LEAGUE RUGBY PREMIERSHIP

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 101, 20 July 1927, Page 7

LEAGUE RUGBY PREMIERSHIP

CLUBS HAVE “OFF” DAY THIS WEEK-END

GAMES IN FULL SWING NEXT WEEK

NEXT Saturday will be an off day in the League code, the usual list of club fixtures being suspended in order to give the fourth and deciding Soccer test a clear field at Carlaw Park. The following week, club games will be resumed, and in view of the strenuous and exciting nature of the premiership competition, the “breather” will he welcomed by the players before the closing stages of the club championship are entered upon.

Off to Rotorua Making the best of the holiday allotted to them next Saturday from the Senior League competitions when the Canadian Soccer team takes the field at Carlaw Park in an international test match, the Ponsonby League Club has made arrangements for the senior thirteen to travel to Rotorua to play a senior team from that centre. Money in the Bank Ponsonby, which is one of the best constituted clubs in the Queen City, and which has a neat banking account of a few hundred pounds, is making the trip to the centre of the thermal region for social purposes, training and propaganda work for the code, which is not altogether well established in that district. * * . • Hors De Combat Marist seniors have two men on the injured list. These are Graham and Brisbane. Graham injured his thigh in the match last Saturday against Richmond, and it is not likely that he will be fit to take the field again for about a fortnight. Brisbane received an injury to his back while at work, but it is expected he will be turning out next time Marist play. His absence from the Tykes team was very noticeable last Saturday, and Kirwin appeared to miss Ills services more than anyone. ♦ ♦ ♦ Game Booming on Coast The West Coast Rugby League states that its gate receipts so far this season are nearly double those of last year, and since the opening day no fewer than seven new teams have entered its competition. The total entries easily constitute a record for the West Coast. “Speedy” Knott Marist has been fortunate in securing the services of Knott, an ex-Soc-cer player. He is quite a new addition to the team, but within a few weeks he has proved himself to be one of their fastest backs. It is difficult to recognise him as the Knott of old, who once played the round-ball game and who at the beginning of this year played second grade Rugby.

Parkes Goes to Christchurch The “brains” of the Richmond team have gone to another centre. J. Parkes, the well-known centre-three-quarter, who has for some time been

in the Richmond team, has gone to Christchurch, and will in all probability be playing for the Hornby Club next Saturday. Jimmy played for that club two seasons »ago, and on coming to Auckland joined up with Richmond. Last season the Auckland team lost his ser-

vices for some time when he was included in the League “All Black” team to tour England, but now it appears they are to lose him altogether.

He’s Going, Too! “Tabs” Cross?, who Is one of the best known Leaguers? in Auckland, says that he feels that he would like to get into action again, and he will be going to Rotorua with the team. To Fill the Vacancy Devon, a nippy wing threequarter, who turned out for Richmond last season, has been having a spell, and so far this year has not been seen on the playing area. However now that Jimmy Parkes has left the team, it is likely that he will be turning out to fill the vacancy. * * .-5s A Popular Trip Richmond senior team is going to make a trip to Rotorua as soon as it gets a bye. The Richmond lads say that you cannot beat the township of hot pools for a good outing. Providing that a ground can be obtained, the Richmond team will in all probability be seen in a practice match with Point Chevailer next Saturday. Good Work Among Juniors Billy Walsh, club captain for the “Ponies,” half-back, New eZaland and Auckland rep., is going to make the trip with the Ponsonby Club next Saturday. There is no doubt that Billy must be a real sport, for he spends his time training juniors in the country, and so misses all the big games in the city. There are chances that he will be playing at Rotorua, and if he does, it will pay some of the younger players to keep their eye on him and learn some of the old tricks of the game. Will be Welcomed Sam Lowry, who received injuries to his jaw some weeks ago, has started work again, and it is expected that he will be fit to play for Ponsonby when it meets Marist. If the Tykes are to meet their Waterloo this season, it is more likely to be against Ponsonby than anyone else at present. N.S.W. Skipper Alf Blair, captain of the New South Wales League team, experienced a great week-end recently—a big testimonial social on the Friday, and the leading State victory on the" Saturday. A thousand club followers did him honour at the social, and he was presented with a gold watch and a wallet of notes, which will probably build up to £IOO. • * • Big Crowds Carlaw Park crowds are certainly large compared with those of any other codes, but when we find that over lIQ'OOO people saw the inter-State game at Sydney recently, it makes us think. The code still has a large following on the other side of the Tasman, rumours to the contrary notwithstanding.