LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Marlborough Express, Volume LX, Issue 232, 1 October 1926, Page 8

LEAGUE FOOTBALL

NEW ZEATiANDERS AT HOME. THE SCRUMMAGE TROUBLE.

[P ress Association . j

A.us. and N.Z. Gable .xssociation.

LONDON, Sept. 29. The New Zealand League Rugby team set out to overcome the serummage troubles in the match against Widnes and, obta-ined ^ possessiqn of the ball nioro oiten than their opponents. In the lat-er stages of the garne they were less elfeetive, but the Widnes baeks were too slow to use the opportunities given. Tlie New Zealanders' succeiss was due to backing up, e-very man tackled find-

ing a colleague waiti ng ior t-ne pass. Hall was a most elusive . lralf, but Davidson was most prominent, although prone to hesitaite when he got. possession of the ball. Infringenrent of the rules were frequent, but Widnes were the v/orst olienders. Hoey openecl by seoring a penalty goal and Cole a try, which Mouat converted. In rlie seoond hall Mouat and Brown secured t-ries, which Mouat again converted. Crompton secured a try in the final stage oi the ganre. There were 0000 people present. The gate money amounted to- £420'. The New Zealand team was: Gregory, Delgrosso, Davidson, Brown. Cole, Brisbane, Hall, Henry, Carroll. Horring, Mason, Wright, and Mouat.

ENGLTSH RESIDEN TI A L QUALTFICATION. PROPOSAL FOR DELETION OF THE CLAUSE, AUCKLAND, Oct. 1. The Rugby League Couneil discussed th,e clecision of the Iflnglish Rugby Union to delete from its rules the ciause debarring Rugby Union players irom overseas from playing under its auspices before they have fuifilled the residential qualifications of two years. The olrairman (Mr Stirling) saicl it was evident that in spite of statements to the contrary seyeral welllcnown All Blacks were still seeking engagements with prominent English eluOs. This year the Hull Club had applied to the New Zealand League ior its app roval of the transfer of three All Blaeks. The position was seri'ous and the matter sliould he deferred for further consideration. Mr Stirling' s suggestion was adopted, and it was decided to forwarcL a copy of the English League' s letter to all affiliatecl Leagnes. Tlie secretary of the English League wrote : "A number of our leading clubs all along have been very dissatisfied with tlie rigidity and far-reaching nature of the two years' residential qualifxcation agreement, and attempts have been macle from time to time to have it abolished. A further attempt was made at the recent annual meeting, and the couneil had to put up a big fight to frustrate -it. " The matter was fully discnssed at the conference at Llandrin Dod Wells^, and the suggestion I ain to submit to you is that the ciause relating to Rugby Union players be deleted. It is not possible to enter into all tlie arguments for and against tliis, but the prevailing impression here is that this ciause has acted rnore in the nature of the protection of Rugby Union interests than in helping Rugby League. I will be glad +r. heir "'->m you that you a, iu.w V in Grade 1 or 2 uneler the auspices tlie English Rugby Union in Ne\ Zealand' being deleted from the agr* ment.''