LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

Greymouth Evening Star, 29 August 1934, Page 12

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

PLAY AND PLAYERS. Tho match between Pirates ami Blackball next Sunday will decide tlie Bradshaw Cup competition, and on recent form Pirates should win. It should be one of. the most hardfought matches of the season, and as both teams will be at full strength, an interesting contest can bo expected.

Outstanding Player: Hopkins, the youngest player in the Pirates senior .team, has shown that he is a player of rare ability. On Sunday he stood up to a lot. of work admirably, hi stackling being low, and his handling and passing being •high class.

Must Tackle Low: played well at centre on Sunday, and proved useful to Pirates. He iriust Tackle low, however, otherwise his defence will remain unsound. He is a good type for a centre, and runs straight.

Going Too Far: Preston has been more solid than brilliant in his play this season, but he has developed a bad habit. He runs too far from the scrum, before sending the ball to his five-reighth. Too much time is lost because of that, and gives the opposition a chance to get on top of the attack. Good Exhibition: Martyn gave a good exhibition at full-back for Pirates, his handling and kicking being sound, while he went low to tackle, and brought off several good saves. He has not been at his best this season, but next to McKenzie, Martyn is the most capable of the full-backs on the Coast. His Best This Season:

Devonport played an excellent game last Sunday. He handled Avell, used his speed, and a swerve Avith good effect, and scored' a great try from half-way. DeA’onport does not always take the game .seriously, but if he did, he would be the outstanding Avinger in the code, in either Island to-day.

Worked Hard: Hunt played one of his best games this season, for Pirates last Sunday. He secured 60 per cent, of the scrummages, and hooked in his best style. Hunt tackled Avell, and Avorked hard in the tight and loose, Avhile his goalkicking was a great asset to his team. He is unlucky in having missed representative honours this season.

Has Speed and Ability: Fisher ijs the most improved forAvard in the code this season. He has a good turn of speed, and understands the play. He is rather on the light side as a forAvard, and the manner in Avhich he handles the ball, suggests that he would be above the average if played as a centre, or Aving three-quarter. Solid Defence:

O’Connor played his usual solid game last Sunday, and gave a grand exhibition of defensive work. He will prove a thorn to the North Island players on Saturday.

Ont of Form: O’Brien was not at his best last' Sunday. His tackling was. weak, and ho could not. take a pass cleanly, while he gave erratic passes, to his team mates. It was one of his bad days.

Weak on Defence: Roberts was grand on attack against Pirates, but his defence was decidedly weak. He must learn to tackle low before he can again be considered for representative honours.

Strengthened Backs: C. Patterson, the new five-eighth for Pirates has played well in his two games for the team. He is a fast and determined runner, handles well, and kicks with judgment, but his defence could Ik* improved. _He has added strength to the Pirates back line.

Gone to Rugby: J. Costello has been lost to the code, as he will play for United seniors next Saturday. He is a clever player, and will prove himself as a distinct asset to the United team, for there are few players of his ability in either code on the West Coast.

Slipping Back: Marist and Runanga seniors are not experiencing a successful season. The players are lacking in interest in the games, and do practically no training. But for the improvement in the Pirates seniors, who have added interest to the competitions, the club matches this season would have failed to reach a satisfying standard.