RUGBY FOOTBALL CELTIC DESTINED TO BE CLUB CHAMPIONS

Grey River Argus, 28 June 1947, Page 6

RUGBY FOOTBALL CELTIC DESTINED TO BE CLUB CHAMPIONS

Celtic are again destined to be the premier Club of the Greymouth district this season and they are undoubtedly deserving of the laurels as they are a fine club, with the right spirit and the type of officers at the head of affairs who leave no stone unturned in the important functions of training and other necessary accomplishments. Cobden appears to have gone to pieces and their defeat at the hands of Blaketown was a surprising, though nevertheless clear-cut downfall. Celtic now lead Blaketown by two points, with Cobden four points further down the ladder, so that unless anything unforeseen occurs, Celtic should run out local champions. This club’s lower grade teams also play enterprising football and it has undoubtedly done much as a young club to foster the code in the district. NOW TO BULLER: West Coast will try conclusions in the return match with Buller at Westport to-day and while it certainly looks like Buller, particularly on their home ground, the fortunes have been reversed on former occasions. It is sure to be wet weather game, however, and it looks like Buller. They have a tine even set of forwards and all-round, a more reliable set of backs, who rise to the occasion when the occasion demands their best effort. The match should give a definite line on the prospects of the two provinces who are shortly to engage in Seddon Shield challenges. DITTMAN SHIELD CHALLENGE It is many years since Greymouth had a cut at the Dittman Shield and they are now to give it a go to win back the trophy, which Inangahua won off them so many years ago. Wouldn’t it be great to have the three shields lined up in a row, the Ranfury, the Seddon, and the Dittman, three fine trophies perpetuating the memories of three fine sporting families of the past. TOURING MAORI TEAM: There is a chance that the West Coast Union may get a match with the touring Maori side and this should prove a big attraction locally. Apparently no itinerary has yet been arranged, but West Coast is almost certain to be included.

INANGAHUA SUB-UNION

Rugby football in Inangahua this season finds 1 six teams competing in the senior competition. The grade of football being played, does not appear to be as high as in some previous years, but a most pleasing feature of the more recent games has been the close scoring in practically every match. Keenness is not lacking, in fact it is safe to say that enthusiasm has reached a new pitch this year. What appears to be lacking is regular training and to some extent improved training facilities and coaching. The sub-union, fully alive to this necessity, had recently completed arrangements with the Domain Board, to floodlight an area of the “Strand” Reserve, and thus provide the required outdoor training space. Unfortunately, the imposition of the lighting restrictions, has set this scheme back in the meantime but the proposition will definitely be completed at a later date. Interest at the moment, is centred largely in the forthcoming match (or matches) in defence of the Dittman Shield, the date of the first challenge game, Inangahua versus South Westland, having been fixed for July 5, at Inangahua. To finalise the Inangahua team, a final trial game will be played at Ikamatua on Sunday, June 29, and the teams will line out as follows :—

A Team.—J. Lines, Hansen, Bonifacio, L. Story, Frawley, T. Smith, Newcombe, O'Flaherty, Neiper, Cowan, Campbell, Breslin, Dunn, Burrows and Donnelly. Emergencies: T. Bell, N. Lines-. Walton, Corcoran. B. Team.—M. Prendergast, Kent, J. Robertson, K. Cutbush, Weir, Olsen, T. Chandler, Carter, Rosanowski, Murphy, Baker, Butler, Haussman, J. Brazil Emergencies: L. Mangos, Gilmour, B. Heaphy, W. Nolan, Griffen. The bus will leave Dellaca’s corner at 1.15 p.m. sharp. A curtain-raiser to the match, commencing at 1.30 p.m. will be the Fourth Grade game, Inangahua v. Greymouth. Inangahua Fourth Grade.—Backs: Mclnroe, Woolhouse, Skelton, Steele, Halloran, Kennedy, Wells, Galway, Hill. Forwards: Hudson (2), McKenzie (2), Hunt, Nicholls, Prendergast, Morrisey, Jolly, Ferguson, Venus, Holden. Cars leave Dellaca’s at 12.30 p.m. The West Coast Fourth Grade selector will be in attendance. All players are assured of a game. SOUTH WESTLAND ACTIVITY The South Westland Sub-Union’s competition was " advanced another stage at the week-end, when the only fine day of the week was experienced. Harihari played Weheka at Harihari before a fair attendance. The heavy ground, combined with a wet bail, did not make for back movements’ Consequently the game was mainly confined to the forwards. M. Wells was outstanding for Harihari in the forwards, being on the ball all the time, and was best supported by J. Minehan, who led some excellent foot rushes.

G. Kerr, for Weheka, turned on an excellent game. His cover defence was good, and his kicking excellent for a forward, several of them gaining forty yards.

F. Warrahtai proved himcelf a game half-back, being one of the few who would go down on the ball to stop foot rushes. Now and again the backs flashed into the picture, but there was too much cross-field running, movements finishing over on the sideline instead of the °-oalline. The most exciting period

the last five minutes, at which.stage Harihari were leading 6-3. Weheka put everything they had into it, and finally, following a scramble over the line, F. Warrahtai dived on the ball and scored behind the posts. The kick missed, leaving the score 6-all, which was a true indication of the game. Mr Robinson, the referee, made an excellent job of a difficult game. SOUTH WESTLAND TEAM The South Westland team to play Greymouth at Harihari' to-day is as follows R. Nolan; E. Kirby, J. Sullivan, S. Nolan; T. Nolan, J. Muir (captain); R. Leggoe; G. Kerr, R. Rowley, C. Murphy, P. Hansen, J. Minehan, P. Kirby, M. Welle, E. Renner. Reserve forwards: A. Mcßride, T. Mcßride, P. McCormack; backs: F. Warrahtai, M. Clark.