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1958 Season
WEST COAST COLOURS: RED AND WHITE HOOPS
(Founded, 1890; Affiliated, 1893)
Selector: Mr.B.Watkin
Despite the absence of really outstanding players, West Coast experienced a few thrills, and apart from the record defeat inflicted by Canterbury at the end of the season, could be reasonably satisfied; the Seddon Shield was won from Buller, but lost to the first challenger, and Otago was beaten. A noticeable feature was the lack of scoring ability, only ten tries being notched in the ten matches. McNabb on the other hand registered eleven penalty goals and two conversions, 37 points, or half of the total, McNabb was patchy, brilliant at times but careless at others, Lindbom was the best back, but received few chances. Williams was a fine attacking back, and Gooch, a new rep., a promising first-five eighth. There was little between Colville and Kermode, both reasonable at half-back.
When Patrick was transferred out of the district, Stewart, a promising newcomer, was tried, as was another new rep., O’Callaghan. McPherson, the captain and prop, showed the benefit of experience, and was always up with the ball., Ross was possibly the best forward whether from No8 or the side of the scrum, whilst the other breakaway, Surgenor, 19-year old newcomer, played with dash and displayed promise. Mettrick was quite a good hooker and Kelcher a keen prop, but as is the case with other Coast forwards, lack of size is a handicap. Egerton, the powerful lock, received a Trial for the South Island, to later transfer to Christchurch, but Fyall, big and energetic, and Punch, then locked the scrum, with Gardiner at No. 8. Lindbom also received a South Island Trial run.
Twenty-one of the players had worn the Coast jersey the previous year and Richardson in 1955, there being only five newcomers. A feature of the successful Seddon Shield match was that Buller led at half-time by 14 points to nil, only to be beaten by Coast’s four penalties and one try in the second half.
1958 Squad
A.A.McNabb (Hoki. Excelsior/Cobden)
J.M.Patrick (Greymouth United)
A.J.Lindbom (Cobden)
T.W.O’Callagnan (Grey. M.B.O.B.)
N.T.Tiller (Greymouth M.B.O.B.)
S.Stewart (Blaketown)
N.K.Williams (Greymouth United)
C.W.Thorpe (Hokitika Excelsior)
A.G.Dawson (Blaketown)
M.W.Gooch (Hokitika Excelsior)
A.W.Negri (Blaketown)
S.J.Kermode (Hokitika Excelsior)
L.E.Colville (Cobden)
B.L.Ross (Hokitika Excelsior)
M.J.Surgenor (Hokitika Excelsior)
T.I.Egerton (Cobden)
P.J.Punch (Hoki. St.Mary’s O.B.)
K.G.Foster (Hoki. St.Mary’s O.B.)
C.J.P.McPherson (Greymouth United)
K.M.Mettrick (Cobden)
M.J.Kelcher (Reefton)
T.A.Bird (Blaketown)
G.A.Fyall (Blaketown)
T.W.Wallis (Greymouth Star)
R.R.Gardiner (Greymouth M.B.O.B.)
Ralph Richardson (Greymouth Star)
R.N.Inkster (Blaketown)
MATCH RECORD
Played 10 ; Won 4 ; Drew 2 ; Lost 4 ; Points: For 73 ; Against 115
June 2 v CANTERBURY at Rugby Park, Greymouth Lost 0 to 3
Referee: Mr.A.Forrest (West Coast)
June 21 v BULLER at Westport Won 8 to 3
N.K.Williams, try
A.A.McNabb, penalty goal and conversion
July 19 v BULLER at Cass Square, Hokitika Drew 0 to 0
Referee: Mr.F.A.Foote (Buller)
August 9 v GOLDEN BAY-MOTUEKA at Motueka Drew 3 to 3
A.A.McNabb, penalty goal
August 20 v WAIKATO at Rugby Park, Greymouth Lost 3 to 14
A.A.McNabb, penalty goal
Referee: Mr.D.W.McKendry (West Coast)
August 30 v BULLER (Seddon Shield) at Westport Won 15 to 14
C.J.P.McPherson, try
A.A.McNabb, 4 penalty goals
September 6 v WAIRARAPA at Rugby Park, Greymouth Won 21 to 13
G.A.Fyall, N.K.Williams, C.J.P.McPherson, P.J.Punch and A.J.Lindbom, tries
T.W.O’Callaghan, 3 conversions
Referee: Mr.C.Taylor (West Coast)
September 13 v NELSON (Seddon Shield) at Rugby Park, Greymouth Lost 3 to 6
A.A.McNabb, penalty goal
Referee: Mr.Ed.Luicre (Golden Bay-Motueka)
September 16 v OTAGO at Rugby Park, Greymouth Won 17 to 14
A.J.Lindbom and C.J.P.McPherson, tries
A.A.McNabb, 3 penalty goals and conversion.
Referee: Mr.N.J.Smith (West Coast)
September 20 v CANTERBURY at Christchurch Lost 3 to 45
M.J.Surgenor, try
West Coast Rugby Football Union 