LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Grey River Argus, 15 May 1935, Page 6

LEAGUE FOOTBALL

MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE. The weekly meeting of the Management Committee of the West Coast Rugby League was held last evening, there being present, Messrs A. H. MeKane (chairman), L. Hunter, A. C. Hall, B. Ramsay, W. Barlow, J. Anisy, B. Rathbun and B. J. Harrington (Secretary). The Kumara Club requested that a third grade team be sent to Kumara next Sunday. It was decided to advise Kumara that if they intend to field a third grade team they will be drawn in the third grade competition with a bye next Sunday.

The Inaugahua Sub-Centre advised that they had approved of the appointment of Mr M. Buckley, to act with Mr A. Anisy as their delegate to the League.

The Kumara Club advised that they had appointed Mr A. Fielding as their delegate to the League. Seven new registrations were accepted.

The Emergency Committee’s action in granting the reclassification of B. Casey (Marist), from senior to junior was approved. The referees’ reports were received as satisfactory.

The referee of last Sunday’s senior game, between Runanga and Blackball nt Dunollie, reported that Mr J. Duggun had gone on to the field during the progress of the game and had threatened a Blackball player. • It was decided that Mr Duggan be written to, drawing attention to his behaviour, and advising him that any repetition in the future would result in his being debarred from League games. Accounts amounting to £7 4s 9d were passed for payment. The transfer of E. Gallop, from Pirates to Blackball was granted, subject to Pirates’ approval. On the application of the Blackball Cub W. Kells was reclassified from senior to junior.

The selectors were instructed to select the representative team to play Tnangahua on June 3, on or before May 28.

Mr Hunter congratulated the chairman on his success in the recent local body elections. He said that it was very pleasing to see that Mr McKane had the confidence of the people of Greymouth and Cobden in civic life, just as he had it on the sporting side. Tn reply, Mr McKane thanked Mr Hunter for his kind remarks. He said that he could assure them that he felt very grateful that the people had trusted him with so much confidence to carry out the civic duties. He would be delighted to do his best in the interests of the town and district and to see that the electors’ confidence in him was not misplaced. FIXTURES. Senior: Marist v. Blackball, at Blackball at 2.30 (D. Faris); Runanga v. Ngahere at Ngahere at 2.30 (W. Allen); Brunner v. Pirates at Wingham Park at 2.30 (A. Fielding). Junior; Runanga v. Kumara, at Kumara at 2.30 (C. Purnell); Blackball v. Marist at Wingham Park at 2.30 (Stan Smith); Pirates a bye. Third Grade: Brunner v. Marist, at Brunner at 2.30 (F. Bernard); Runanga v. Pirates at Wingham Park at 1.15 (J. O’Neill); Kumara a bye.

NOTES AND COMMENTS. New Life: The surprise, defeat of Blackball by Runanga seniors last Sunday has put new life in the competition. It had began to look a 3 if Blackball were going to prove too strong for the remainder of -the teams, but Runanga rose to fhe occasion and beat them on their merits, in one of the most thrilling games seen for a long time. ’ ~ ’ Solid Tackling: The tackling was the main feature of the game, and it would have been an education, for all of the other League teams to have been present and see both the Blackball and Runanga m'dn go low, and get; their man every time. This effectually dampened Individualistic efforts. Both sides , worked" as a team, not as a collection of players each trying o ut their own ideas. Versatile Players: There are few fonward s who can go into the backs, and show the regular backs a. few points, but' W. Glynn is one. As Runanga’s first five-eighth on Sunday he was the outstanding player on the field, both on attack and defence. Glynn undoubtedly is one of the best players that the League code has produced on the West Coast. Evergreen: J. Dodds. Blackball’s captain has been playing League for many seasons, hut it can not he said he has slipped. He knows all the tricks, and how to use them, and although Runanga kept him well bottled up on Sunday he was dangerous every time he got the ball.' Bustling Forward: Another stone weight would make J. Medlin one of the best forwards in the game. He has played two fine game for Runanga this season and is on the ball for the whole game. It. is unfortunate that he has not got the weight to put behind his bustling tactics. A Big Team: It would be interesting to know the average weight and height of ths Blackball senior team. With three or four exceptions at the most every player is a big man, and the dash that they put into their play gives evidence of solid training. The backs are fast off the mark, and the forwards are never far behind the ball. Improving Back: R. Clark, Blackhall’s second fiveeighth, is now a solid back. He has shown considerable improvement and now handles well, and runs straight. Defence Weak: M. O’Connell, the Runanga winger, has speed to burn on attack, and once away he certainly takes some catching. However, he is weak on defence, principally through his to take the ball cleanly. If he can improve his handling he will be decided acquisition to Runanga. He scored two fine tries on Sunday. Better as a Forward:

Runanga shifted Dunn into the forwards on Sunday, and he gave a very much improved display than against Marist. On Sunday’s game he would

be well advised to concentrate on the forward game. Earns Points: Speakman earns valuable points for Runanga with his place kicking, which is consistently accurate. Runanga turned everything to account on Sunday, but Blackball threw awav at least six- points through poor place kicking. Blackball should remember the old adage that “Too many cooks spoil the broth” and let one or two men take the kicks, instead of distributing them around the team. Oustanding Back:

J. Weir, the young five-eighth, is a tower of strength to the Ngahere senior team, both on attack and defence and is one of the outstanding young players in the code this season. There will be keen competition for the fiveeighth positions in the representatives but Weir will not be far behind.

A Certainty: Although he has not yet had a whom season in the senior grade A. Beban, on present form, looks a certainty for the representative team. He possesses speed, and a side-step, which makes him a danger to the strongest defence. It will be interesting to sec how he will go against Blackball.

No Shortage: There is no shortage of half-backs this season. T. O’Connor is playing up to form behind the Marist pack. Ron Neilson gave a very creditable display for Blackball last Sunday, while his vis-a-vis, Ron Morris was one of the outstanding Runanga backs.

A Big Hurdle: The Kumara junior team are up against a big hurdle in travelling expenses, but they are keen. There initial successes have been convicing, and in Kumara there is the makinga of a first class League setmir team, within the next season or so. Calder for Pirates?

J. Calder, League All Black forward is to take up his residence in Greymouth this week, and it is freely rumoured that he will transfer from Blackball to Pirates. Blackball has a surplus of good forwards and Calder would make all the difference to Pirates.