LEAGUE FOOTBALL COBDEN SCORE WEIL-MERITED WIN OVER RUNANGA

Grey River Argus, 30 August 1948, Page 6

LEAGUE FOOTBALL COBDEN SCORE WEIL-MERITED WIN OVER RUNANGA

The games, attracting most interest yesieratiy, were piayeu tic n>lacKoau ana nuiuiiKa, rms Mciviiie an auversv anecc on cue accenuancc uc vi/ingnam rars, wrieii Couden mid Kunanga Senior reserves'provided me inam leauure. ror tinea uy a senes Oi impressive victories earlier m me season, a strong ana comiaent cooaen team cook tnc neid against a lormidaoie xtuiiangu side, and their commence was not ciniounued. .but in adversity itunanga have always been more dangerous man wnen in the lean. To mem a deficit meant a need tor more eneccuai tackling, a need to smash couuen's movements at their inception, a need tu turn defence co attack; ana so the pace went on. The match did .not produce league at its best, though what it lacked m brilliance was more than made up in keenness and tne spectators were treated to an interesting game in which the honours were sligntiy in favour of the winners. Better comoination, quickness on tne oall and sound covering up by their backs contriouted in about equal measure to Cobden's success. . The fast-moving virile Cobden forwards witn unorthodox moves, snapping up every opportunity, following up rapidiy ana uacxing up splendidly were a real menace to their opponents.

The Cobden back line produced a player who took tne Held unerred, unheralded and unsung. This lad, M. O'Neill, was a pleasure to watch. He aid everything right, and overshadowed any other bacK on the field. He handled with uncanny precision and saw that the other backs had their chances. Next to O’Neill, Hodden who scored two tries, kick a penalty and converted two tries was in fine form. What he lacks in size, Rodden makes up in gameness and always comes up fighting. N. Gourdie, a winger, was worthy of mention. He topped off a good performance with a try wnicn was a real classic. In the forwards, Scalmer was conspicuous for his devastating tackling, irresistible foot rushes, subtle protection of his half and following up. Green played inspired football. Longley excelled in the loose, while Stapleton used his weight to advantage in tne scrums and went well in the tight. L. Dyeming outhooked his opponent and did good work when most needed. For Runanga there were no better forwards than Braithwaite and Summers, both being in the thick of the fight throughout. Higson and Finn also rendered good service in an even pack of forwarus. The backs did not make the best use of the ball, the handling not being up to standard, and several opportunities were lost when the 'overlap was not used by the inside backs attempting to penetrate. Menzies and Curragh were the pick of the backs. Giles filled the bill well as full-back but he would have been more at home among the forwards. . , Cobden led at half-time by eight points to two. In the middle stages of the second spell, Runanga increased their score to within one point of Cobden’s then total, to momentarily appear as if they might have actually taken the lead. However, Cobden were not to be denied and added a further seven points. The final 'result found Cobden the winners by 15 points to 7. For Cobden Rodden scored two tries, Gourdie one and Rodden kicked a penalty and converted two tries. Runanga’s points came from a try by Finn, while Williams kicked a penalty and converted a try. Mr J. Griffen controlled the game. Results at a Glance Senior:— Ngahere 13, Blackball 8. Hokitika 29, Cobden 16. Senior Reserve — o Blackball 15, Lake Brunner 8. Brunner 24, Rapahoe 4. , Cobden 15, Runanga 7. Marist 36, Ngahere nil. Third Grade:— Brunner 45, Blackball 5. Marist 20, Kohinoor fourth ml. Fourth Grade: —■ Hokitika 5, Cobden 3. Marist 13, Runanga 8. Fifth Grade — Hokitika 18, Marist 10. Blackball 10, Runanga 2. ‘ BLACKBALL BY WINNING 13-8 Playing in ideal conditions, and before a large crowd at Blackball yesterday, Ngahere upset calculations by defeating the home side m a hard-fought game. Blackball led by six points to nil at half-time. A. O’Donnell made the way for the opening points when he broke through the defence to send Aynsley over wide out. Nuttall’s kick failed. The remaining points in the first spell came from mid-field play, where W. Mountford sent C. McGougan over wide out. Nuttall’s attempt at goal again failed. D. Gillman opened Ngahere’s account early in the second spell,with a penalty goal. Shortly after, Nuttali raised Blackballs final points when he kicked a penalty. The ball hit the cross bar and bounced over. Per medium of his boot, Gillman landed four further points for Ngahere, with two good, penalty goals. Bernard intercepted a pass from J. McNaughton, ran thirty yards and scored in a handy position. Gillmaji’s kick failed. Gillman finished off a good performance with two further penalties. For Ngahere, McLennan, Mulcare and McVicar were the best of the forwards. In the backs, Rernard, Richards and A. Gibson were always on their mettle. Mcßride, Kerr and Mountford excelled in the forwards. Incidentally, Kerr was ordered off for a breach of the rules in the last quarter-hour of play. McGougan was the best of the backs. Earlier he had played in *a senior reserve game, where he scored all of Blackball’s points, namely three tries. Pascoe and W. Mountford also played well in the rearguard. Mr. J. P. Mathews was the referee.

