LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 236, 4 October 1924, Page 21

LEAGUE FOOTBALL

MARISTS V. DEVONPORT. CANVASSING RUGBY PLAYERS. Ihe sole topic oi conversation in tootball circles, both League and Kugbv, since Saturday last has been the piavnig oi Ivirwan in the Marist Bros, team, and while llje majority of followers hold the opinion that it was hardly the fair thing that Kerwan should be played m the deciding match of the club championship, others again hold that th,- Tykes were not only entitled to do ~0. bin did what any other team would • have ,l,,ne l, n d they been similarly placed. And those who hold such a view may not In- very \. Ide of the mark if t.ic i rue position were known. It cannot be charged against Marist Bros, that they, or at least the secretary, are not candid, and it is freely admitted that for some time tho club had been endeavouring to get Kirwan to come over to League, in fact, it is admitted that if other prominent Rugby players could have been secured they would have been w-lcomcd by Mai ist Bros. Devonport supporters had a lot of sympathy extended them because of the fact that they did not play any but their own members on Saturday, but from what can be gathered this was not altogether their fault, because prominent Rugby players approached on the club's behalf refused to desert, their old love. It is only fair .0 Marist Bros, that this sliouM be made public. For nearly a fortnight it hud been freely star'-d that Tonkin, of Ponsonby i Rugby), would be found in the Devonport team, and there is reason to believe that members nf the Devonport dub expected this. However, Tonkin was injured in the Ponsnnby-f'rnmmar match for the charity Cup on Saturday week; hut whether this was the reason of his absence, or whether r*.e decided to remain true to Rugby is not known, at least to the writer. In any case, whatever the reason, it is certain that Tonkin was approached to play tor Devonport, but he was not the only one, and two other Rugby reprs. in -latson (Tonsoiiby) and N. Ifwerson l Grammar) were also asked to join Devonport. It is possible other Rugbyites were sounded, but if they were they refused to turn over, and Devonport could not do other than field the side they did. Apparently it was not a matter of choice, although it is said that the club during the week decided not to include any Rugby players in the team. So that when the whole position is reviewed, although the playing ol Kirwan was hardly good sporttsmanship on the part of Marist Bros, it would seem that Devonport were in the same boat. writes:—"Your accurate and impartial review of the MaristDevonport match is in striking contrast to the remarks published as coming from the Marist club secretary with regard to the playing of Kirwan, etc., and I desire to point out that they are utter nonsense. He enfcavours to excuse the playing of Kirwatrby saying that Devonport fielded three -Jew Rug]* iUnion pla~ers—Hicks, I_»_n__on, an_ Smith—against his team A fortnight ago. This is contrary to de truth.

Smith nas Tjeen a bona fide member of the Devonporl Club for orer three years, and I'.arrison for a longer period. Hicks took the field against City, mark you, not against ilarist, and unfortunately sustained such injuries as prevented him taking part in further mutches. Now, air, such statements coming from the secretary of the champion team are reflections on a body of good sportsmen who endeavour to give tiie public League football with League players. Further, the remarks are worthy of supreme contempt, but for the sake of the credulous few I take the advantage per medium of your valuable paper to set out the facts in their true I'ght." "Leagueite" on the same subject says:—"Re Devonport-Marist League match list Saturday, if possible I should like to see. these few lines in your columns. I see the secretary of Marist claiming that when defeated by Devonport. the latter were fielding three new players. Th.s is wrong. Harrison, who played full-back, played in that position for Devonport last season. Hicks did not take the field against Marist at all, playing against City the previous Saturday, nnd retiring injured. Smith played in the same match, so that report is wrong. I myself follow __to*club in particular, but go to see a good game, and may the best team win. Marist, in playing Kirwan, displayed _. very unsportsmanlike spirit, and I don't think many followers of the code outside the Marist Club congratulate them on their win. Just why all the Rugby players join Marist is heard of every day. If the l.eagua officials wore to drop old Rugby plnyert and attend more to their ..junioDS ii, ( . football would improve. JjWwk'T. Athletic defeated Marist with jtjifiir tbird-graders in was good proof *sot that.