LEAGUE & LEAGUERS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1812, 26 July 1913, Page 12

LEAGUE & LEAGUERS.

[By "FtE£TFooT."l

COMING OF THE "CORNSTALKS." The Programme. The following programme for tho Now South Wales' tour through New- Zealand has been submitted to tho New South Wales League- by the New Zealand Eugby League:— Saturday, August 23, v. Canterbury. ■Wednesday, August 27, v. Taranaki. -.Saturday, August 30, t. Auckland. Wednosday, September 3, v. Eotorua. Thursday, September i, v. Waikato. Saturday, September G, v. Now Zealand; at Auckland. Wednesday, September 10, t. Wanganui. Saturday, September 13, v. Wellington. Wednesday, September 17, v, Hawke's Bay. Saturday, September 20, v. New Zealand, at Wellington. 'Wednesday, September 24, v. Nelson. All tho above matches have not been agreed to by tho New South Wales Lcaguo. Wellington v. New South Wales. Tho programme submitted to the New South Wales League by tho New Zealand Rugby League, for tho tour of the Now South Wales team in New Zealand, is a fairly lengthy one, and may be slightly curtailed. As it stands, Wellington does not get a gaino with the visitors until they havo become thoroughly accustomed tii New Zealand conditions, by playing Canterbury, Auckland, New Zealand at Auckland, and several smaller unione. The local men will be up against a strong combination, but have plenty of time to get fit before September 13, when their mntcli is sot down. Tho Wellington representatives who toured Australia will be able to put tho Wellington men up to a good many "wrinkles," and it is to be hoped that "shed" work is thoroughly indulged in.

Asking for Grounds. '• The Wellington League are applying for the uso of Nowtown Park or the Basin Beserre for tho following fixtures: —Wellington v. Taranaki, August 2; Canterbury v. Wellington, August 16; Wellington v, New South Wales, September 13; New Zealand v. New South. Wales, September 20; Wellington v. Auckland, September 27. League supporters are anxious that the council should accede to their requests, as apart from the revenue from ground fees, and tramway Tecoipta which the council will derive, it is felt that some consideration should be shown to this branch of sport:_ By granting the grounds an opportunity will be given to Leaguo men to see eome highclass football. Unfair Attack Repulsed, At the reception to the New Zealand Universities team by the New South Wales Rugby Union, Mr. Perry, the manager, said "that they were the third team to visit Sydney from New Zealand, nnd they would play straignter football than at least ono of the others. Commenting in. the "Itoferco" on the incident, a sporting writer states: I am sure the New Zealander would not intentionally do an. injustice to anyone; though injustice to his countrymen who play tho League game has teen done. Professionalism in football has no attraction for me. But when wo find men playing the game in the finest possible spirit, it is tho duty of the press to say so, whether the players be amateurs or otherwise. The latest New Zealand ■League team to visit Sydney has , never been surpassed in the matter of clean football, and in tho spirit of its play, by any English, Australian, or New Zealand team, bo its status what it may—representative, 'Varsity, or Schools—which has visited Sydney In tho last 20 years, The inconsistency in^results is in no 6enso a reflection on the Now. Zealand -team. They were asked to oariy out a ■programme far tooi'taxing. on'-tho' mqu' physically in tho first ten days.' Their beating of New South Wales in tho third match between the two sides was a fine performance, and the inconsistency in form observable in that match was not shown by the Blacks, but the.Blues. We must be fair, and, above all, 'Varsity men, who are trained to think soundly, must not be unfair. Far better to ignore tho League team's existence than that.

Petone Tactics. The last Newtown-Petone fixture at Hutt provided a Rood even game, although the latter team did not play up to their usual form. Their style of play suited the Newtown team, but they erred in keeping the Rome closo on many occasions. Another bad fault with the I'etono backs was that, when .they did. get the- ball they lost many opportunities by kicking, and two of the worst offenders were tho New Zealand representative men, Proebostel and Miller. Tho former has plenty of pace, and after his Australian experience should know that it ia only the. bad player in the Leaguo name who kicks wildly. Miller played a game far from good, and showed marked lack of judgment, for on many occasions he had opportunities to get tho backs into motion. Ho seemed to prefer to throw these away by kicking. Newtown backs wero improved by the inclusion of Marshall (from the Melrose Club), Manning, and Pooley. The lastnamed showed great dash on the wing. Jtussell played well behind the pack, and George was very safe. He rarely missed the ball, and stopped a number of dangerous passing rushes. "Jimmy" Barber was the best defensive player on the Petone side, and he would make a good skipper for the team. *

The Juniors and Club Negligence. / The Newtown team are to be congratulated on winning the M'Guire Cup—for the second time m succession. This club promises to be the strongest in the competition, as far as members aro concerned, and it is surprising that they have only put ono team in the field. They have more than enough • members to form a strong junior team. Inquiries are now being made from outside leagues with a view to sending a junior representative team on tour, and such a club as Newtown ought to have been able to assist. Their "unemployed players, one is sure, do not desire to stand on tho bank watching the seniors play< Athletic is another club which should pay more attention to its juniors. Theso two clubs should take a lesson from Petone, who have three junior teams, and, at a pinch, could put another in the field. No Untrained Man to be Picked. Tho representative matches will be in full swing shortly. The first is against Canterbury on August 16, and jus>t a line about tho representative ten;., and a "tip" to would-be "reps." The selectors have already mot and wero unanimous in their decisioi to select only men who are attending the gymnasiums. This decision was arrived at after a report hud been obtained from the various clubs, to the effect that their most prominent players wero not attending to training as they should; so let this be a warning to those "good" players. There ia not one player in tho senior competition who is certain of his place on the- representative team lor Auckland. Tho selectors consider that an inferior player in good form is better than a good player in inferior form. Providing that our senior players attend at the "gyms." the representative team will bo hard to pick, but one thing is certain: .Wellington will have a fine team, and I am looking forward to them winning most of their matches.

"It Is Light: It is Day." Tho war cry of the last League team from New Zealand that-toured Australia was considered by tho in New South Wales to be very appropriate. Tho cry is us follows i—Etutuann Koe. Au Au. E moeana tu Kuia oto po. Eau Eau ei ei d wfttea." Translated, it mcan9; "We are moving on; we are moving on, Wo aro doing good. It is light! It is light! It is day. Over £IfOO in Pocket.. Tho profits on tho last New Zealand team to Australia wero ovor iillOO. This is considered very good, considering tho two wot days against Now South AVales.

During their 300 years' rule of Russia the Romanoffs have never been assigned a stated income, tho Tsars being always allowed to take what they like from the Imperial Treasury.,