League Rugby

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 705, 3 July 1929, Page 13

League Rugby

He*t Saturday’s Games— Newton v. Ellerslie. Marists v. KingsJand. Ponsonby v. R.chmond. City v. Devonport. Shore Again \fter providing a series of enter- . mipK games on the main area at Park the Ponsonby Leaguers. ' .«ting Richmond next Saturday, are m VUkely to be witnessed in the feano* clash. It looks as though it is lore’s turn to thrill the crowds again its match with City appears the -°. st promising. And, however fine a i] o the seasiders have proved themilves the much improved City thirf not to be taken cheaply. City’s v ftv packmen can be trusted to hold Iheir own while the fielding of a back : inft which has shown marked irnnrtjvement in recent games has added UJuch to its chances of fully extending Shore. . . • Saturday’s Surprise Touching on last week's games, undoubtedly the sensation of the day was Sje decisive defeat of Richmond by rjty, which, of course, in spite of the lack of form shown by Richmond in recent games, is plain evidence of the* General improvement in the City ranks. The Marists- Ponsonby game was a <*eat struggle from beginning to end and had it not been for Riley with all his football brilliance. Ponsonby would no doubt have suffered a severe upending. Then again, had Delgrosso been on the field with all his ability and fine generalship, the final score may have been well in favour of the ponies. * a * Excused, Not Blamed The weak spot In the Ponsonby thirteen on Saturday was at centre, which was filled by Meehan, but Pat Meehan is to be in every way excused and not blamed for his display. It was his first appearance on the field this season, for he has been on the sick list and was far from being ready to nky. If any tiling, he is to be commended for his pluck in filling a gap.

Pooular Lou Hutt It's only natural at the present time that Lou Hutt’s thoughts are not 100 per cent, toward Ponsonby. About

to venture on an Important step in leaving for fresh fields. he has many tilings to occupv his mind and yet, when his club looked as though it would face a shortage ol players on Saturday he donned the Jersey and took the field, taking the risk of injury which would

alone, be sufficient to ruin his chances of being signed up In England. But Lou Hutt is all the way a man and one of the most popular members of the Ponsonby Club. At a meeting of the Ponsonby Club on Monday evening there was an attendance of over 60 members and undoubtedly one of the most pleasing moments of all was when young Casc-y stepped forward on behalf of his team, third grade B, to make Lou a presentation of a magnificent set of hairbrushes. Although the club is not allowing Lou to depart without a presentation. this team took it ou themselves to make one, and thus indicated to a marked degree the high esteem in which Lou is held by even the junior members of the club.

Ponsonby's Sick List Delgrosso cut an artery in his hand and consequently was unable to take the field on Saturday, but according to his exciting antics on the sideline, it was, in a sense, about the hardest game he ever played. * * * Thompson, of Ponsonby, suffered a badly bruised rib and is now on the insurance. He will not be ready to play again for about a fortnight. It is not Ukely that Kimberly, the Ponies loose forward, will be seen in action again this season. Some time ago he broke a leg and in recent games ne ha& been suffering as a result of tnis old injury.

Rep. Games As far as can be gathered at the Presen; time Auckland fans will be favoured with at least four representative fixtures this season. These include three Northern Union Cup games and the inter-Island match. North v. South. Excluding Auckland, the holders of the Northern Union Cup, the other three teams interested will be South Auckland, Canterbury and the Northland League. « « * The Northland League, which was °°iy recently formed, is taking the Matter of playing Auckland seriously, "ith the good material it has to choose from it should certainly extend •he much weakened Auckland side. •|' ort bl a nd is endeavouring to secure the services of some reputed Auckland £oa.ch to take charge of the team a •°rtnight before the game. * * * .But the team which appears to have Pte brighest chances of clinching the •Northern Union Cup from Auckland is **>uth Auckland. It has always good Material in its representative side and * a ct that South Auckland has Produced some of the finest Leaguers in Dominion is not to be overlooked, quartet in Lou Brown, Lou “ utt * Mason and Wilson Hall has been .rodsced from the South of Auckland. * * * Sot a great deal is known yet con---niing the proposed Canterbury side, ♦w? k keen to meet Auckland for but Auckland does not feel disposed to oblige the Southern League by veiling South this season. • * =» <n£l re t inl WHI-o’-the-Wisp and 4 4 ‘.,' c bange artist. Code followers irini not b* at all astounded if Hercv * Waa lodged in yet another team Saturday. As has been noted, •ij.-, 8 Jumped from League to Rugby i, . ®ees©n, back again to League and •>» with Newton. But, after all, *ini ° s * Phasing point is that HereJuJ iback. played a really good * or his latest team. Influence impressing in Kingsof * s the obvious influence 4 u-Jf’ tk© international centre. List ;a tha°? bte<!ly the dominating figure ‘tceiio.,* 6 * 113 an d invariably plays an game Not all centres have b-uij (I j_J nac k of seizing chances and on them. ’p'***" to Falwasser Albert Falwasser, the Rugby in* V nt ative of three provinces and %en ,* 0n Player, was given a fare--s*t ' by his Auckland friends ng prior to his departure to ai?ue with Hardgrave. Hutt social, which was ar■ioQ Akarana Maori Associao? A jvhich Falwasser has been one Keen young members, was at

Notes and Comment .

a Al , b ? e is ta king the best wishes of Aucklanders with him. and it is recognised that the loss to fttotball in New Zealand of such a brilliant back is considerable. One of the leading members of the Maori Association, incidentally, is Mr. James Rukutai, whoso prowess formerly on the League field in Auckland was well known. Mr. Rukutai was a Nv\v' Zealand representative and toured Australia. He made an impression across the Tasman. * * * Falwasser’s departure from the Manukau Union side recalls two other League captures from that team already. Besides Watene, the tall City back, Ferguson, a forward, has just changed over. He played his first game last in New'ton’s ranks. Kingslanders Do Well If such a thing were possible, Kingsland started tlie season with overabundancy of youth. Truth was that the team had such a lot of untried material. Glimpses of improving combination came near the end of the first round. Then Kingsland gave Devonport something to think about and followed this by beating Newton. Kingsland was certainly the better side on the day, although it must be conceded that Newton had a severe blow in the sudden loss of Hardgrave and Hall.