LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Grey River Argus, 29 September 1945, Page 3

LEAGUE FOOTBALL

TO-DAY’S MATCH The main event of the season in Rugby League circles here, will be the match for the Club championship when Blackball, local champions, will try conclusions with the brilliant Otahuhu combination (winners of the Auckland Rugby League championship). This is the first time that an Auckland Club team has visited the Coast. No stone is being left unturned to make the stay of the visitors as pleasing as possible. The Otahuhu team, coached by Mr. Con Hall, late of Greymouth, has performed in fine fashion this year, and on return from the Coast visit, will meet Rich' mond Rovers in the champion of champions match for which they are firm favourites. The side is the same as that which won the honours excepting that Ralph Martin replaces Royce Speedy who is on the injured list. The appearance of Martin has caused a minor sensation as he was selected to play full-back for the North Island Maori Rugby team in Auckland to-day. Martin has been in the Army and has been playing Rugby, but his preference for the League code has caused him to make his appearance on the Coast. Another player of interest is Colin Riley., 1944 and 1945 winner of the Painter Trophy, awarded in Auckland for the player kicking most goals in the championship series. The Otahuhu backs are renowned for their speed. Their display against the Blackball speedsters will watched with interest. The visiting forwards led by their captain, Jim Fogarty, are formidable and combine weight with ability. Fogarty was considered unlucky) in not being selected in the 1939 Kiwis who toured England. The four Johnson brothers are very weighty, totalling. sGst 41bs and with *Hardy and Seymour make a tremendous pack. Blackball have selected the best pack available and will nut up a great fight for the major honours. The Ord, C. Mountford, McNaughton. W Mount ford combination will trouble the visitors and with Kirk, Nuttall and O’Donnell make a.very fine set of backs. Williams and W. Kirk take (heir place in the scrum. Other well known nlayers, Mcßride, Avnsley, K. Mountford and Wright make up the combination. Taken all round the honours are about, even and a giea game should result. At Wingham Park to-morrow the very fit. Runanga team will endeavour fn unset the North champions. The Coasters arc very confident. Their team comprises players of the calibre of Soster (the full-back who covered hmiself with glory at Auckland), J. and R. Forrest (young and brilliant backs), L. Masters (a fine f>veoighth) and Martini, a clever X en sive player. In the forwards, Newton. Merriman and Stevens are peihaps best known. Runanga are so keen that they are holding Nev.ton and Soster back and arranging loi them to proceed to Auckland on Monday, when members the sown side leave for Auckland.

The fourth trade match, Brunner v. Marist set down for Brunner today is now-to commence ' nt. one o’clock instead of 1.30. The Runanea League team to piay Otahuhu at Wingham Park to-mor-row has been selected' as follows:— •T. Soster 12 0; J. Forrest -J*. McTigue 10.0. R. Forrest 11,6:: K- Martini 9 6, L. Masters 10.9; H. Pinn 9.0, L. Forrest 12.2: D. Stevens 13.2, R Coppersmith 13.6; J. Newton 14.3, T. Merriman 12.4, A. McTasgart 12.10 Reserves: R. Dalzell 12.8, N. Kiely 12.0. „ Kohinoor fourth grade to play Runanga at Wingham Park, at 1.30 to-

morrow:' —J. Nelson, W. Hales, D. Wesley, J. Munden, De Goldi, Franklin, Frampton, W. Sheehan, Trembath, Fraser, Wesley, Bright, Trouland, Rawcliffe.