NORTHERN UNION.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 178, 29 July 1919, Page 8

NORTHERN UNION.

Tlic first series of the Roope Rooster games had resulte that were rather unforeseen. If that crowd of irresponsible Ponsonby barrackers had not surged upon the-playing field ,'■ and "brought the game between their favourites and Newton to an untimely end —it .was called off with only five minutes to go—it is at least reasonable to euppose that Newton had a big chance of defeating the champions. But that is often the way with the Ponsonby crowds at the League games. They are alwaye out to win, and they seem to have a mighty strong interest in the winning by the home team, too. However, this match will probably have to" be re-played. Maritime caught City, and that puts the red-and J blacks out of the running for the rooster. But, on the whole, this game was not altogether up to the average of League matches. It was not co spectacular ac one might ' have thought, but it was hard and- fast enough. Many fane will be pleased with the result of the Marist-North Shore game, because, -whatever their failings as a team, the Marist Old Boys have been good and clean eporte right through the piece, playing day after day with almost a certainty of defeat. Now their team has evidently gained a good deal more strength. So the net result of the -Rooster confpetition to date is: Newton and Poneonby will re-play; City and North Shore are out. That leaves the victors of the re-played game and Marist and Maritime. MARITIME V. CITY. ; The City-Maritime meeting wae a great contest, but the men from the waterfront had all the best of the conditions during the first spell, yet failed to do anything more than make honours even, and on the other hand City let their supporters down, so far as results were concerned, during the second half of this swift and fairly open game. Certainly, bo far as the conditions went, (Maritime had a little the best of it. A notable feature of the game was the work of the Maritime backs. They were a long way from being perfect, but they showed, probably for the first time this season, the beginnings of a combination that, if it increasest should make them a difficult team to beat. City backs did well by splashes, and their team-work fell a long way short. All the decent red movements were carried out by parties of two, and three, and four. Robinson played almost a brilliant game ac the Maritime full, but the best of tho bunch was undoubtedly Lang, with H. Avery at the head of the pack, and well backed by Cargill. One of the greatest Maritime weaknesses seems to be in their kicking. They do far too much of it, and do it too hard. That cuts results away from many of their most vigorous attacks. As a team, too, they are rather slow to take advantage of splendid scoring opportunities they often make. That plays havoc with their results, too. On the City side, Adlam, at full, was a long way behind form. He wae very bad indeed, and only a few of the backs were any better. Paki well, and so did Postlewaight, and Mitchell at half. The-latter was at times brilliant. Clarke did nothing much. The forwards are a good lot as a rule, 'iut they let 'Maritime get the beet of them for the first three parte of the game. Francis and Thomae, and Wynn, and Haddon. and Reed, and Thiggan —there's not much between them after all, aw* they make a fine pack. But they werfc -•tsjht off on Saturday. MARIST OLD BOYS V. SHORE. Marist Old Boys secured their first win of the season against Shore in "Roope Rooster" contest at the Domain on Saturday. The Mues made the pacg

willing from the jump, end apart from | a few dashes into their territory held the advantage "throughout, their individual and combined play 'being superior io their opponents'. The 'backs in particular snowed up well, and were ever a source of annoyance to their opponents. ' Shore gave a feeble display. There was neither dash nor combination in their movements. This left the nippy blue vanguard—for they truly were on the day'g play—in a position to repeatedly break through the opposing ranks and run up a tally of seventeen points to their opponents' three. A fine penalty iby Robertson opened tie scoring eiheet, giving the blues their first points. They continued to add more points until 12 •was reached, and then Shore made an effort which realised three, their only score, for until the call of time the only other points ecored were by Marists, which 'left their final total as aforemen- j tioned. Hing was again the bright star of tlie party, and made some splendid openings which invariably left the blacks at a < standstill. He played with sound judgment, reverting to sound tactics, and 1 always getting rid of the ball. He was . ably supported by the Robertson broth- ; ers, two prominent players who recently came over from the ranks of " Soccer." . Robinson, in his position of wing three- i quarter, was also at home, and put in! : some splendid runs. Undoubtedly his j position is on the wing. Amongst the j forwards Glynn, Morton and Mitchell \ j were the most conspicuous in tfhe lhard j I play. Amongst Shore's ranks Roberts, ■ jut full, Rundle, Pullen and Bailey stood j out. THE PONSONBY-NEWTON GAME. The unfortunate ending of the game !