RUGBY LEAGUE Last Season’s West Coast Captain Has Retired

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 April 1947, Page 9

RUGBY LEAGUE Last Season’s West Coast Captain Has Retired

One of the best-known figures in Rugby League football on the West Coast in recent years has retired from active participation in the game. J. McNaughton, West Coast and Blackball' captain during the memorable season of 1946, has after 13 years of senior football decided to take his sport less seriously and in future will give the Blackball club the benefit of his experience as a coach. Although only 31 years of age, McNaughton has had, in some respects, a unique football career to which his captaincy of the West Coast team which defeated the English side last year was a fitting final. He never played lower grade Rugby League but commenced his association with the game at the age of 18, as a member of the Ahaura senior team. The following year he transferred to Blackball and played continuously with the Blackball team up to and including the 1946 season. On the departure of C. Mountford for England last year, McNaughton took over the captaincy of Blackball and after leading it to victory, was chosen captain of the West Coast side to meet the Englishmen.

Representative Record McNaughton was well fitted for the captain’s place for he first represented the West Coast on two occasions back in 1937. He was eclipsed until 1942 and then firmly established his' place, wearing the West Coast jersey in 1942, 1943, 1945 and 1946. He gained South Island honours in 1945 and 1946 and was never known to play a really bad game. A heady type, he was a successful exponent of the stab kick, when as a five-eighth he found that he was up against a solid defence. Apart from his playing ability, he has lieen an asset to the Blackball club on the administrative side and as a coach of the loer grade teams. It is interesting to recall in this connection that he coached the Blackball team which snatched victory from Otahuhu in the curtain-raiser to the memorable West Coast-Auckland match in Auckland in 1945. It was the first victory by a West Coast club side against an Auckland team but “Jock” McNaughton’s triumph on that occasion was short lived, for in the main game less than an hour and a-half later he was responsible for an infringment which gave Auckland a penalty and cost West Coast the game by one point, eight to seven.

Now that he has retired as a playing member of the Blackball club McNaughton intends to maintain his interest in coaching and this season will have as his principal interest the Blackball senior reserve team. Prior to taking up Rugby League, he was an enthusiast for the Association game and played his lower grade football in that code, representing West Coast at Christchurch and Dunedin before his change of interests. M'ountford’s Tribute

A fine tribute to McNaughton's calibre as a player and a sportsman comes from C. Mountford, formerly his captain and now a member of the Wigan (England) team. In a recent letter received in Blackball, Mountford states: “One of the items of interest in your letter was the news of “Jodk” McNaughton’s retirement. .Something seems to tell me that this is final and I am sure you will agree with me when I say that Blackball and Rugby League in general are losing a very fine player and, most of all, one of the keenest club men they have ever had. “Jock” played a great part in lifting Blackball out of the rut in 1936-37 and it is pleasing to note that they have never looked back. .One thing I will always say about him, it was he who made it possible for me to gain recognition in big football and behind my football career he has played a big part” (Mountford played outside of McNaughton, as second fiveeighth during his meteoric rise to one of New Zealand’s outstanding inside backs).

Leading Contenders Fit One of the features of the opening series of games on Sunday was the fitness displayed by the West Coast “possibilities” for selection in the New Zealand team to tour England this year. It is obvious that those with chances realise that they will have to be at the peak of their form by the time that the trials commence and have undertaken more serious training than they would have for club football. C. Mcßride (Blackball) and J. Newton (Runanga) really looked like high class Rugby League forwards when they took the field and they played accordingly. J. Aynsley (Blackball) was absent from his team

on Sunday but will be seen out soon, probably next Sunday. J. Soster and J. Forrest (Runanga) both showed that they were thoroughly fit for so early In the season and if they get the opportunities both should do well this season. R. Nuttall, the Blackball fullback, was also in good form’ on Sunday and it can be expected that once again there will be a great duel between him and Soster for the represenative berth.

Brunner Will Improve Although Brunner went under to Blackball by a fair margin on Sunday, considerable improvement can be expected from the Grey Valley team and. it will not be surprising if it causes a major upset in the competition before long. It has not..suffered any grievous losses of players and on the other side has been strengthened in the forwards by the inclusion of two former Kohinoor forwards, W. Newton and Malone. These two, with R. Lee, form a formidable trio and. if the backs can work up a decent combination, the team should do well. A. Bernard was impressive at centre on Sunday and his try in the‘first'spell was the best of the game. He intercepted to run 40 yards and in the second spell brought off a similar manoeuvre, which led to Mooney's try. Marist Difficulties

It was the opinion of many competent judges that the young team fielded by Marist last season -would mould into one of the outstanding combinations of 1947, but, unfortunately, the Greymouth club had more losses during the .off-season than any of the others and the team it will field next Sunday will be vastly different from last season’s. Owing to injuries and other causes, five of last year’s players have retired and the final “blow” was the recent transfer to Wellington of two of,.the leading forwards, J. Mundy and J. Stokes? One bright feature, however, is that rumours that P. Coll would be available 'only occasionally are not correct. With Mundy, Coll was the leader of the pack last year and he will be an assei in the building of an almost new side. Many other rumours are in circulation and it is difficult to assess the real strength of the Marist team until it actually takes the field.