LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1746, 10 May 1913, Page 12

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

[By "Fleetfooi."! MORE & MORE RECRUITS, Athletic-Newtown Match. The principal League fixture last Satur.ltn.cfic and civfou'it —was played on Newtown Park, and furnished a =pl'ndid game. The Athletic backs were just a little too strong for Newtown, and their win was due to the capital defenco "of Bradley, Kelly ar.d Co. Bradley's brilnaut goal-kicking v-'as laso a feature The Aewtown pack wero very solid. Despite the pace they kept going right to the finish. On tho Athletic side, Kelly, Bradley, and Wilson wero grcat-l.v iu evidence, although both Kollv and Bradley could pass a bit more. 1 They wero trying to boat 100 many men. Their forwards combine* well, and they have an acquisition in Brooks, who plays a very heady game. Weaver is nnoth.n' player "who lise.s liis In-ad, and ho opened up tho game on many occasions last Saturday. The Newtown team werp strengthened by tho inclusion of Murdoch, late of Oriental seniors. ll,a played a nice game considering that it was his initial attempt at "League." George also played a good game, and gives one the impression that ho has a thorough knowledge of tho fine points. Apart from his plaving ability, George is a keen worker in" the interests of tho League. Strickland was in goad lorm, and if 1m were played on. the wing would be a dangerous scoring man.

In the forward division, "Les" Campbell was "going great eisns," and is in splendid form. ".Tuck ' Spencer has taken a nfcw Icaso of life, and can still make that telling run of his when, in close proximity to tho goal line. When "Jack" says go, he takes some stopping. His staying power is still good, but there is no occasion to waste it by needless talking. Kill" also is a good worker, and is ono of tho heady type to boot. His knowledge of tho gamo is of considerable advantage to liis team. Tin? other forwards all played well, and Newtown will havo to be reckoned with in the next, round.

Mr. T. Cunningham, who is considered by many to bo the best refercte in the Dominion, carried tho whistle, and had the game under complete control. His decisions wero. very prompt. The ground was in splendid condition, but th|- weather was cold. It is a good "stand" for football, and convenient, for spectators, and there is 110 doubt that when the t ! :nms get into their best form, many fast and brilliant games' will be witnessed there. Hutt and Petono Contest At the Mult ground, Petone and Hutt tried conclusions, but owing to a misunderstanding abuut the games being put oIY, neither team was ablo to put their best .-.ide in (lj> field, and had to make their proper complements up with juniors. Nevertheless it was a goad game, and produced some fine football. Hutt won, and deserved (heir win. On tho Ilutt sidi?, Bucklaud was iu great form, and ho was ably assisted by James and Allen. Tho forwards are good, too. Turner was the best, playing a nice game all tho v.ay. Ho throws tho ball about, and that's w'hat tho Leaguo needs. The oHkts were willing and keen, and tho team will no doubt havo moro wins to their creditsoon. Petone are very unfortunate. They ore the strongest' olub in the Leaguo if "they could produce their full team, having, iii fact, enough members to form three teams, but most of them arc working 011 Saturday afternoons, and this invariably leaves the seniors s'hort-lianded. They were without the services of Barber, Fiiilayson, House, and Asliton last week—a very lino quartet, too. I. The Petone backs on Saturday were disorganised, but Miller and Whitly gave a good display, and put in some tine tackling. The forwards "stuck to it" well. Parker, a player from Marlborough, was about the best, but Guthrie,- Shardlow, Cliilds, and Iti:esby wero also good, while Frassr also put in some fine dashes. Mr. Murphj; was referee, but allowed too much talking. Ila must be firmer.

