League Rugby.

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 771, 18 September 1929, Page 15

League Rugby.

Notes and Comment.

What promises to be the finest club game of the season will take place at Cariaw Park next Saturday when Marist and Ponsonby will meet in the final of the Roope Rooster competition. * * * Two Fine Sides Well can it be expected that the Ponsonby-Marist clash will feature a sort of international flavour. Both sides have played with outstanding consistency and are undoubtedly the two finest combinations taking the field today. But it is impossible to forecast any result. Connoisseurs of the game express some doubt as to the ability of the Ponies’ forwards to stand up to the opposing set and then, much depends upon the particular style of play the Tykes adopt. It is possible they will keep their characteristic open game, but are bound to pay plenty of attention to the forwards, who make up a strong pack. The Two Back Lines Apart from the forward division there is also a certain amount of doubt as to which of Marist and Ponsonby can field the better set of rearguarders. Fans know only too well of the fine calibre of both back Mnes and Saturday should see a great struggle between them. The two halfbacks, Mclntyre and Hassan, are both stars. Then at the five-eighth will b© Gregory and Delgroso, who are well capable of watching one another, while Riley and-Thompson will have their hands full in handling Brisbane and Brady. In general, both back lines appear very even. Richmond's Collapse Truly a team, of mixed fortunes, Richmond petered out unexpectedly against Ponsonby. Even its reinforcements from other codes and a general reorganisation of the side did not have effect. Ponies are excellent scrummagers, and in this department Richmond did not do as well as it could have with the forward material at its disposal. Jenkinson, the breakaway, set a bad example, for instance, by devoting himself to open play. With fast forwards and excellent backs in the Ponies, close play was, after all, the best method to adopt. This Richmond neglected to do. Jenkinson is a capable forward, and has been Richmond’s outstanding packman this season, but he certainly did not judge the best playing method In an important match. South Season Ending A slight round of club play this month will bring League football in the South Island practically to a close for the season. Canterbury will, however, send a representative side to Dunedin on September 28 to meet the Otago team. The Otago people are optimistic over a rpetition of the recent defeat of Canterbury.

| The Weak Link j The weak spot in the City back line j last Saturday was at centre, where j McLaughlin gave a very disappointing I display. His tackling was poor, while • on the attack he did nothing very sen- | sational. At the beginning ol the seaj son he proved him-

i self a good loose forward, and later when he was transferred to the rearguard line he played good footi ball. In one game |in particular he proved himself a J real star. This fine j perfomance was followed by much publicity, a thing which has ruined many good players, and since then.

McLaughlin has been on the down grade in his form, and his services at present are not worth a great deal to the City side. Sydney Team for New Zealand It is well on the cards, although not confirmed, that a side representative of the South Sydney Club, winner of this season’s competition championship in Sydney, Will visit Auckland before this season concludes. Such an event would put a fine finish to a most successful season. Off-side Marist is a team of off-siders. But somehow, with all its off-side play, it gets away with it. On Saturday there were incidents of off-side play by Marist which would actually make the blood boil. But the English Leaguers who were out here last season were past-masters of the cunning art, and since they got away with it in such fine style possibly the Tykes consider it good enough for them. At any rate, it often proves very worrying to the opposition. Champion of Champions The champion-of-champions game next Saturday week will be the crowning game of the season. Whichever way places are gained for the teams in the contest, the game should be interesting. If Ponsonby beats Marist in the Roope Rooster final, it will play Devonport, runner-up in the club championships. If Marist beats Ponsonby, it will meet Ponsonby, as club champion thirteen.^ again. Rough Play Tlio Australian Leaguers, playing against Batley in the third match of their English tour, have earned the ,

displeasure of the Press through being concerned in doubtful play. A Yorkshire newspaper even has alleged that six forwards were fighting at one stage. In addition, Ka dwell, the Kangaroos’ half, and the English half were ordered off the field.

So far, the Australians have had a comparatively easy run of success. Their next few games are: September 21, Broughton; September 28, Wakefield; October 5, first test at Hull; October 12, Keighley: October 19, Bar- ‘ row; and October 26, Hull