LEAGUE FOOTBALL South Island Kiwis Should Prove Draw To-day at Greymouth

Grey River Argus, 24 April 1948, Page 6

LEAGUE FOOTBALL South Island Kiwis Should Prove Draw To-day at Greymouth

The .West Coast Rugby League Has turned on a great display of football for Victoria Park to-day when the first of the trial matches to select the New Zealand team to leave shortly for Australia will be staged. In addition to this match, the West Coast B. Team, which includes two ex-Kiwis, will be pitted against the Senior Reserve representative, whose grade has shown a high standard of football this season.

Chief interest, of course, will centre round the main representative game, at which a Canterbury referee, Mr R. Barbarel will officiate. This game, to start at 2.45 p.m will provide followers of the code with a good impression of the former Kiwi players of both the West Coast and of Canterbury, as well as giving a grand opportunity of seeing in action perhaps not a few of the players who are likely stars of this year’s side for across the Tasman. Canterbury has this year, it is reported, concentrated on a strong forward pack, a feature of repeated West Coast victories over Xhe visitors, and it will be most interesting to observe how fine forwards like J. Newton, R. Neilson. C. Mcßride, J. Mundy and K. Mountford will fare against their opponents. 'The West Coast should not lack its former brilliance on this occasion. In the backs, the home side appears to be strong, and keen interest will be taken in their displays. However, with ground conditions likely to be on the soft side, a first-class forward struggle can be expected, and it is on the home forwards that the fortune of the game will largely rest. Players in the B team and Senior Reserve team .will also be under the eye of the South Island selectors, as they have equal opportunities of making this Island’s team to play in Auckland on May 8. The teams will be: — West Coast: Backs: J. Soster (Runanga), J. Forrest (Runanga), V. Meates (Marist), J. Curnow (Marist), J. Pascoe (Marist), J. Curragh (Runanga), M. Ord (Hokitika), C. Manson (Ngahere), W. Mountford (Blackball). Forwards: J. Newton (Runanga), J. Mundy (Marist), R. Neilson (Hokitika), A. McTaggart (Runanga), C. Mcßride (Blackball), R. Avnslev (Blackball), R. O’Donnell (Blackball). , ~ Canterbury: P. Callanan (Prebbleton, vice-captain), W. McKenzie (Hornby), S. Allom (Frebbleton). K. Alfeld (Rakaia), E. Lewis (Hornby), K. Henry (Hornby), R. Hancox (St. Joseph’s), J. Duke (Sydenham), P. Smith (captain, Prebbleton), J. Flynn (Prebbieton), D. Warren (Prebbleton), K. Andrews (Svdenham). L. Gardiner (Rakaia). Reserves: Clarke (Riccarton), W. Forbes (Sydenham), R. Broadhurst (Papanui), L. Gray (Christchurch).

Fine Football Few who were present at Wingham Park last Sunday could have left any feeling of disappointment after witnessing, one of the traditional MaristRunanga struggles. Seldom did it lag and not a little of the credit must go to referee R. Baird, whose control throughout was admirable. The final victory of Runanga by 2 points fairly represents the game, the highlights of'which—apart from the finest tackling seen on a West Coast field for some years—were the excellent handlin'' and generally good kicking of both sides..'And, apart from that, the establishment of a record “gate” for a club match shows how popular both teams are with their supporters.

The Rule:—Although some may have questioned the award of a try to a Runanga player in last Sunday’s match, Referee Baird seems to have the rules on his side. Rule 30 relating to tackles has this provisions:— “A player knocked to the ground is not tackled, even if the ball touches the ground, if the tackler relinquishes his hold before the player reaches the ground.” Marist Club’s Jubilee Most interesting event of the present season will be the Silver Jubilee of the Marist Club. It was towards the end of the 1923 season that, after a series of events now long and happily forgotten, the Marist Rugby Club decided to terminate its connection with , the other code and adopt League. Perhaps no event in the history of the West Coast League had more significant results, for, with the club side, wdht the lower grades, ano it is upon the strength of lhe lower grades that the Marist Club has <e>-* ♦

happily concentrated its greatest Throughout the 25 of its existence as a League club, Marist have been a great drawcard in a community which looked with sympathy and understanding on their original move. Shortly it is planned to arrange fitting celebrations to mark the attainment of the jubilee, and invitations are likely to be extended to fqrmei players throughout the . Dominion, who will certainly be anxious to return io this district to share in the honour will be paid to those who have done so much for the code.

TO-DAY’S FIXTURES Senior Trial: West Coast v. Canterbury, Victoria Park, at 2,45 (referee, R. Barbarel; touch judges, P. Sweetman and J. Mathews). West Coast senior B v. West. Coast senior reserve. Victoria Park, at 1.15 (referee, P. Sweetman; touch judges, B. Casey and J. Ward). Sixth grade: Marist v. Runanga, Victoria Park. 10 a.m. (J. Ward); Blackball v. Hokitika, Victoria Park, 11 a.m. (H. Bassett); Kohinoor a bye. Seventh grade: Marist A v. Blackball, 9.45 (L. Kinsella); Brunner v. Marist B at Brunner, 10 a.m. (J. F. Williams); Runanga v. Kumara, Victoria Park, 11 a.m. (W. Hopkins). Eighth grade: Marist v. Cobden at Cobden at 10 a.m. (T. Freeman); Runanga v. Ngahere, Victoria Park, .1.30 (J. Mathews); Brunner a bve. Ninth grade (midgets): Cobden v. Brunner. Victoria Park, 1.45 (B. Casey); Runanga v. Ngahere. Victoria Park, 2.30 (J. Ward); Marist v. Blackball, Victoria Park, 3.15 (J. Mathews).