COBDEN v. HOKITIKA A fair attendance saw Hokitika defeat Cobden at Cass Square yesterday. After Cobden kicked off, Beban missed a penalty shot. After five minutes Marley scored, but Lee failed with the kick. Beban again failed with a penalty as did Masters. Shortly after Staines was penalised for playing the ball right in front, of the post, and Lee made no mistake with the kick. After fifteen minutes’ play, Neilson received and cut through to score giving the opposition no chance. Atkinson goaled. Neilson again cut in and passed to Masters, who flashed over between the post. Atkinson added the extras. Neilson was playing a good game, as also was Mosley and Lee was one of the best. Neilson received, passed to Masters, to Davis, and to Beban, who crossed near the corner for a great try. Atkinson missed the kick. Shortly after. Beban broke through and passed to Mosley who put. in a great, run to score the try of the day. Half-time followed. After scrambling play for ten minutes, Lee missed with a penalty. He then received and sent the ball along the backs for Jordan to go in for a good try in the corner, which Lee failed to convert. At this stage, both teams were playing well. Reedy, who

retired injured was replaced by Wilson, who played a steady game, it being his first for some time. Wilson, on the wing, received, and in-passed to Haddock who crossed in the corner. Lee again failed to convert. Soon after Neilson cut through for a good try. Atkinson converted. Masters received and beat the defence to score his second try of the day, Atkinson goaling. Marley was now playing poorly. Hahn and Longley were playing well. Marley intercepted and crossed for a good try, and Lee goaled. Beban crossed for his second try but Atkinson missed the kick. At the final whistle, Hokitika had won by 29 points to 16- Mr P. Sweetman was referee. Senior schoolboys’ representative match played at Christchurch {or the Stuart Cup; Canterbury 6, beat West Coast 2. ~ . In the ninth grade midget representative match at Christchurch, West Coast IS beat Canterbury 0. CHRISTCHURCH, Aug. 29. Senior results were: — Liinwood 18, Prebbleton 3. Hornbyi 16, Sydenham 14. Riccarton 12, Christchurch 11. Sydenham suffered their first defeat. West Coast Fifth Grade Representatives The following West Coast fifth grade representative team will play the South Island senior schoolboys at Greymouth on Sunday next:—L. Gray (Blackball), M. McGeady (Kohinoor), P. Conaghan (Marisci, W. Lakin (Hokitika), G. Dick, capt., (K.), J. Meikle (B.), N. Kennedy (M.)> R. Messenger (K.), B. Kelly (Runanga), J. Williams (B.), A. Purnell (R.j, W. Dixon (B.), D. Costello (K.). Emergencies: D. Lindley (B.), R. Blacktopp (K.). WELLINGTON HOLD NORTHERN UNION CUP AGAINST TARANAKI P.A. WELLINGTON, August 29. Wellington Rugby League representatives successfully defended the Northern Union Cup against Taranaki on Saturday, the score being 41 points to 13. The winners played splendidly throughout, but Taranaki were not disgraced. Tries for Wellington were scored bv Pascoe, O’Brien (two), Westerby, Kreyl, L. Morgan (two), R. Morgan and Mullett. Fleming converted two tries and Nott converted fiye. For Taranaki, McCuJloch kicked; two penalty goals and McLeod scored two tries and Clasper one. AUCKLAND, August 29. In the senior Roofe Rooster match at Auckland, Mt. Albert 23. beat Marist 18. , WEST COAST REFEREES’ MEETING A meeting of the West Coast Rugby League -referees was held on Saturday evening, before a record attendance. Mr. J. Griffn presided, and Mr. J. Oakley, a member of the Board of Control, was also in attendance. I : ■■H? Members stood in silence as a mark of respect to the memory of Mrs. J. Barclay and Mrs. M. Norah, both of whom were keen supporters of the League. Owing to the absence of Mr. T. F. McKenzie, no action was taken re. selection of referees. A vote of thanks was passed to the Brunner Club for sending complimentary tickets to their annual ball. It was decided to write to the St. John Ambulance Association, asking them to report to their Association' any act of discourtesy to their members by members of the Referees’ Association. It was decided to ask the Board of Control for use of referees’ jerseys and boots for the Old Timers’ match in connection with the Marist Club’s jubilee celebrations next week-end. A letter of thanks is to be sent to Mrs. A. Mundy for her action in donating a set of monograms. It was decided to hold the final meeting on September 251