LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Grey River Argus, 4 August 1925, Page 6

LEAGUE FOOTBALL

CHRISTCHURCH TRAM'S VISIT. Advice has been received that the Christchurch Marist Fourth Grade team will visit the Coast early in September. They will play matches against tho local Third Grade teams, if the West Coast League approves of tho visit. League Notes (By “Spectator.”) A record crowd for junior games assembled at Omoto o.i Bunday to see the replayed final Marists v. Blackball. The curtain raiser, Grey v. Marists, fourth grade, was won by the Grey’s 2 to nil. The third grade game (Grey 12—Athletic 2) was robbed of all interest when Athletic fielded two of Grey juniors to complete their team. Th first half saw fairly good football, Lees on the wing playing well after receiving from Sexton, who “-.loses” tin opening as quick as any back playing third grade. The second half was wasted, both sides fooling about too much. Occasionally a bit of life was put into the game, but it broke down when either of the two Masons or O'Leary got the ball. These three players should have a ball each for six days of the week. Perhaps they would be. inclined to pass it to someone else on the seventh. Taylor was the best forward, backing up the backs in good style. If the Athletics mean to make a. show in the knockout cup they will have to improve o.i this game. They were very crude.

The junior game was about the next best game to Marist v. Creek that we have had this season. Another draw, eight all, about reflected the true merits of the side. In the first spell, Marist got an early five points lead, a good bit of combined play giving Clarke a clear field, and the speedy winger finished behind the posts for Quinn to goal. At this stage the Marists wore all over the Reds, and should have scored at least another couple of tries. For some inexplicable reason they made all the play towards Keepa’s wing, and he never looked like improving the total. With a man like Clarke, yards faster than anyone else on the ground, the policy was to make play for him. The Marists were sadly lacking in strategy in this respect. Wlien Simmonds broke through and Stored again, tne game looked good for the Greens. Olliver, Qie Blackball full back, made a very weak attempt to tackle the scorer of this try. With only eight minutes to go, Blackball started to use their heads, kicking to Keepa, who was letting his side down badly.' He again missed tho ball, and before the danger could be cleared, Blackball were rewarded with a try i.i the corner. Adam Clark missed with the kick. Back came Blackball from the drop out and Kerr secured and, brushing Keepa off as if he was never there, went on a.id score’

a handy position for Moody to even the scores as the bell went for full time. It was an exciting finish, Treasurer Hugh wearing a broad smile in anticipation of another £2O gate. The Marists were done to a frazzle at the finish, the heavy ground finding their weakness. King was again their best forward. Fraser worked well, but made some awful attempts at tackling. Kiely played his best game at half; Williams and Simmonds did well for threequarters of the game, but petered out towards the close. Doogan was the best back for the Greens, and he would have been better had ho short punted .for Clarke to follow up, instead of working the. other side. Quinn missed a few balls late in the game, but played very well on the whole.

Olliver was not so good as in the previous game; neither was Croft, who was quite off colour in this match. Nuttall did iot have too many chances, and Kerr did nothing noteworthy except score the try that drew' the game, and this was in the nature of a gift. Smith was the better of the two fiveeighths, Clark only showing up at the finish. Kinsella, though not as prominent as in the previous game, was still their best back. The forwards were a fairly even lot, decidedly below form for the best part of the match, and using more boot than brain very often. The selectors who picked Keepa on one try-getting run must have been pleased with themselves after the exhibition he gave in this game. There must be some corking forwards if Jack O’Brien is not in the first fourteen. The same applies to Moody. The Marists have fourteen players on the lists for the trial games next week, end—not a bad percentage. 1 consider Waka Armstrong and Jack Wright are lucky to be among the selected forwards. Rogers and Giffney are preferable in my opinion. A. McElwee should be in the forwards and "Criqui” Harrison on the wing, whilst James must have played some good games away from home to be considered at all. His play at Omoto and on the Rec has been hopeless. His club mate, Cutbush, has better claims than he. I hear Snowy Thomas eould not be considered, owing to only' playing three matches. What price Williams aud Keepa in the juniors? Our N.Z. team got it put across them in Bananalaud. That is the place to see League rugger at the present time. Toowoomba, undoubtedly the best club team in Australia, are the foundation of the Queensland team. No fewer than ten of their team have represented their State. They beat the Englishmen last year, and arc confident oef their ability to beat N.S. Wales this ycqr. They beat Ipswich 51 to 7 and the latter are no mugs, having Jimmy Craig, Paten, Ffauenfelder, Caples, Hotter and Purcell—((all internationals) in their thirteen. Some football machine that Dunean Thomson controls for Toowoomba. Moran Mahoney’, the former Kohinoor forward, had his shoulder hurt and had to retire in tho game Hawkes Bay v. Wairarapa, He must be a better

Rugby forward than League to get jnto the Hawkes Bay fifteen. If Laing, the N.Z. shipper, had not missed a kick at goal under the posts, the match against University would have ended in a draw. The referee again places Mou.att as star forward, his open play’ being brilliant. Who were the Rugby organisers who went to Brunner after League players and secured an All Black? Mr C. Dewar, who controlled the Marist v. Blackball fixture, gave a good exhibition. Ho is improving every time out, and is just about the best referee in the League code on the M est Coast., t