League Rugby

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 965, 7 May 1930, Page 13

League Rugby

-7X Notes and Comment.

Next Saturday’s Matches Tho Auckland Rugby Football League's senior grade fixtures for Saturday next are:— City v. Ponsonby. Devonport v. Richmond, Marist v. Ellersiie. Kingsland v. Newton. What Will Be Main Match? Two of these games have already been set down for grounds outside Carlaw Park, according to the A.lt.L.’s official organ. Kingsland will play Newton on the Domain, and Marist will engage vEllerslie at Ellersiie. Of the other two, it is probable that the City-Ponsonby clash will be starred at headquarters, witli the DevonportRichmond game providing the fare, on No. 2 area. ♦ * * High Standard Maintained The high standard set on opening day was maintained on Saturday, and experienced judges of the game state that the standard of football this year has been higher than that shown during- the corresponding period last sea-

son. Marist has got together what, on paper, must be one of the strongest club teams in New Zealand at the present time, and last year’s Roopc Rooster and champion of champions winners promise to have a big say in the resting place of the championship. Clarke,

the ex-New Zealand representative forward who played for Newton a couple of seasons ago. donned the Marist Colours again and played well up to past form. * * & Three Young Bloods Ponsonby this season has recruited three young bloods in Angelo, Mc.Deay and Goodwin, who so far have created a good impression. Last year McLeay was a junior Ponsonby Rugby Union player, and his bustling for- 1 ward tactics have been of much service to the Ponies in the two matches played to date this season. Goodwin last season was playing for Point Chevalier, and he also,is a big acquisition. Another promising newcomer to Ponsonby’s ranks is Heck Lunn, previously a junior grader who played his third senior match on Saturdaj'. Richmond Newcomers Although Richmond has met two defeats this season the team as a whole has fulfilled expectations. Lee as fullback has done everything that has been asked of him, and he only lacks experience to become a top-notcher. He comes from the Ponsonby Rugby Union club. Although he did not piay last Saturday owing to being off colour, J. Hintz is a forward who showed up well in the first match. He comes from Pukekohe, where he played the Union code.

New Zealand Team Leaves on June 27 Now that the tour of a New Zealand Rugby League team to Australia this season is definite, and the programmp of matches submitted by Australia to the New Zealand League adopted, interest in the game throughout New Zealand will quicken as the time arrives for the selection of the New Zealand team. The . side will sail from Auckland for Sydney on Frida}', June 27. Meanwhile, the council has invited the various leagues in New Zealand . to submit nominations for the position of manager of the team. North Island Selector Mr. E. K. a member of the Auckland Rugby League’s selection

committee last season has been appointed North Island selector by the council of the New Zealand Rugby League. The South Island team will be chosen by a selection committee. The North v. South Island match will be played at Auckland. * *

Nelson Bass, former New Zealand representative, who has not been playing for some time, has been training with City this season. It is quite on the cards that he will turn out for the red-and-blacks in the near future. * * * The Championship Table With two matches completed, three teams, Ponsonby, Marist and Devouport are as yet undefeated, and City has had one loss and a. draw. Following is the championship table: P. W. L. D. Pts. Ponsonby .... 22 0 0 4 Marist .. .... 22 0 0 4 Devonport .... 22 0 0 4 City 2 1 0 1 3 Ellersiie .... 2 0 1 1 1 Richmond .... 2 0 2 0 0 Kingsland .... 2 0 2 0 0 Newton .... 2 0 2 0 0 Bad Scrum Work In at least two of the games on Saturday last x the scrum work was more than usually atrocious. This was particularly so in the main match between Marist and Richmond and frequent delays exasperated the crowd. It is not always easy for the referee to detect the offenders, but when he can, firm action should be taken. This is the only way to compel forwards to play up to the spirit of the game, and would soon bring about an improvement where there has been a marked degeneration in recent years. To see scrum after scrum pass without the ball ever getting nearly in, makes a mockery of the whole business. It is up to the to act firmly. Two challenges are already in for the Northern Union Challenge Cup at present held by Auckland. They are from the South Auckland and Northland Leagues, and matches will be arranged by the New Zealand Council after consultation with the Auckland League. * * * A Question of Gates They© was an abnormally large attendance at the match between Ponsonby and Ellersiie at the Domain on Saturday estimated by some to reach 2,000. Last year, for a time the A.R.L. adopted the policy of playing all senior matches at Carlaw Park, with a view to concentrating the attendance’ of League fans there. For one reason and another this was not found satisfactory, and this year matches are being played on outside grounds. There is a strong case for teams like Ellersiie and Devonport being allowed to play on their own grounds occasionally, but why the League plays matches at the Domain, where they act as a minor counter-attraction to the Carlaw Park programme, is harder to understand.

» * * Tho Junior Viewpoint When all senior games are played at headquarters there is no room for junior grade curtain-raisers there. The junior players look forward to playing before the crowa sometimes* and

a marvellous effect this has on their turn-out and play, too. It is right that the junior grades should be considered to a certain extent, for it is from their ranks that senior players ultimately come. It seeing, however, that from the financial viewpoint—which is an important consideration this season—the A.R.L. might well consider not playing senior matches on the Domain. The City Club's practice last week was well attended. 20 out of 22 senior players attending. The club has a wealth of A team material. Although he has given no indication yet as to whether he will play

again this season, it is quite within the bounds of possibility that McIntyre, the great little halfback who played for Ponsonby last season, will be seen in action later this season. This possibility will no

doubt be increased if any of the Ponsonby men are fortunate enough to get a trip to Australia. “Shorty” joined tho ranks of the benedicts a short timo ago. League Administrator Retires When the first meeting of the newlyelected council of the New Zealand Rugby Football League was held last week the resignation from the council of Mr. D. W. McLean was received. Mi*. McLean might be called the “father” of tho thirteen-aside code in New Zealand. He was first chairman of the Management Committee, of the A.R.L. and first president of tho New Zealand Council, and it was largely a result of the organising tour he made

through the Dominion in 1912 that the League game was established in Southern centres. Regret was expressed at Mr. McLean’s retirement and eulogistic tributes paid to his services to the code. Mr. McLean stated that he was retiring owing to his health. He has been connected with the administrative side of the game since its beginning. and before that was a prominent Rugby Union official. Mr. McLean comes from Dunedin, where he played Rugby for the Pacific Club. • * * Hefty Forwards Needed At the present time it cannot be said that the League game is as strong forward as it has been in past seasons, and one thing the

New Zealand team in Australia will require will be a solid pack of forwards. It is pleasing, therefore, to see Jim O’Brien on deck again, and if he hits top form he - can hardly be left out of the team, even although it would be a good policy for the selectors to place their

faith in younger men. rather than the veterans, for the back division. As an All Black in two codes, Jim has had plenty of experience of Australian conditions. First Round Draw Following is the remainder of the A.R.L.’s senior A grade first round draw: Saturday, May 17 — Ellerslie v. Devonport. City v. Marist Old Boys. Ponsonby v. Newton. Kingsland v. Richmond. Saturday, May 24 Ellerslie v. Kingsland. City v. Devonport. Ponsonby v. Marist Old Boys. Richmond v. Newton. Saturday, May- 31 — Ellerslie v. Richmond. City v. Kingsland. Ponsonby v. Devonport. Marist Old Boys v. Newton. Saturday, June 7 Ellerslie v. Newton. City v. Richmond. Ponsonby v. Kingsland. Marist Old Boys v. Devonport.