THE LEAGUE CODE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 112, 13 May 1926, Page 13

THE LEAGUE CODE.

SATURDAY'S GAMES. CITY V. MARISTS. PARS ABOUT PLAYERS. The star attraction supplied by the Auckland Rugby League on Saturday •will be the match between City and ' Marist Bros., which will occupy No. 1 ground. The form displayed by the Brothers last week when they defeated Devonport through sheer staying ability should give them a chance against City, although the latter possess so muL'h speed that they invariably set a pace which their opponents find it difficult to keep. The South Auckland League has issued a challenge for the Northern Union Cup. This was considered At last night's meeting of the A.R.L. and acceded to, but no definite date decided upon. For several years the Cup was held by the players at Hamilton but the fact did not create a great deal of interest, and now that the trophy is held by Auckland there is likely to be more competition and challenges should come from teams in the South Island. M. Herewini, who did such good work for the Ponsonby team last season as fullback, is now with the Newton Club. Herewini was granted a transfer by the management committee of the Auckland League last evening. Two City players, who were useful to the wearers of the red and black last season in E. Ruby and R. Crewther, have left their old love and taken on a new. Crewther has joined up with Marist Bros., while Ruby will turn out each Saturday with the Devonport side. Ruby should go well with the men from across the harbour. Never a meetjng of the management committee of the Auckland Rugby League is held hut that somebody is .in trouble over the insurance scheme, and little points are constantly being brought up for an explanation. As one delegate remarked a week ago, "There is not two members of the committee who thoroughly understand the scheme." Time after time the chairman has explained the simple details which have to be supplied by secretaries if a player is injured, but invariably the necessary forms to be filled in are not properly complied with. This is rather surprising as the forms are simple enough for anyone to understand. The Ponsonby team having drawn a half .holiday in the city on Saturday have decided to try and help the code along in the Waikato, and will make a trip up the line to play a match against a Taupiri thirteen. The fast, open game played by the "Ponies" should be appreciated by followers of the code in the Waikato. The team will be at top strength. The loss of Ben. Davidson to the City, team for some time owing to the fast City centre having a broken rib will be felt, as he is really the basis of all the dashing attacking movements initiated. When playing against weak teams City will get along all right without Davidson, but when they have to meet PonBonby, the absence, of "Benny" will reduce the attack of the red and blacks considerably. At the meeting of the management committee of the Auckland League last evening the following transfers were approved:—M. Herewini, Ponsonby to Newton; J. Patty, Richmond to Northcote; K. H. May, Mangere to Northcote; R. Crewther. City to Marist; E. Ruby, City to Devonport; A. Campney, Newton to Northcote. Regrading from senior to junior was granted in the following cases: —S. Watkins, C. A. Cox (Grafton), H. Buffett (Devonport), J. McKeown (Richmond). "Opai" AsTier, the well-known representative player in both Union and League games in previous years, is now on the ground staff at Carlaw Park. Asher made his debut in Auckland football in 1897, when he came with a Tauranga representative team under the captaincy of the late Joe Warbric-k. He played for the Parnell Club during the following season, and won a place in the Auckland rep. team. The following season Asher went over to the City Clu 1 -, and in 1903 represented New Zealand in Australia. A member of the Auckland Fire Brigade, Asher was injured at a big fire that occurred at Motrin's premises early in 1904, and, although lus played a few games afterwards, he had to drop out, and not until the 1907 season did he return, when he was again an Auckland representative. In 1909, Asher joined the League code and for a number of seasons was a rep. player. At the top of his form Asher was of the best attacking three-quarters New Zealand has known, and his bumping powers and trick of hurdling over a 1 i\v tackle gave a very spectacular touch to his play. Although the season has only been going three weeks, the standard of play shown in the club matches is convincing. One of the best exhibitions of forward play given at Carlaw Park this season was that of Hutt (Ponsonby) against City. From start to finish "he was dashing, and few better displays have been seen in Auckland. On that showing he would at least be entitled to consideration as a possibility for the New Zealand team, and it will be interesting to note his form in matches to come. FIXTURES AND APPOINTMENTS. Fixtures for Saturday are as follow:— Senior Grade.—A Section: City v. Marist, Carlaw Park, Xo. 1, 3 p.m.. Mr. Taylor >"ewton v. Richmond. Carlaw Park .No. -, 3 p.m. Mr. Hill; Athletic v. Devonport, Devonport, 3 p.m.. Mr. L. Bull. Senior Grade.—B Section: Mangere v. Otahuhu, Mangere, 3 p.m.. Mr. V. Rogers: Northcote v. Parnell, Victoria Park, 3 p.m., Mr W Mine-am ; Ellerslie v. Klngsland, Ellerslie. 3 p.m., Mr. A. McKubrey. Second Grade. —Kichmond v. Ponsonby, Outer Domain, 3 p.m., Mr. V. Simpson_: Devonport v. Mangere. Domain >o. 1, o p.m . Mr. W. Stock ; Otahuhu v. Kingslacd, Western Springs, 3 p.m., Mr. E. Emerali: Point Chevalier v. Athletic. Point Chevalier, 3 p.m. Mr. H. Sell; City v. Newton, Domain No. 5, 3 p.m., Mr. T. Churnside. Third Grade. —Xorthcote v. Ponsonby, Victoria Park, 2 p.m., Mr. A. E. __lit-K Ellerslie v. Devonport, Domain No. 1, - p.m, Mr. C. Smith; New Lynn v.. Mangere, New Lynn. 3 p.m., Mr. E. Bailey; ,Glen Eden v. United Suburbs, Glen Eden, 3 p.m., Mr. W. E. Simpson. Third Intermediate Grade. —Richmond v. Newton, Carlaw Park No. 2, 2 p.m.. Mr: K. Menzies; Klngsland v. Parnell, Parnell. i p.m., Mr. A. Coulam : Devcnport v. Suburbs, Devonport, 2 p.m., Mr. D. McLeod. Fourth Grade. —Richmond v. Ponsonby, Grey Lynn, 3 p.m.. Mr. Palce; Ellerslie v. Newton, Ellerslie, 2 p.m., Mr. T. Billman ; Parnell v. City, Parnell. 2 p.m.. Mr. A. Coulam; New Lynn v. Athletic, New Lynn, 2 p m , Mr. E. Bailey: Point Chevalier v. Otahuhu, Otahuhu Trotting course, 3 p.m., Mr. A. Rae. Fifth Grade. —Richmond v. Devonport, Carlaw No. 1, 2 p.m., Mr. Gedye: Ponsonby v. Ellerslie, Domain No. 5, 2 p.m., Mr. T. Chnrnslde: Athletic v. Northcote, Birkenhead, 3 p.m., Mr. A. Innes. Sixth Grade. —A section: Richmond v. Akarana, Grey Lynn, 2 p.m., Mr. Paice: City A v. Northc*te, Birkenhead, 2 p.m., Mr. A. Innes; Newton v. Otahuhu. Otahuhu Trotting Course, 2 p.m., Mr. A. Rae. Sixth Grade.—B section: Richmond v. City. Outer Domain, 2 p.m., Mr. Weston: Point Chevalier v. Akarana, Point Chevalier, 2 p.m., Mr. -3\elL

