SOCCER NOTES

Grey River Argus, 18 September 1948, Page 6

SOCCER NOTES

Last Saturday’s Blackmun Cup final, between Cobden and Taylorville, at the Recreation Ground ended in a comfortable win for Cobden by the convincing score of five goals to one. Cobden were on top throughout; their forwards, led in fine style by the irrepressable Roche being much superior to the opposing every phase of the game, with tne result that the Taylorville defence was given a torrid time and finally wilted under the pressure. It is only fair to state however, that the Red and Blacks were not at full strength and that they were further handicapped when Kirk, a very useful centre-half, pulled a muscle early in the game and had to retire, his place being taken by veteran A. Coutts, who essayed the left back position. The result of this final means that the honours in West Coast soccer has been well distributed this season. Runanga are the competition winners and retain the Westland Cup. Taylorville won the Heslin Cup, and Cobden the Blackmun Cup, and for the first time in their long and creditable record, Blackball seniors have failed to collect a trophy. Club fortunes fluctuated considerably during the season. Runanga faded towards the end, after being seemingly unbeatable. Taylorville were very consistent throughout. Cobden finished the season with a fine winning run, and looked the best team in the district during the past month. Blackball, with practically a new young team, made a bad start, but then had an unbeaten run for eight games, and fell away again towards the end. Greymouth were not far behind the others in calibre, but injuries ruined their prospects when they seemed to have got a good side together. Schoolboy football was resurrected this season, four teams competing, with Cobden winning both cups, the Wee McGregor and the Anita Cup, the latter a splendid new trophy presented by Mr. and Mrs. W. Newton. The Cobden boys had the best coaching of the four teams and this turned the scale in their favour. In Pollock, Marley, McNeil, Lester and Henderson they have some really good material. Greymouth, after a feeble start, finished up the most improved team, with Watson, Boote, Meiklejohn, Rothwell and Ashby probably being the mainstays. For Runanga, Pizzaro, I. Boote, Richmond, Harvey and Freeman were always in the thick of things. Blackball, taken on the season’s play, were patchy, mixing good and bad games alternately. These boys are capable of playing good football when in the mood, their best players being Taylor, McNaughton, Rae, Shadbolt, Buchan and Brown, with small boys like Collins, Meekle and Dumpleton showing distinct promise. To-day will find the Westland representative side playing at Invercargill for the Dawson Cup. All indications point to the Coast having to produce their best form to win, Southland’s win, 7—5 over Otago, looking a particularly good performance. However, Coast played a fine game against Buller at Westport and a repeat performance will have Southland doing their best.