LEAGUE & LEAGUERS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1770, 7 June 1913, Page 12

LEAGUE & LEAGUERS.

—-—» — [By "Flketfoot."!, THE LACK OF GROUNDS. A Sore Point. league plnyers and officials alike are keenly disappointed at the notion of the City Council in demanding 50 per cent, of tho takings for permission to uso Newtown Park for their representative match. The Leaguo want to get 6ome representative matches in Wellington, and thus show tho publio tho many good points tho game possesses. Representative matches have more of an educative value than club game when a comparatively new game is being; put forward, and the Loague officials feel that, could a few-exciting games bo put on here, they would draw a larger 6hare of both public and players.' • ~ lii Auckland a ample of seasons ago this fact was recognised,' and - representative matches'at'Victoria Park became-one 1 of.the attractions for tho sporting public. Large crowds gathered;at every game, and a great .impetus was given to tho Leaguo. Now the League is in a very'sound position, and' oil.every Saturday 30 teams'turn out. - ■ The 'question of grounds in Wellington is. becoming a sore point with Leaguers. The junior men do not like having to go out to the Hutt Saturday after Saturday, and the early game at Newtown is responsible for a lot of players not turning up. To knock off work at one o'clock and start play at 1.45 at the Park sounds easier than it is. And the junior players have to be considered, for with them is the future of the game,

Newtown on Top.i Newtown, placed. themselves four points to the good by winning over Petone at Newtown Park on Saturday last. The game was by far the keenest played this season, and, although Newtown were never in danger of being defeated, they received something in tho nature of a shock When Petone began to rattlo on points in the dosing stages of tho game. Petone's scoring was remarkable in many respects, and had they been able to put the same dashi into their play right through the game, there is no doubt but that 'they would have seen themselves somewhere closer tho; top,, if' not right there. The final scores wereNewtown, 15; -Petone, 8.

Up to ten minutes of the close of play Newtown' had 15. points to f>o good, but it was then that the Pe,tcne. men,came to light. Barber, Finlayson, and- Whitley were responsible for several clever runs, and as these were kept going at great dash, each one getting nearer Newtown's line, it waß evident that a try was coming. Whitley got tho first points, and it wasrnot long before Davis had put on another try. The goal? were not kicked, but Whitley added a goal seconds later from a mark taken by ,himself right in front of Newtown's posts. This was quick scoring indeed, and had tho game lasted a little longer the finish would have been very exciting. , .. New Playsri. Newtown tried a new full-back on Saturday in the person of N Godwin, late of New South Wales. Ho is a young player, arid on Saturday was greatly inclined to over-run the ball. This was due to eagerness, to a largo extent, and Godwin will soon mend. Ho did not have much tackI ling to do, ■■ which was, perhaps, fortunate, as he is a light-weight, _ but he showed fair judgment in kicking. Petone's full-back, Guthrie, had a lot to do on Saturday, and, if it had not been for his excellent defence, his side would have seen a much bigger score put on against them. Tho Leaguo want new men, and it is encouraging to see young players getting into the senior teams. Athletic bring out a new man ' to-day, namely, E. Connelly, who phyed. Inst season for Addington, Christcliurch, He comes up with a good reputation. The Tourists. Claude Corbett, in a reoent issue of the Sydney "Sun," sums up the New Zealand League team which will tour Australia, and comes to tho conclusion that "the personnel of the team does not make one fear for the safety of the refutation of Now South Wales, and though the backs, if they can work up combination, might be troublesome, the forwards seem to bo more on tho heavy, side than the fast-moving men necessary to win big engagements. The "Sun's" sporting writer, in conclusion, says:—"Summed up, I do not think that New South Wales will be beaten, but tho games arc likely to be well contested, and should be much closer than previous games—Mime of those were close enough." Referring to the back division of the team, the same writer, says:' "In the backs there are some speed merchants and fine players. Bardley and Kelly, of Wellington,' have both been here before. Kelly is a tall, young fellow, with' 6ome pace, but liablo to crumple in a hard game. Bradley is a determined runner, and fills cither the full-back or. the centre three-quarter position equally well. I-will have to pass Probstel, Miller, W. J, Mitchell, and Ifwerson. . That brings me to the Hawke's Bay double, Manning and Duval. Duval is a big man, and plays five-eighths, He lias any amount of dash, and is dangerous when he has the ball—a straight runner, with a first-class swerve. That much I learned in about 20 minutes', as lie was injured in tho match in which New South Wales defeated Hawke's Bay at Napier. Manning is a three-quarter of ability from the same district as Duval. The Sydney public will like Reke, tho Maori from Kotorua. Built on stocky linos, Keke has tho speed and dodginess of a hare, and when near the line reminds one forcibly of Arthur Jl'Cabe when ho was at his zenith. The little Maori is a most unassuming lad, and plays anywhere in the back division, but is, perhaps, better suited at fiveeighths tlian anywhere else." Smart Rcfereeing. Mr. "Tom" Cunningham, the referee in the Newlown-Petone match on Saturday last, officiated in such a manner as to cause keen interest in his methods amongst those watching from the bank. Ho was very quick and impartial in his decisions, and made known tiie reason of most of his rulings to tho players as he wont along. In fact, there was only one man talking during the progress of tho game, and that was tho referee. While keeping the players up to pitch in the matter of making the game open and fast, Mr. Cunningham was quick to pounce upon any rough play, and frequently penalised a side when a player was tackled after ho had kicked the ball. In this respect Petono on one occasion gained a great deal of ground. Finlayson received tho ball, and sent a long kick up the field, but before he had recovered himself ho was shouldered by a Newtown man, who lmd rushed at him from a considerable distance away. The referee gavo IVtone a penalty kick from tho spot the bull landed on, and as tho leather had been carried by tho wind tho Blacks gained a nice bit of 'ground. At tho interval a spectator questioned Mr. Cunningham as to why he had granted this penalty. The iliatter was explained, aud ho turned away with the remark: "Quite rieht. It would do'

