SEVEN FOOTBALL PLAYERS INJURED IN FIRST GAMES

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 April 1949, Page 6

SEVEN FOOTBALL PLAYERS INJURED IN FIRST GAMES

Though the official opening of the football season on the West Coast last week-end was less severe on players than in Brisbane, where on Saturday no fewer than 156 players were casualties, three men were admitted to the Grey Hospital and at least four others suffered injuries which required medical treatment. The Marist Rugby League Club’s senior team was the hardest hit, one forward being admitted to hospital and three backs requiring medical treatment for injuries that will probably keep them out of. the game for several weeks. Patrick Costello, aged 22, single, a miner, of 79 Blake street, Blaketown, was the player admitted to hospital, where he underwent an operation as a result of a fracture of the jaw. His condition is now satisfactory, it is reported. The three other Marist players injured were Vincent Meates, aged 22, a grocery assistant, who cracked two ribs and injured a bpne in the shoulder; Lindsay Dargan, aged 22, railway employee, who suffered an injury to his ribs; and Allan Hines, aged 22, a carpenter, who received an ankle injury. All three received medical attention without being admitted to the Grey Hospital. Three men were injured in Rugby matches on Saturday, the most serious injury being a fracture of the right leg received by Douglas Lines, aged 28, married, a truck driver, of 136 Preston road, Greymouth. He was injured while playing for Blaketown seniors against St Mary’s at Hokitika, the incident leading to the injury occurring only three minutes prior to the end of the game. He was brought to the Greymouth Hospital by ambulance, after being given initial treatment at the Hokitika Hospital. His condition is reported to be satisfactory. Concussion was suffered by Harry Clifford, aged 22, a brewery worker, of Chapel street, Greymouth, during a junior Rugby match between Celtic and Star. He was admitted to the Grey Hospital, but was discharged the next evening. A Star forward, L. Darney, suffered a knee injury in the same match and was treated at the outpatients’ department of the Grey Hospital.