LEAGUE & LEAGUERS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1818, 2 August 1913, Page 12

LEAGUE & LEAGUERS.

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JIBES AT THE GAME ANSWERED. The University Jibe.' • ' ' League football has now a firm hold _in Wellington, and it has that hold despite the untrno statements of the manager of the University team which recently toured Australia. This generous sportsman is alleged to have stated that there were only 80 League players in Wellington, and tho majority of those were "disqualified anil, dissatisfied Union players." With regard to the first statement, it seems not out of place to mention that t'heTO are over CO players in one club alone, and, moreover, the membership of that club is increasing every day. Tho club which I refer to is Petone. With regard to "disqualified' players," we do have one player who was disqualified for "ruffing" while playing under Union rules, but it was admitted by most people (and his.own club in particular) that his disqualification was not justified. Unfortunately tho player whom I refer to ivas at the time being closely "watched" by ono or two referees.. The other disqualified. players whom i'ho University man wots of were probably disqualified by Union for playing this "terrible professional game."

Mentioning of the word "professional" reminds me tlmt the Rugby "Union still underpay their players. Fancy the same old three shillings per day for the Californiian tour.

Dissatisfied? Of course we are? However, to proceed to our friend's statements. He further asserted that another section of tho League players were "dissatisfied Union players." This is about the only truthful thing which ho did say about Leaguers. Tho majority of our recruits were, indeed, dissatisfied —dissatisfied with the way in which Union foot--Iba 11 is managed, and also dissatisfied with the game itself. And it may truthfully be added that the general public are dissatisfied too.. As soon as the League obtains central grounds—and that will be next season—then the Union may have to look ;to itself.

Tho union men are fond of stating that-they are-not afraid of the League. If that is so, why do they take every opportunity of making such mis-state-ments as those reviewed above? Mr. Braddon's Jibo, Another old Rugby man—Braddon— also had a good deal to say at the reception in Sydney to the University team. This old Rugby man—and he must bo fairly old, as he represented New Zealand in the 'eighties—stated that, if the last New Zealand League team were the best that the Dominion could produce, he reckoned that the '81 team "could _ eat them." Well, you can never get the idea out of the heads of these old enthusiasts that the players of the dim by-rone could be beaten by anybody. You near them say tho same thing when watching a Union game.. Where (says tho typical ancient) aro players like-"Tom" Ellison, "Hughie" Good, tho Baileys, otc. ? One listens to them without being impressed. And possibly, too—very possibly—Mr. Braddon did not see the League game New South Wales v. New _ Zealand, or else lie might have been minded to say: "No, there aro no burly players like the Goods, Ellison, and Co. in this match, but—my goodness!—the passing and sidestepping, tackling and running of these League men would have bewildered these old-time heroes."

City Play—Meritorious Form. On Saturday last Newtown demonstrated that their victories in the M'Guire Cup competitions were full of merit, by severely defeating Petone. This match was the semi-final in the knock-out round, and by their win Newtown qualify for tho final, in which they will meet the strong Athletic, team.