■ between Ponsonby United and Newton Rangers calls for first comment in a re- j view of this highly exhilarating test. ' That the action of the spectators should 'have prevented the fighting out of this I close and interesting tussle is regret- i table, but the incident is fraught with j greater significant by reason of the i fact that it is by no means the first time I that a Northern Union game 'has passed J out of the control of the Teferee aud ■ League officials into the dictation of the crowd.' It is" something akin to j the fruitless task of flogging a dead 'horse to again point out that in few., places where British sport holds sway ■ is it necessary to take excessive precautions against the unsportsmanship of a crowd; yet it seems to be" the function of the football fan in Auckland to claim to himself a veto over the decision of the referee, and to arrogate the right to determine whether or not the game shall proceed. It may be aTgued that the lack Of fencing and. the insufficiency of policing are responsible for the mischief, but surely .we have not reached the stage when every match, principal or subsidiary, shall be guarded by wire entanglements and hedged by a cordon of official or unofficial police because the people who prefer to look on are not seized of the elementary principles of fair play . and sportsmanship. It may foe desirable that every game that "is likely to attract a large assembly of spectators should be fenced in and policed; it may be equally desirable that the 'League should possess a model ground of its own on which the games could be given equal prominence and adequate safeguards'; but while these th.ing 3 are" beyond the range of practicability, and the ■League • is endeavouring to provide, the eporting community with the best facilities and most attractive programme that limited resources permit, there, is plainly an onus upon every supporter of the: ( game to prove 'his loyalty and appreciation by constituting himself a rigid subscriber to faiT conduct and fair comment. THE REFEREEING. From what I saw and subsequently learned of Mr. Murray's rulings on Saturday, there was absolutely nothing in jliis decisions to provoke—much -less to justify—the declamations of the youthful gentry who amiably vociferated incitements to "scrag the referee." My only criticism is that Mr. Murray exhibited so much patience and forbearance 'before he at last came to the decision to declare the match off. And in this connection it should be recorded to ■the credit of players of iboth sides, that many of •them actively co-operated with the League officials in their endeavours to dear the playing field. Mr. Murray raised the ire of the spectators in the first instance by overruling r the signal of the linesman for a goal after tiie Ponsonby try just before the interval. In this case Mr. Murray states that the linesman was apparently not quite sure, while he himself was bo placed that he was absolutely certain that the ball went a couple of yards on the outside of the post. In the second instance,'which occurred just before the game was ■brought to a close. McGregor, the Ponr eonby threequarter, crossed the line for a try, but the Ponsonby line umpire Bignalled that the player had overstepped the side line, and the referee upheld Ms ruling. However, the matter of the correctness or otherwise of a. referee's decisions is quite beside the question, as there is in existence a tribunal for determining the competency and judgment of those who take on the thankless task of refereeing. In any case, Mr. Murray has 'been at the service of the League for co many years that his knowledge of the game and his singularly quick perception must ibe recognised and appreciated iby all who have 'witnessed .the growth of League football in. Auckland and the unmistakable improvement of the standard - of refereeing. We have come to a pretty pass in our standards of sportsmanship if we are not prepared to exhibit loyalty to the gentlemen who essay the onerous task of arbiter in the games arranged for the public pleasure and for the fostering of virile and manly sport. THE DO OR DIE SPIRIT. Those who witnessed the game must have been impressed by the spirit of determination with which it was waged by both sides. Many of the games in •which Ponsonby have figured this season have been marked by showier demonstrations of the passing art, but few senior matches have been fought out with .such willingness, coupled with keen, clean sportsmanship. The tackling was grim and hard, but there was no indication of undue roughness, and a splendidly-fought match, which might: have gone to ejther side—for Ponsonby were pressing ' with a vigour which eeemed to make a score inevitable when the interruption occurred—ended, incomplete, with Newton leading 'by ten points against eight.- The forwards had a big say in the game, and there was plenty of solid, gruelling work for them throughout. The backs played at a tremendous, pace, and the contest between the two halves was particularly I am inclined to think that behind the scrum Neal got the ball away a little slicker, but in the open Keenan achieved some wonderful individual feats which marked him ac rendering the greater service of the two on the day's play. FROM THE SIDE LINE. " Cosmopolitan " writes, inter alia, the following opinions on the Ponsonby. Newto» contretemps: The remarks of

