LEAGUE & LEAGUERS

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1776, 14 June 1913, Page 30

LEAGUE & LEAGUERS

fßr "FIEETFOOT."! THE TOURING TEAM. N.S. Wales v. New Zealand. New Zealand must havo put up a 1 rattling game'in the second half of the 1 first game against New .South Wales, played,at Sydney on Saturday last. At tho end of the first spell the gamo was going pretty bad against them, the score reading 14 points to 7. A change of tactics must have taken place in the second half to enable them to rattle on eight points, while New South Wales could only add another try. Kelly, the Athletic man,, managed io get across the line, and it is, evident that lie is going to warrant the confidence placed in him by the selectors. Sydney critics say that New Zoaland'had hard luck in being beaten on tho post. The Basin Reserve, The League officials have received notification from the. City Council that the Basin Reserve is 'not to be ujed for Rugby, and that tho right to charge for ' representative fixtures at Newtown Park can only be granted for two games. The League consider this contrary to the promise given to sports bodies that the Basin, Reserve would be available to all sports bodies for a reasonable number of representative fixtures, the condition being that players who were shifted off the reserve for the day wero to have the use of tho ground _ usually occupied by the association playing the representative fixture. To solvo the question of grounds it has been suggested that the League should leaso some of the vacant land at Jliramar. . ' t Fast Backs. Eussell and Strickland shone out on their own on Saturday, when playing for Newtown... The former player is very clever on his feet, and was extremely hard to catch once he started on one of his dodgy runs. Strickland makes ono of the best of skippers, and takes a great deal of work on his own shoulders, Murdoch and "Paddy" George ably assisted these two, with tho result that some, brilliant passing bouts were seen. Godwin, tho full-back for Newtown, showed a marked improvement last Saturday in his second game. for the side. His picking, up was very clever, while his kicking and following up had a. good deal to do in keeping out Athletic from Newtown's territory. Just after tho start of tho second spell Godwin had the misfortune to put his thumb out, but he pluckily decided to go on with the game. Athletic's Showing. Athletic badly missed the services of ..Bradley and Kelly, the New Zealand representatives,, in their game on Saturday iagainst Newtown. In their back division they wero outclassed by their opponents, who have a very strong three-quar-ter line. .Wilson was easily the best man on Athletic's side on Saturday, but ho could not bo expected to do all tho work. The Athletic team put up a good Showing d'uring the first half of the game, and in tho early part of the second spell, but they could not last against tho rapid passing-rushes started by Newtown. The score of 2G to seven pretty well represented the strength of the teams on Saturday's showing. A Referees' Association. The formation of a Referees' Association has been considered in League circles, and should, such an association bo formed, great, good will result.' iho proposal is generally meeting with favour. New Players Out. Athletic had two new men out last Saturday in Connolly and Levers. Tho latter was responsible for getting tho Tauranga team in working order last season, and he. should prove an acquisition to the ranks of the Athletic team. Connolly would bo a good man to place Fullback for the side. Although a little nervous on Saturday, lie has tho makings of a good player in him. Intending new players and supporters of the League game will find a warm wclcomo waiting them at the gymnasium in Douglas Street on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday nights. The Gamo in England. "And so in another year the Rugby Union game will have Devon and Cornwall onco more to itself, while the Northern Rugby Union can bestow their attention upon matters in their own district, for woj should not think that teams will bo called upon to visit Coventry," remarks (the "Athletic News." This season the Coventry (N.U.) club has existed practically on the charity ot the other League organisation; but for that they could not havo fulfilled their "out" liabilities. Tho absurdity of tho business was demonstrated at Headingiey on April 12, when Leeds defeated / them by tho record score of 15 goals 24 tries (102 points) to nothing. How singular it is that the attempts o plant the Northern Rugby Union bani.er in other parts of Great Britain other than the cradle of the game have proved futile. Tyncside, South Wales, Coventry, the South-West have all disappointed. And yet JJnglish writers consider there is a great chance nearer home. Some Stray Notes. Petone have enough members for four teams now, and recruits are coming in every week. At least one representative match will be played at Lower Ilutt this year. One old Rugbyite will probably be out controlling a Leaguo game on Saturday. The attendance at games at Newtown Park is increasing in a satisfactory manner. Spectators are inclined to trespass on tho playing field. They should remember that.tho bank is plenty big enough. M'Ardlc, a Newtown man, had. his anklo badly twisted on Saturday. Ho hopes to get out again to-day. There are over 200 League players .in Wellington at present.