FOOTBALL MISHAP

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 98, 22 October 1938, Page 23

FOOTBALL MISHAP

INJURY PROVES FATAL

A verdict of death by accident was returned by the Coroner (Mr. F. W. Platts) at the resumed inquest into the death of Leo ODea, a Te Aroha footbailer who died in hospital following an injury received in a match against Marist thirds (Auckland) on July 30.

Arthur Henry Whatford, who refereed the game, said that ODea was collared by the opposing full-back and another player as he crossed the line. The two tacklers rose tp their feet, but ODea remained on the ground for two minutes. Witness treated him, after which ODea assured him that he would be all right and continued the game. The deceased played until the conclusion of the game. Witness said the match was played in the best spirit. George Keith Leece, another player, said that after the game he had accompanied ODea to a doctor. Deceased was ordered to bed and 14 days later was taken to the Waikato Hospital, where he died on September 5.

first to retire after 12 miles through gear trouble. Only a junior, it is very doubtful if Taylor could have stood up to the others even if he had not been delayed for he was matched against senior riders of acknowledged ability. Taylor is a member of the Technical Club, of Christchurch, and rode brilliantly in the 100 miles "Round the Gorges" race on October 1 when he was third fastest to Shilton and Dutton and won the junior title in that race.

Sixteen miles out Triner had a puncture and two miles later G.. Amey was delayed with similar trouble. Passing through Helensville, 39 miles, Brown, Dutton, Shilton, and Hughes were the leaders. Hughes tired at 52 miles, while Shilton had the misfortune to break his wood rim and burst a tyre, with four miles to go, when - riding over the rough section of road reconstruction works near Brigham's Creek. Within three miles of the finish Brown left Dutton to win the title by 2min 35sec.

Brown has been one of the leading distance riders of the Dominion since 1934 when he won the Auckland provincial 100 miles title. He also won the title in 1936 in the fastest 100 miles time yet established in the Dominion, 4hr 28min 25sec. In the Empire Games road race in Sydney last February he was beaten by a length only by Binnieman, of South Africa.