League Rugby:

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 669, 22 May 1929, Page 14

League Rugby:

Notes and Comment.

Next Saturday’s games: Newton v. City. Marists v. Ellerslie. Ponsonby v. Kingsland. Shore v. Richmond. Tim Peckham, the international halfback, has been definitely transferred from Ponsonby to Kingsland, and as these two sides are fixed to meet next Saturday, the elusive Tim will have the pleasure of playing against some of his old team-mates. * * * Richmond will miss the services of and Stewart in* next Saturday’s game against Shore. Bennie Davis met with a motor accident after the match last Saturday, and it was found necessary for him to be admitted to the hospital. He was soon ready to go home, however, and is now improving splendidly. Stewart sprained an ankle during Saturday’s game, and will not be ready to take the field for about a fortnight. * * * It is possible that Richmond will lose the services of one of its shining lights in Hamilton, after Saturday’s game. His firm has opened a branch in Whangarei, and it is on the cards that he may be transferred. However, ho will certainly do the code a considerable amount of good in the Northern town. * * * Including the schoolboys Richmond has nine junior clubs, and in all they have only had three defeats so far this season. Richmond also has the honour of being the only club with two senior teams. Its senior B side feature some very promising players, and while they lost their first game of this season they have won the other two, and look like doing well in the competition. l Shore Men Pleased Devonport was pleased to win over City in the big game at Carlaw Park last Saturday. No one knew better than the Shore team that City would play to the last limit in a gruelling game. The match gave League followers something to look forward to when Devonport and City meet in the second round. City, at the present time, shows no sign of losing its speed and determination. * * * It was owing to a bad attack of ’flu that the hefty Ponsonby forward, Lou Ilutt, did not take the field in the game against Richmond last Saturday. He will be o.k. for this week’s match.

Olliff Again Where the younger Dufty suffered was in the fact that the Ellerslie hal was Olliff, who is building up an excellent reputation for heady play witl each match. Against Newton Ollif; was the only Ellerslie back to play consistently throughout the game. Nevertheless, both scrum halves had a leai afernoon, as far as the results of the opportunities they gave were con-

cernecl. Both tennis seemed content to i-ely mostly on forward play. * * * Two Duftys It was a happy thought which led Newton to fall back on the services of the veteran C. Dufty in the match with | Ellerslie. Dufty did all that he was expected to, and rather more. II is kicking gave six points to Newton, and he also figured in the few back movements in the match. Dufty was *as cool as ever, and stayed off more than one surging rush by the Ellersay J , lls )ongr line-kicking, me ciowd was pleased to see him nut day 0 ” 6 °* k est Performances of the R. Dufty, the veteran’s younger brother was tried out by Newton behind the scrum. He showed that he is a good handler. Ellerslie’s Best Feature Somewhere in the second half, Newton realised that it was being -plashed every inch by Ellerslie in the forwards Several shock attacks by the Newton backs devastated the Ellerslie defence and, with Dufty’s kicking contribution,, the game was definitely clinched by the Newtonians. Had Newton kept up the slogging forward play, Ellerslie would have run the winners much closer. * * * Somers’s Hooking In only one forward department could Newton claim the advantage. I his was m scrum work, and the hooker responsible was Somers, who. Dllity ’ had been brought back to the game by Newton. Somers knows everything there is to know about scrum tactics. Somers's presence showed an immediate improvement in the uncertain forward work which has spoilt Newton’s play so far this season. The team has a good set ot backs, which must do better with ordinary chances even. * * * Kingsland Surprises When Kingsland-Athletic ran Marist +i° a "rri , 18 ‘ draw » deservedly enough, the tykes were more surprised than the crowd. Kingsland, after erratic showings in.the first few games, seems to be finding its feet. The young material in the team may mould into fi dangerous side by the end of the first round. Ivingsland’s forwards are of good calibre, and they play up to every phase of the game. Marist ratlier had the better of things in the loose, especially when Graham, the fast follower-up, came briskly downfield. • * * Clung On Marist had definitely the better of the spell through hammering away at weak points in the Kingsland defence. The defenders were reshuffled for next spell, and then Kingsland, by throwing the ball about as much as Marist, and by Longville’s neat kicking, clung on for a draw. With luck, Kingsland could have won. The great point that the new team seems to be grasping is that attack is one of the best ways of defending. This spirit took Marist unawares. * * * Teaching the Rules A small incident a few weeks ago when a referee’s ruling was queried and caused much discussion, has led the Referees’ Association to action in an endeavour to make players conversant with the various rules and bylaws of the game. The association circularised the clubs and announced that, if requested, it would send an official to any of the club’s meetings to give a full interpretation and explanation of the rules' The Ponsonby Club took advantage of the offer made by the Referees’ - Association, and its Monday evening’s meeting was attended by Referee Mr. Les Bull, who held a big audience interested for a good hour. Other clubs would do well to take advantage of this generous offer made by the association. * Xi * Give Him a Chance It is certainly. not the best of form to levy any severe criticism at selectors, for their job is usually a thankless one. But where Taylor, who was the star ot the 'Richmond side last year, is concerned they deserve any kick coming to them. Taylor * scored more points during the year than any other player in the League’s senior division, and yet he was never given a show in any of the representative matches, and there was certainly plenty of them in which it was not always necessary to field Auckland’s very best team. Taylor has not played since last season, and it seems likely that the scant consideration he receives from the selectors is the reason why. ITowevef it is on the cards that he will be out for Richmond next Saturday to give it another go. Dixon May Play Next Saturday may see Dixon, Devonport’s handy forward, on the field of action again. Dixon has not played in competition so far this season, but he has kept in training. He has been settling down to steady work for the past two weeks, and so will be ready for big matches. Saxon. another Devonport man, who has not worn the black jersey this season, is be- | ing kept occupied with secretarial * work for his club. Tie will not be called upon for regular service.