away with a lot of roughness if the rule was always enforced." Representative Matches. Representative matches will probably bo _ played in Wellington this season against Auckland, Wanganui, Marlborough, New South Wales v. Wellington, New South Wales v. New Zealand, and. possibly, Wellington v. the New Zealand team, when it returns. Of courso it nil depends on whether the League can come to. Boino terms with the Wellington. City Council, on something like a reasonable basis, for tho use of a ground. The Marlborough match will be played on the 23rd instant if it can be arranged. Fair Enthusiasts. Nothing like a little encouragement from tho bank! Three fair enthusiasts were energfltic in urging on players in tho Newtown-Petone match on Saturday, and a little of their enthusiasm was soon adopted by other spectators. "(Jo on "Fred," screamed one lady, and "Fred," the skipper of the Newtown men, at onco put moro energy into a rush ho , was making. Tho next remark from the ladies was greeted with laughter by somo other watchers of the game, and one lady, more bashful than the others, ejaculated: Oh, keep quiet. They're laughing az us." "Well, let them laugh if they want to," came the reply. "I'm enjoying the game." To-day's Games. On paper it looks as if Newtown will have the best of the game over Athletic at Newtown Park. Athletic, however, anticipate putting a stronger team out today, and the result may not be all in favour of the Whites. Petone should win against Hutt, at Hutt, but Hutt players always put up more of a fight on their own ground than they do anywhere else. H-everting to the AthleticPetone game, the former are expecting a >good deal from the new player Connelly, who appears for the first time in Wellington to-day. He comes with a good reputation from Christchurch. Stray Notes. League officials are determined that no bad language shall bo used on the playfield. A few choice expressions were heard a week or so and now the League aro putting notices up in all gymnasiums, warning players that the referee has been instructed to' put all men off tho field who aro caught swearing. Bensenmim, a big Newtown forward, should into one of tho pest ot men, but at present ho wants a little training; A few nights in the gymnasium will tako off a littlo "greenness." E. Buckland, of tho Hutt team, who - has been absent for tho last two weeks, i will appear again to-day. Buckland has been unavoidably absent from the field owing to business. Sharrow, one of Hutt's 'newest recruits from tho south, has again shifted. His new homo will be Peilding. The junior competitions will be starting in earnest in a couple of weeks' time. The Wellington Provincial Rugby . Leaguo have just issued a neat .littlo . book containing playing rules of tho Northern Union game. The Gams at Hutt. Despite the fact that tho "stars" of both Athletic and Petone teams were on the way to Australia- last Saturday, tho game played at Hutt was very fast and interesting. . Hufct'a viotory was a surprise, but on tho day they "were the hotter team. Turner, for Hutt, was the best forward on the' ground, and had ho played such games at tho beginning of the season ho •would now be in Australia. Ho has mastered the play of tho "loose head'' forward* which, although not difficult, has nonplussed many of our League players. .AVilson, for Athletic, stjood out by himself and scored two tries after the 6tylo , of tfb,e famous' D. H'Gregor. Chapman : was conspicuous on many occasions for the Blue and Blacks, and Ryan showed that the League gamo suits him. On the Hutt side passing rushes predominated, and the Light Blues havo | never been seen to better advantage. The , little half-back, Waga, is nippy, and has plenty of dash. Anderson made some , fine oponings, and M'Grath's two tries t were well deserved., - ' , The New City Club. ' On No. 2 ground, at Lower Hutt, the j newly-formed City Club,' played Petone j juniors. The new club have adopted, rod ( and black foT their oolours, and they [ look ft hefty lot. When they learn the j game there will be a hot time in store for senior players. r . At Lowor Hutt the ffame seems to be . gradually going ahead, and «very Satur- c day sees an increase in tho attendance. j Petono are still holding their own, and \ ore making good uso of their gymnasium. (