ONE OF THE OLD GUARD. BUT STILL ON DECK. Some fifteen yeaTs ago, when the | League code, then a stranger to the Do-; minion, was introduced to Auckland, one of those who welcomed the new arrival, and nursed it in its infancy was Mr. E. Phelan. "Ted" as he is popularly called, has always been active in further- j ing the League code, and having a I shrewd business head he was appointed j manager of the team which New Zealand j sent across to Australia in 1911. That! team included such great players as! Geo. Gillett, "Boiler" Francis, Charlie i Dunning, and others who had made a j name in Rugby Union and had won fame as All Blacks. That tour is still entered Up in the records as the most profitable or any overseas League team to leave the Dominion, and the "nest egg" was' nearly £2000. The previous year, 1910, the Auckland League sent a team on tour through New Zealand. At that time the New Zealand League was not

very financial, and the players paid their j own expenses. However, from the profit made by the team, which visited Australia, the players were refunded what , they had paid the previous year. That | visit to Australia was instrumental in getting five New Zealanders away with the Australasian team which toured England the following year. Mr. 'Phelan, is deputy-chairman of the Auckland Rugby League, and a trustee of Carlaw Park, but is also prominent outside football circles and is a member of the City Council, a member of the Auckland Patriotic Association, and a trustee , of the Veterans' Home.. I