ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL SENIOR TEAMS IN CLOSE BID FOR SUPREMACY

Grey River Argus, 10 May 1948, Page 6

ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL SENIOR TEAMS IN CLOSE BID FOR SUPREMACY

During the week-end the West Coast Football Association staged several close games in the senior competitions, held In the Grey district Taylorville's victory over Greymouth was a very creditable one and was due largely to O’Brien’s goal-keeping which saved the visitors on several occasions. Cobden anu iceefton fought a lively game to a draw at Cobden on Saturday when each team secured two goals. Judging by this week’s peitormances by the various teams some very close matches can be anticipated next week-end. Week-end Scores The results of matches played during the week-end by the West Coast Football Association were:—Senior Runanga 3, Blackball 0 Taylorville 1, Greymouth 0. Cobden 2, Reefton 2.. Lower Grades Runanga 3, Blackball 0. Cobden 1, Greymouth 1. greymouthVTAYLORVILLE ■ A most interesting match was played between Greymouth and Taylorville at the Recreation ground on Saturday. Taylorville won 1-0. Although Greymoutn lost they had morn than a fair share of the game, out owing to'the poor shooting and bad positional play of the forwards they missed a great many opportunities 01 placing the ball in the net. On the whole, Greymouth are a greatly improved siije and should in the very near future start a winning run. A fine display of goai-xeeping by O’Brien saved Taylorville from defeat. The full-backs Graham and Malone worked together quite well and the impression is that Graham is on the way to representative football with his strong and sure kicking. McNeish, Dando and Steel played well and McNeish justly deserved the goal he scored after playing a great game right through. The Greymouth defence played quite well and it was only a good shot and a bit of clever play that caused the only goal to be scored against them. Hoff and Newton played well at full-back. Wallwork w’as a tower of strength at centre-half also Malpass making a re-appearance for the team gave Greymouth a good half-back line The forwards gave a very creditable performance and with Hickman should develop into a well-balanced line. The outstanding players were Hoff and Newton in the backs, with Malpass and Wallwork at halves, and Hickman, Tones and Carson played well in the forwards. « The game was refereed by Mr F. Bishop. A New-Comer A very welcome addition to the Grey side is J. Hickland who is now residing in Greymouth. Previous to coming here he played for the Shamrock team in Christchurch. Cobden and Reefton Draw In a fast, open game at Cobden on Saturday, the Cobden eleven held the newly formed Reefton team to a draw. Cobaen was the lucicy team, twu goals late in the second half by J. rtoach, making up the deficiency, rteeiwn showed good combination and positional play,'and aitnougn hard to single out any particular players, fancier, bchute, McKean, ana cons stood out. The Cobden players lacked combination and poor snooting oy the inside forwards and the tendency of the full-backs to hang on to the ball too long were noticeable features. Kerr, Roach, Ewan and Laughton ail played well while Lester in goal made xew mistakes. The teams were: Reefton: Leddson, Bass, Brown, McClellan, Cotts, iVfcßeath, Watson, McLean, Lander, Cochrane, Senate. Gooden: Lester, Stone, Hales, Marley, Kerr, Laughton, Fraser, Roach, Macdonald, Ewan, Griffen. Cobden won the toss and elected to play from the eastern ei.jl. Cobden did most of the attacking in the early stages but solid defence and poor shooting prevented any goals being scored. Fast end to end play followed both Lester and Leddson ocing caned on to make good saves. A tree kick put .Reefton on attack but Stone cleared niceiy. Another Reeiton attack in which the ball passed right along the rorward line also broke down. Watson, McLean and Lander figured in a nice passing movement, Ken- mteuvmg up the attack. Another movement on the Reeiton left wing resulted in Scnute giving Lester no chance with a good shot, rteeiton 1, uoouen 0. inis reversal spurred cobden on and bom Roach and Ewan went close to evening the scores. A penalty kick lu rteefton saw Lester save. From the resultant play Reeiton attacxeu apum but off-side play gave Cobden r./iei. Eraser put in a good run on the cobden left wing and irom his. centering kick, Macdonald went close to scoring. Halt-time sounded with Reeiton Ouc goal up. Off-side play by both sides mnrret the opening stages of the second spell and Cobden after a change or players began to show more combination. Griffen, who pulled a muscle in his leg during the first half moved into the centre forward berth and Macdonald went to left half. Laughton and Ewan were combining well on the right wing for Cobden several promising movements being broken up by Brown. The Reefton forwards combined in a nice passing rush which resulted in Cotts scoring. Reefton 2, Cobden nil. Roach went through on his own after the kick-off and a low. hard shot was brilliantly saved by Leddson. Shortly afterwards Kerr secured the ball in mid-field, beat two opponents, passed beautifully to Roach who gave Leddson no chance with a left-foot shot. Immediately after the kick-off the ball went, to Kerr to Marley to Roach, who again scored. Reefton 2, Cobden 2. Both sides attacked strongly in the final stages in an endeavour to gain the extra goal bu' full time went with the score being unchanged. The referee was Mr A. Pickering. The schoolboy curtain-raiser, between Cobden and Greymouth resulted in a win for Cobden by one goal this being scored by G. Marley. The referee was Mr Gray. DRAW FOR NEXT SATURDAY Seniors: Greymouth v. Reefton, at Reefton (F. Bishop); Blackball v. Cobden at Taylorville (J. Timlin); Runanga v. Cobden at Greymouth (A. Pickering). All matches to start ai 2.30 p.m. Boys: Runanga V; Cobden at Greymouth (Mr Senior); Blackball v. Greymouth at Taylorville (Mr Gray). Matches to start at l.lEj. TEAMS FOR WEEK-END Grey seniors: Marshall Hogg, Newton, Wallwork, Beilby- Malpass, I |.nger, Carson, Tones, Hodgson, Hickland, Arieys. Thornburn, J. Hickman. Bus leaves P.O. 12 noo.n. I Grey\ boys’ team; Ogilvie. Annoy, wmc h -w, 'Junes, Ellery, Laing, Green, Walsh, Mayell, Rothwell, Watson, Hay. Bus leaves P.O. 12 noon. CHRISTCHURCH RESULTS CHRISTCHURCH, May 8. . In an easily-won victory, Technical A beat Thistle 10-1, at. English Park, the losers never looking as it they could make a match of it. <

Western beat Shamrock 8-1, at English Park, after establishing a 6-0 lead in the first half. Nomads and Celtic turned ofi a poor display at Malvern Park, play, although even, being dull and uninteresting. They drew, 1-all. Bv 4 goals to 1 Rangers beat Technical B in a keenly contested game.