J. CURRAGH IS IN LINE FOR TOP HONOURS

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 May 1949, Page 4 (Supplement)

J. CURRAGH IS IN LINE FOR TOP HONOURS

Although he was not successful in scoring a try in last Sunday’s hard game, J. Curragh was again impressive on the wing for Runanga and oh his form to date this season he appears as a strong candidate for a position in the West Coast team.

Curragh’s. greatest attribute is his willingness to make for the line by the shortest possible route at every opportunity and while he might score more

tries on occasions by coming infield, his straight running is an example to other wingers in the competition. In the past two seasons he has become very solid and is always a difficult man to tackle.

While discussing wingers, it should be noted that W. Mountford showed a glimpse of his best form for Blackball on Sundaj' and in spite of a fairly longfootball career he is by no means a spent force. Perhaps his biggest asset on Sunday was his fitness and if some of the other Blackball players had been able to sustain a similar run to that which produced a fine solo, try for Mcuntford, the result of the game" may have been different.

The biggest disappointment in the ■Blackball backs on Sunday was the ycung first five-eighths, C. McGougan, as he has played much better football. He did not appear to realise that the Runanga backs were a constant menace and -he persisted in kicking, thus giving possession to Runanga and starting his hard-working forwards on a i chase. There is nothing so disheartening to forwards than to be continually chasing the ball from one side of the field to the other because the backs persist in kicking without real purpose and result.

- In contrast, the other Blackball fiveeighths, A. O’Donnell, played a very sound game—probably his best for a long time. It appeared, however, that he was not thoroughly fit, or else he could have been expected to keep ahead of J. Soster, the Runanga full-back, in their race for the goal line, which was one of the highlights of the game. As far as defence is concerned, O’Donnell has improved 100 per cent, and his Jew, hard tackling on Sunday was a big asset to Blackball. -

As a result of the tactics adopted by McGougan, the Blackball outside backs did. not get very many chances on Sunday but when the W. -Pascoe, did get the ball he was impressive. He ranks with the season’s most improved young players and in spite of strong competition for the centre-three-quarter position, must be given a chalice of making the trip to the North Island, especially if a “second” backline is taken, with' the object of giving the younger players experience in the less important matches. Among the improved Runanga players this season is the second row forward, L. Forrest, who is putting a great deal mere life into his play and also co-operating better with his backs than was’ formerly the case. His chief fault at present is a tendency to employ a type of headlock in place of the more certain “round-the-legs” tackle.