. Gibson again converted. St! Mary’s 16. Celtic 8. The play carried from one end ot the field to the other as each team answered attack with couni er-at-tack, resulting in the visitors frequently gaining the advantage. St. Mary’s scored more points when Agnew' who was- playing a good hard game, gathered up the ball to force his way over for a try. The attempt

at conversion was disallowed. 6t. Mary’s 19, Celtic 8. At this late stap-e Celtic anneared t 0 take more interst in the game, and a forward rush lad by Morrison and Hahn, carried the play towards tne visiters’ 25, but a knock-on halted a promising movement. Celtic secured the ball from a scrum and Hamilton sent his backs away in a race tor the line. Rea securing and crossing for a try. The kick failed. Celtic 11. St Mary's 19. , St. Mary’s retaliated and the forwards led by Odell, Henderson and Hanrahan carried the play to the Celtic line where Henderson scored as the ball rolled over the line. The kick failed. St. Mary’s 22. Celtic 11. Anpearin" as if they had the game won, the visitors slackened off the pace, when a sudden forward rush by Celtic caught them unawares and the local forwards broke through with the ball at toe. From a ruck on S|. Mary’s goal-line, Hahn secured to force his way over for a good try. Hamilton converted from a difficult angle. Celtic 16. St. Mary’s 22. No further score was obtained and the game ended with the visitors attacking strongly. Mr A. Lindbom was referee. Hokitika Matches STARS v. KIWIS Playing at Cass Square on Saturday, Star (Greymouth) defeated Kiwis by 21 points to 11. The outstanding player on the field was L. McDougall, the Star half-back, who did great work in keeping the backs supplied with the ball. As the forwards were frequently beaten for the ball by the heavier Kiwi pack, McDougall availed himself of every opportunity and gradually turned the tide of victory in the visitors’ favour. In the forwards G. Nelson and J. Pegley played well, Scorers for Stars were L. McDougall, B. Hayton, B. Steel and B. Dixon I (2), G. Nelson converted three tries. Kiwis played greatly improved football and continually carried play to the Star back line, but lacked the speed of the Star backs to carry a promising move to a successful conclusion. For Kiwis A. Stoop, M. Stoop and R. Eastgate scored and R. Stoop converted one try. UNITED v. EXCELSIORS Excelsiors proved the better team when they defeated the visiting Greymouth team, United, by 14 points to 6 after a hard, fast game, characterised by a rugged forward battle, and fast open play among the backs. W. Amberger and E. G'. Walker were the main stay in the Hokitika team. D. Dewax’ and A. Gillan were the outstanding players for United. For Excelsioi" R. Bretherton and W. Ambergei’ scored and Walker converted one try and kicked two penalties. For United A. Gillan scored and Dewax" kicked a penalty. GAMES IN CHRISTCHURCH ’CHRISTCHURCH, June 5. Though weakened by the loss of foui’ men to the representative team on the West Coast, Technical Old Boys beat Sunnyside, 28-6, in the early rugby game on the Oval at Lancaster Fark, and maintained their unbeaten record for the season. T. Jackson and B. McCammon, Technical full-back and second five-eighth respectively, scored 22 points between them. There was little of the spectacular in the main game on the Oval between Sydenham and Christchurch. Sydenham held the territorial advantage throughout, and finished winners by 13 points to 3. New Brighton had a surprise win over Linwood, 13-9. Other senior games resulted: High School Old Boys 14, Varsity 6: Albion 15, Merivale 8; Marist 19, Training College 5. 6th GRADE TEAMS Sixth grade seven-a-side team to play at Rugby Park to-day at 2.30, and at half time: — Possibles: — R. Myerscough (Celtic), A. Jamieson (United), T. Mayell (Technical), F. McLaughlin (Celtic), W. Lawson (Technical), W. Smith (Blaketown), L. Portei’ (Star). Probables:— /TT J. Logan (Star), J. Ruston (Unit; ed), J. Robertson (Star), T. Negri (Blaketown), J. McDairmid (Celtic), C. Hibbs (Blaketown), J. Stanton (Technical). . Emergencies: Preston (Celtic), R. Inkster (Blaketown), Bellis (United.), Sadler (Technical).