Notable Gains in Membership, Tho latest captures lroin the Rugby ranks who piayetl Just Saturday uiv tiyan-, of Atuietic, end lato of ronene, and Murdoc.'i, from Oriental; w'tnlo J.'etjne were strengthened by the inclusion of Miller, of the Petone tumors. It is certain tliat tliß various teams will liavo more recruits in their ranks this afternoon. l'etonc will bo strengthened by the inclusion of Hoy l'rubstel, a young player oi iiuo physique, and, in the opinion of somo good juuges of tho League game, a champion. Rio look out, Athletic! It is luoro than probable that Byrne, the great forward, who is at present in tho Dominion, will also be in tne Potone ranks. Byrne has been iu England playing with one, of the counties tliere, and, iu all probability, will bo returning later .on in tho year." An Intoresiing Lecture to League Men, Air. H. Wright—tlie smiung "Bumper" ot mat ilk—is laKiug a very active interest in tlio League game in tlie ilutt and I'etone, ami, jasc nignt, he gave an miercstmg lecture in tuu ketone gymnasium to members ot tne LLutt ami i'eioue Clubs. Mr. Wright, who has bton watching uie games tuis year, pointed out lo tlie players some thin&s tiiat had come muter nis notice iu tne llutt v. Petone march. The lirst thing-that struck mm was "the iHay-tlie-o.nl" rule. Mr. \vrignt said that it was evment mat the majority oi piayers ilut not know what it really meant, and he proposed to illustrate to them the proper way in which to play tlie ball. \\ nen a player is tackicu ho must immediately get up BIUAUIMi 'IHE BALL WiTli HIM. Alter tho piayer has risen, he must put the ball down, and it can then be played by either side with the foot, lto wished to impress on tlient' that the ball must be on tho ground when it is played by the loot; he had seen some plajers punt, and that was illegal. Tho ball, alter being put on the ground by the tackled player, could be kicked in any direction, providing that the piayer tackled is facing his opponent:*' goal. Air. Wright expressed the opinion that the referees should insist on these points being carried out, as the "plav-the-ball" rule was the great thing in League football. If the game was not' played in tho proper way, players were liable to get hurt. The player who tackles, or any of his side, must not put I heir hands' on tho tackled player, or iu nuy way prevent him from getting up. They must stand a. reasonable distance away from him, and any interference to tho tackled player should be at once met by a penalty-kick against tho offenders. Another point which Mr. Wright had noticed was want of knowledge concerning the "loose head." In League football tho ball is put into the scrum by tho attacking side, whilo the defending sido claim the "loose head." This "loose head" is the outside player on the tront rank of the scrum. He will be found on the same side of the scrum as the referee stands. Now, tho object of tho "loose head" was this; The "loose liead" man could see everything that went on, and knew exactly when tlie opposing half-back was going to put tho ball in. This was considered to equalise the chances of getting the ball from the scrum, or (if anything) to favour tho defending side. The points which Mr. Wright specially emphasised wore these; First, the "loos'e head" is an advantage, and should be played for it was worth. Second; The "loose head" is on the same sido ot itie scrum on which the referee is, and the half-back must always throw the ball in from that side. In concluding a very interesting and instructive evening, Mr. Wright urged those playing the game to study the points which he had refprred to. and, while playing, to "phiy tho game," and not do so much talking. Above all, to play the game in the best spirit, and to train thoroughly. For Encouragement of Juniors. The local League have instructed the secretary to write to Wanganui and Auckland with a view to nrrangiiip matches in those, towns against a Wellington junior representative team during tlie season. They have also donated two gold medals for tho most improved forward and back in the junior grade. Our Game in the Colleges. ' It is not generally kmmn thai (he college.- are taking up the League game. A i coiiimuniciiliuii was received by the secrr- i jury of the local League during the week, informing him thai llie game had -larl- i ; cd in 111" Holy ("in-:, Col!e;e. .Mof.'iel. 1 Hector Mill no| ;il|ov." L'npf'v (as i played by Hi" union), but tins lrf> ©V.-jf* ! Iio» io T.O'isue, o> hp ron-Mrier.', that plov- , crs are not so liable to get hurt. ' j