League Rughby.

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 439, 22 August 1928, Page 11

League Rughby.

Notes rniui Comment.

’ Next Saturday’s Games ; Ponsonby v. Devonport. Ellerslie v. Richmond. City v. Marists. Newton, a> bye. * * * ' Unless something unexpected 1 arises, next Saturday week will see the end of the senior competition , games. Roope Rooster and other spel cial fixtures will then be staged as a wash-up to a bumper season. * * * “We lost the fight” (telegram dispatched by Gig. Wetherill, the New Zealand captain, to his wife after the second test at Dunedin)* * * * The Ponsonby-Devonport fixture looks the most suitable for the feature match next Saturday. Ponsonby will again be handicapped a deal by three of its crack players being at Christchurch, while Shore with only Den Scott out of its ranks are certainly not so badly hit. The third test, New Zealand v. England, will be played at Christchurch next Saturday. It is to be hoped that reports received in Auckland will not be quite so unnecessarily harsh as they were after the last test. Syd Usher injured his knee again last Saturday and was carried off the field. Owing to a similar injury a few years ago the well-known enthusiast of the code to-day, Bill Davidson had to give the game best, and it is just a toss up whether Usher will be fit to play again this season. * * * After Usher left the field on Saturday Ponsonby had to carry on with 12 men. * * * Payne, the Ponsonby forward, who must have gone close to inclusion in the New Zealand team to meet the Englishmen, skippered the Ponies on Saturday and played a good, solid game. * * * Hefty Gardiner put much more dash into his play on Saturday than usual, with the result he ran up the majority of points for his side. If he had ; done the same all this season he would in all probability be in Christchurch now. in training for the third and final test. Wei! Played The Ponsonby Club confidently believes that it has another budding five-eighth in sight, by the name of Riley. However, the little champion is being carefully “nursed,” and it is not intended that he should make his debut in big football until round about 1945. Congratulations. “Spot.” * * * Touch Me Not Just what little game the opposing wings. Letton and Taylor, were playing at in the big match on Saturday is hard to define. It appeared- as though it was some merry little game associated very closely with “tig.” Both smiling pleasantly (great joke, a game that has bearing on the championship). they tackled one another in. a nice tra-la fashion. It is certainly very decent to have such good feeling and friendliness between two opposing players, but these two were not doing their drill with that vim and dash that make football worth while. land Football Association'to referee the Brown Shield match between South Auckland and North Auckland at Hamilton on Saturday. The following players will represent South. Auckland: Goal, D. Hunter (Hamilton Wanderers); backs, J. McKinstry (Waihou), T. Dodds (Pukemiro Junction): halfbacks. A. E. Gardiner (Claudelands Rovers), W. Moon, V, . Kennedy (Wanderers): forwards’ A. Black. R. Bate (Pukemiro Junction), A. Moon (Wanderers), R. Dodds, P. Hunter (Pukemiro Junction). Reserves: W. English (Claudelands Rovers), A. Bryan ("Wanderers). G. Dea«?or (Rovers'). Is 4d All Wool Sox; Cashmere, Is lid —At Bert Marshall’s.

To-day the English Leaguers are playing at Invercargill in an exhibition game. An Unfortunate Incident Some doubt has arisen over Gardiner’s last score on Saturday, which made the game against Richmond a draw. The Richmond side of the argument runs like this: Gardiner knocked the ball on, and the referee evidently thought that Richmond would get the advantage, and so when he saw that it was Ponsonby that was benefiting he whistled, but instead of ordering a scrum, awarded them a try. Thus the game ended in a draw, and with that Richmond loses its last chance of challenging North Shore for the championship. * * * Something May Be Done There is only one thing that can alter the position now. If the referee, in his report to the Referees’ Association Monday evening, admitted making a mistake, and that body passes his report on to the Auckland Rugby League this evening, the game might be awarded to Richmond. It has been known to happen before, and there is a very slender chance that it may happen again. Although Ponsonby would no doubt protest, such a decision has the appearances of being a happy way out of the difficulty. Richmond v. Ellerslie Next Saturday Richmond meets Ellerslie, a team which has earn'ed a reputation as an upsetter of the best of well-regulated sides since it joined the senior A grade. However, the maroons hope to have the services of George Stewart and Hanlon, who were kept out of the Ponsonby match by injuries and illness respectively. Davis, too, who turned out despite a severe cold on Saturday, 'should be in better form for the match. * * * A Coming Man The performances of Barehard, the City fullback this season mark him as a coming man- With a good boot, and not afraid to tackle good and hard, he catches the eye with his sterling performances week after week. City owes a deal to this colt, who last season was playing third grade Rugby. * * * Newton’s Sorry Showing The 13 players who wore red and white jerseys last Saturday, gave a sorry exhibition of the code for a club which is without a doubt one of the finest club sides in the Dominion. The absence of such men as Dufty, Somers. Hardgrave and Hall told its tale. Next Saturday, fortunately for Newton, the side has a bye, and the week after the New Zealand representatives will be back in the fold. * * * A Correction.—Richmond had nowhere near its full side when it met Ponsonby last Saturday. It was just as badly handicapped with prominent men away as the Ponies. a * * * Huntly journeyed to Ngaruawahia and had its work cut out to land a win' by 11 points to 8. Mr. W. Perry refereed. The game was not exactly a brilliant display of the code, and was at times a trifle rough. Williams scored both tries for the loser, one being converted by Hall. For Huntly. the sconers were Whorskey nnd Grooby O). and one converted by Whorskey. The pick of the winner’s rearguard were Whorskey, Jones, and Huia. and in front Stephenson and Raynor. with Trout vetter, were reliable. For the loser, Tittleton, Hall, and Williams, backs, Menzies and Daley, forwards, were the best. * * *