LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 June 1926, Page 6

LEAGUE FOOTBALL

(NOTES BY “SCRIBE.”) On last Saturday’s representative fixture, the Coast must be accounted with having one of the best thirteens that have yet donned the All Green jersey. The forwards especially are a hefty lot, and would give a good account of themselves in any com-

pany. N. Mouat played his best game for the season against Otago, and this crack forward is a treat on his own. It is to be hoped that his trouble with the New Zealand Council will be cleared up to enable him to take the trip to the Old Country. Tallentyre caught the selectors’ eyes on Saturday with his hooking. He easily outshone his opponents, and all doubts as to who is the Coast’s best hooker should be now dispelled. Jack Wright has made a return to the form that he displayed some seasons back. He is a typical forward, and together with his weight and pace is one of the best grafters in the team. N. Griffiths was somewhat disappointing, and has given better* performances. Einn at full-back was off colour and on occasions seemed all at sea. Dodds was perhaps our best back, but was inclined to do too much individual work. Gust also played well, and demon- • trated that he is one of the most dangerous attacking players when anywhere near the line. It is unfortunate, that he will not be able to make the trip to Canterbury, as he had a possibility of inclusion in the South Island team. By Gust’s inability to take his place in the team, P. Doogan will now have a chance to display his worth. Followers of the game will hope that he will show the form he has displayed i/i club matches. On Saturday he was somewhat disappointing, but the illness he had previously might account for this. Grtffiihs, the winger, suffered badly from stage fright, due no doubt to his unfainiliarity with the game. Kells had bad luck in having to retire at half-time. Up to his retirement he was the superior of Cusack, the Otago half. “Scribe” would have liked to see Haisty on one of the wings. After their draw against Canterbury, the Otago players were not seen to such advantage as might have been expected. However, some of the members of the team that fought the draw were unable to make the trip, and this would account for it in some measure.

Hickey was the star back of the day, and this brilliant winger was soon a favourite with the spectators. If Tallentyre can hook the ball on Saturday next, Hickey should give his vis a-vis a hard time. Of the other backs, Eckhoff was the best. Cameron, Thomas and O’Connor were the pick of the blue forwards, and played well against their heavier opponents. On Sunday the Otago team met another reverse at the hands of Runanga by a score to a penalty goal. “Cod” Purnell would be a good advertisement for Kruschen Salts. The way in #hicli this veteran played on Sunday was an eye-opener.

Connelly and Vorrath, Otago, both gave improved displays on their Saturday game. The former played at wing three-quarter, Vorrath going full back.

Of- interest to players and referees should be the remarks of Mr Stirling, one of the selectors, anent the manner in which the half-back should throw the ball into the scrum. Up to the present, Coast halves have been compelled to bound the ball in from the waist, but now, according to Mr Stirling, it is quite legal to roll the ball in. Tailentire, Wright, Mouat, Hansen Dodds and Gust are all considered likely to gain inclusion in the Soutn Island team. They have favourably impressed the selectors (states the Christchurch “Sun”). WEEK-END FIXTURES. Seniors —Blackball v. Marist, at Blackball, on Sunday at 3 p.m. (ref; eree, Mi’ J. Vaughan) ; Runanga v. Grey at Omoto on Sunday at 3 p.m. (referee, Mr C. Hall). Juniors —Grey v. Blackball A. at Rec. Ground on Saturday at 3 p.m. (Air V. Armstrong) ; Nelson Creek v. Blackball B. at Blackball on Sunday at 1.30 p.m. (MFMason); Brunner v. Runanga at Dunollie, Sunday, at 3 p.m. (Air R. Armstrong; Marist and Rovers a bye. Third Grade—Athletic v. Marist at Omoto, Sunday, at 1.30 p.m. (Mr W. Hopkins); Blackball v. Brunner at Brunner, Sunday, at 2 p.m. (Mr T. Todd) ; Grey and Runanga a bye. Fourth Grade —Marist v. Blackball at Rec. on Saturday at 1.30 p.m. (Mr R. Scott). Fifth Grade —Brunner v. Marist at Brunner on Saturday at 3 p.m. (Mr C. Kennedy).

.The following will .represent Brunner League Football Club to play Runanga at Dunollie on Sunday: — Cosgrave, Teague, Morrell, Le Vert, AlcDonald, Taylor, Leboure, Aloore, Olsen, Hill, Priest, Ford, C. Creagh. Emerg. back: McCarthy ; forward, Davidson.