The game was a really fine exhibition of League play. The Newtown rearguard is strong. In M'Guire they have probably the best fnll-back in the competition; his tackling.,is. very sure, while his taking of the ball and judicious kicking and running, were all that could bo desired. The threo-(iuarters aro fast and clever. Pooler on the wing showed a lot of dash, hs ditt Collins on the other wing. Strickland played splendidly, and proved himself -the.'best scoring three-quarter in the competition. Strickland has been playing in the oentre, but his proper placa is on tho wing. Harry Marshall is fast picking up tho fine points of the now game, and promises to develop into a brilliant exponent of it. Built as he is on solid lines, ho takes a lot of stopping. He kicks a little too much, but will soon overcome that fault. Murdoch is not playing so well as ho did, but is fairly reliable. Russell, the back, will eventually make a good half-back, but he still has a lot to learn. Ho runs too much across the field, and is inclined-to. shirk the solid work. George seems to have taken n, new leaso of lfe, and isan object-lesson to some of the younger brigade. Although on tho small side, he goes down to anything and everything. His tackling is a treat to watch, and ho fooled the Petom> players on two or three occasions with "dummy" passes. ... _ The Newtown forwards wo solid. 1 he veteran "Jack" Spencer is ploying us well as lie over played and leads tho forwards in every rush. King plays well while his "breath" lasts, hut, unfortunately, that is not long. Les Campbell kicks hard and follows up—but that is not altogether a good point under Leaguo rules. Sullivan is a very fine forward, and should be found helping to lip-end his brother "Con" when he plays for New South Wales in September. The other forwards all work hard. Petone's Rearguard, Tho Petone team is disappointing. They have the players, but they arc badly placed. On Saturday Petone got the ball from the scrum as often as the opposition, but it never struggled out past Whitley—ho fumbled repeatedly—and, being skipper, lie .should have shifted himself out to wiug. As a live-eighth he is not up to tho mark, but, as n wing man, he would' be-brilliant-he has pace and a beautiful swerve. In his present position ;when ho does happen to take the ball cleanly, he swerves right away from his supports, and usually finds himself stranded with no one near hirii. If he were on the wing, that same swerve would land him stranded over the goal-line. Fmloyson had to bo in the fashion and get vaccinated. He Imagined that his arm was very sore, and that ho could not play, but during the first spell the pain suddenly left him and lie l°°k his usual place at full-back in the second spell. His exhibition, however, was not up to his usual standard, this being due, no doubt, to tho fact thitt his boots were minus buttons. His fielding -ind running were fair, but his tackling bad. Ho let Strickland score I wo tries, and made no attempt to stop him. Saturday's form will have tn l>e improved on if he is going tu get into the representative team Miller

played his usual game. He kicked less than in previous matches, but should show improvement after New South Wales experience. Probestel is not playing very well. He is inclined to pass too soon. He passed at times when ho was five yards from his opponent. Roy ivill have to "hurry up" if he wishes to get in the learn to play Canterbury. Johnson is a junior player, and played on the wing. His showing for a junior was very good, nnd although a bit on the light sido ho made some good runs, but was rather weak in taking the ball. Albert House is improving with every game. He was probably the test back 011 the ground. The Petone selectors should always play him .first five-eighth. Berber, as scrum-half, played a brilliant game, and without dpiibt is the best half in Wellington at present.

The Petona Van. The Petone forwards are only fair. Their Iwst is Childs, but Parker played well while condition lasted. Guthrie is somewhat on the slow sido—want of training. .Fraser could do with a spell. Davis is young and very promising, and is the making of a top-notcher. Ash ton would bo one of tho very beat if lie trained, but lie doesn't, and consequently 110 is a "passenger" some of the time. He waits for openings, and, with a strict referee, would give a lot of frcc-kicks for wing-forward play. Drop the old Kngby tactics! Get into the scrum-Hf you intend to do any good at tho League game! Representative Arrangements, To-day a trial match will take plac9 in order to select the representative team to play against Canterbury on tho following Saturday, August IG. The representative team to play Auckland for the Northern Union Cup at Auckland 011 August 23 will bo selected after the Canterbury-Wel-lington match. Tho team will leave on Thursday, August 21, and returns by the mail train leaving' Auckland on Sunday night. Rugby Following the League, The advance of the League game in Christchurcli is viewed with some alarm by Rugby Union critics. A "Canterbury Tinles" writer recognises this, and writes: "That tho League game will deal a deadly blow at the popularity of liugby permits of no argument, and if Humour is not the lying jade that her reputation warrants, somo of tho • Hugby authorities are at length fully alive to the danger. It is whispered that a South Island union has taken the preliminary steps in the direction of altering the union rules, the idea being to secure tho co-operation of those unions which approve of the change, and form a new body if the Now Zealand Union declines to countenance the change. It is understood ' that the alteration will bo along the lines of removing some of the slowing influence of the older code; in fact, the rumoured intention is to adopt in a. modified form some of tho Leigue rules as far as they affect the play.