LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Greymouth Evening Star, 1 May 1925, Page 6

LEAGUE FOOTBALL

BLACKBALL v. RUNANGA. (Notes by “Scribe.”) Excellent judgment has been shown hy the Fixtures Committee in playing the senior match, Blackball v. Runanga at the Rec., and every supporter o 1 the game will vote approval by making the north end of High Street his destination to-morrow afternoon. Runanga have tickets on themselves, and the team fielded will probably cause some surprises. An all-round better display is likely to be produced than that produced when State faced Marists at Omdto. It is from Blackball, however, that great things . are expected. That wonderful combination of the past several years, Die Blackball junior team, is almost intact, a few solid forwards having been added to give weight to the front rank. Johnny Dodds, Joe McCabe, and “Ginger Leitch will be in their accustomed places, and who will say that their permanent promotion to senior has not been well earned? Mr Hopkins can be relied upon to exercise a good control, and members of the Centre will be expected to assist him by restraining the crowd, who, in moments of in-, tense excitement, are likely to encroach on the ground. A Soccer match will precede the League attraction, and the gate for the lattw will be taken from 2 p.m. A hearty cheer is due to Inangahua when they face Marists at Omoto on Sunday, for the team contains players from north of ■ Reefton, and there is '• nearly as much travelling entailed in assembling the team as there is in bringing a provincial side together. Charlie and Austin McElwee will be back in the old colours, and their return will be hailed by spectators as a potential improvement in the representative team. The latter has filled out and if he has retained his speed, will.take a'good tackle to stop. Jack Banks also will help Marists to realise the quality of the'Waiuta pack of three seasons ago. A third grade match which will draw a crowd is that between Marists and Greymouth, which is being played as a curtain-raiser at Omoto. The Grey (team is a fine combination, and, with its advantage in weight, should give the clever green backs something to think about.

Grey and Roa seniors will be the star attraction at Blackball. The former’s team will be a. good one, although Bob Leach and Joe Hanrahan are still on the sick list.

• Marist and Blackball juniors will play a match at Blackball at 1.45 p.m., which will have an important bearing on the junior l competition. Two good junior matches will be played at Dunollie. Runanga will play Brunner at 1.45 p.m., and at 3.15 p.m. old opponents in Rovers and Gi’eymouth will play their first round fix. ture.

Mawheraiti will get its first home match, when Inangahua juniors meet Nelson Creek there on Sunday. Rovers and Blackball will play off their third grade fixture at Rapahoe. Among the latest registrations sent in by Blackball Club are those of Walter Barber and Jack Bell. The latter is living at Dobson, and will probably lie a front-row man.

Christiansen, who will "turn out for Greymouth, is the speedy Addington back of the past few seasons. Harry Lawrence is down to referee l a senior match at Sydenham Park on Saturday. Hornby and Marist A. will play on the No. 1 ground at Monica Park.

Right throughout the Dominion a spirit of optimism prevails in the Code, and the prospects for the season are of the best. Every club should appoint an organisation committee’ whose work it shall be to keep the learns intact and the players up to the collar. Experience h(as taught that the first month of the season is usually the time in which players make a choice between enthusiasm and club solidarity, apathy and desertion. No definite information has yet been received from the Auckland League regarding the representative team’s visit, but Mr Hamill, the President, has undertaken that it will be at a “pay” week-end, and early in the season.

will represent Brunner League Football team to play Runanga at Dunollie on Sunday:—■ Collins, Cosgrave, B. Creagh, B. Glenn, Le Vert, Currie, Ramsay, Hill, Moore, Hall, J. Creagh, C. Guthrie, Walton. Emerg.—Backs: T. Glenn, J. McDonald. Forward: E. Halligan, C. Creagh. ’Bus will leave Wallsend at 12.30.

League football players who are not playing in “Hotsprin” boots should do so at once as they are comfortable and easy. They are procurable only from Tate’s Footwear Arcade. —Advt.