your football reporter on tlie disgraceful proceed ings at the Domain last Saturday are quite all right ac far as they go, but I tnink the League Executive should shoulder their share of the blame. Surely the importance of the Newton-tPonsonby "match justified it being played on No. 1 ground, as a. curtain raiser. With both teams playing a fast, open game, it was only to be expected that the crowd would get excited and encroach on the playing ground. There was not even a rope to keep them back. The only piece to -be seen was stretched 'between two of the goal posts to act ac a crose bar! League officials were conspicuous by their absence, probably they were to be found comfortably seated, in the grandstand. For the League Executive to ask the two teams to figh£ out a match under such conditions as existed last Saturday is a disgrace to Northern Union football. Why are games held up for five minutes or more when a mishap occurs to a players' clothing? Cannot the line umpires carry a. spare jersey and knickers? THE LEAGUE'S ANNUAL REPORT. The annual report and balance sheet of the New Zealand League for the season 1918-19, is now out, and will be considered at. the annual meeting on August 11. It gives the receipts to March 31 last as £473, and the expenditure at £71. Probably if this balance were made right up to date the credit would be much larger. It is worthy of note that the report comments, upon the fine standard of junior play in existence. There is no doubt that this is so, and it might also be fairly said that the junior play; lias been growing better and better. So j well do some of these boys expound the j game that it might be profitable for a good many seniors to watch them occasionally. Certainly the "Star has seen one or two junior games which transcend in excellence many of the senior matches. The boys are gaming the faculty of playing with their heads, | and often their teamwork is. far better , than one is accustomed to expect in the higher grade. - Another feature of interest in this report is the recommendation to the incoming committee anent the desirability lof organising and assisting the various leaguis throughout the Dominion, especially those who have suffered much; i through lack of men during the past j I four years. It is anticipated that the funds necessary for this work will be en- j hanced by the proceeds of the Australian tour, and it eeems to be a very good policy, because it must be remembered that Auckland is the home of the League 'in this Dominion, and several of the other centres have lost a good deal of the headway they had made by reason ■of the machinations of Kaieer Bill. COMING EVENTS. Apart from the probable tour of New Zealand by an Australian thirteen, there are likely to be several other events, of more than ordinary interest to Leagueites. Next Saturday Hawke's Bay will play a representative team on the Domain against Auckland, end the home players, as selected by Messrs. A. Powell, R. Benson, and H. Rowe, are fairlystrong, while word comes from' Hawke's Bay that their team is as good as any that has ever left the sunny province over to the south-east. Besides this,Sydenham, •.the * Canterbury League champions for this season, have challenged Poneonby for the Thacker Shield, which the iteamoirpm,; the..Three Lampe wrested from them last year, . Arrangements for the actual playing, of this game,-which must be fought out here in Auckland, according to the "rules"under which the shield lies,.have.not yet been sufficiently far advanced for an actual playing date to be fixed, but it will be some time later in the season. There is one peculiar thing about these Thacker Shield rules, and that is that none but the champions of any particular League may- challenge the holders, and the ramifications of this law have automically brought up the question whether any but champions may hold it. However, that is by the way. ■ There is a big probability, too, that an Auckland team may take a trip down South later on to infuse the spirit of outside rivalry into some of the Leagues that lie further afield. But that, too, is by the way, and though there is likelihood that Wellington, and possibly some other centres, may send a team up Were to "have a flutter," that is another thing that lies hidden in the womb of the near future. The league should' get some credit for that little preliminary the teams put through at the Domain on Saturday, the Peace Day. Probably many of the] spectators did not quite realise all the reasons why the two thirteens faced each "other in line before they played, and bowed their heads so solemnly. Well, the reason was three-fold. First, a mark of respect to the Diggers, gone West; second, respect for the league players gone there are many of them; and, thirdly, to the memory of H. Spence. Spence was the young .Auckland constable who fell dead at the police station the other day, and he was a keen player of the code. There was another incident at one of these league games, though it was not rehearsed. It would eeem that one good husky forward was foiling away in the scrum, and he put his boot down where somebody else carefully stepped on it. The husky one made such a eong about .his'little'misfortune that it has become a standing joke among his mess-mates.