THE LEAGUE CODE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 116, 18 May 1926, Page 14

THE LEAGUE CODE.

GOOD FOOTBALL SHOWN. TRIAL MATCHES SOON. While the majority of followers of League expected City to prove too fast for Marist Bros, on Saturday, few would have ventured the prediction that the Brothers would have gone under to the tune of five tries to nil. As a matter of fact the score is well inside the respective merits of the two teams, and with a shade of luck City would have had an even bigger margin in their favour. Except for an occasional flash which occurs in all matches Tykes never looked like scoring as the result of combined play in which there was an understanding between the team, and any chances that came their way were the outcome of luck rather than any worked-out scheme. Certainly there was no score in the first half, quite unusual in League, but in the second spell, City, just as they have so often done to other teams, took charge and completely ran over the opposition. Not only the backs, but the forwards too, were better than Marists. They held together . better, and did not attempt so much solo work, which rarely gets apywhere. Crewthcr, at full-back for City, has played better games and tackled more accurately, but he has the satisfaction of knowing that the line was not crossed for a try. Mistakes he made at times, but not nearly so many as other players, but their faults in defence are I never so noticeable as those made by the full-back. Brown was the star of j tho three-quarter lino, his tries being spectacular as usual, but his best efforts were when he did riot score. His defence was sound, and must have surprised those who have proclaimed all along that he was weak in this department. Wade also showed up well, while Wetherill gave a vastly different display compared to his showing of the previous match on No. 1 ground. Everything he accomplished on Saturday he did in his best style, and his work at times when associated with Brown was brilliant. The forwards were a set of good grafters, always battling on. Mackie was ever in the li;nelight, as was also Thomas and Townsend. On the Brothers' side Gregory was not as sound as usual at full-back. Gallagher was the best of the threequarters, but neither Kirwan nor Nicholson were seen at their best. As a matter of fact the backs as a set did not shine at all. The forwards, headed by Singe, battled on against heavy odds, and all day long Johnstone and Brady were conspicuous. O'Brien played just a passably useful game. NEWTON'S REVIVAL. "What will Richmond win by?" was a query by one League enthusiast to another on arrival at Carlaw Park on Saturday. "About twenty points to three," was the estimate hazarded, and, as an answer, it might have reflected the general opinion of the merits of the two teams. But, like racehorses—generally the ones that are well backed— the form of footballers is elusive, variable and puzzling, and not even the most confirmed optimist amongst the Newton supporters was prepared for the total eclipse of Richmond. As a team Newton has been the Cinderella of the code, and a chopping-block for other thirteens. Perhaps last Saturday they surprised themselves. One Newton fan rubbed his eyes as the points began to soar, and he was heard to remark that if stipendiary stewards were in attendance they would bo arranging an inquiry- in order to forestall the band playing '"Three Blind Mice." On the day, Newton actually played above form, and the result was ono of the biggest surprise victories seen on the park for a very long time. Richmond did not display the stamina that they did on the previous Saturday against City, nor were they so certain in their play. It was likewise true that they had a casualty list—an epidemic that has overtaken most of the League teams at the moment. It is but fair to mention that fact, but not as a palliation of defeat, for, on the day, Newton were indisputably the better side. It is a truism that nothing succeeds like success, and as Newton, in victorious vein, commenced to pile up points, they rose to it and played wonderful football. As opportunity offered, Richmond hit back in determined fashion, although in the later stages they were quite outclassed. As a game it was rather a cyclonic affair in the way of scoring, with a plethora of points that aggregated 68. Forward it was fairly even going between two well-balanced packs, but in the backs there was, on the Newton side, much more individual merit, several displaying the penetrative skill so necessary in attack when points are the objective. Neither back divisions*displayed the best of team work, and both wero inclined to play a purely orthodox game in which good tackling was the best feature. Mansill was the most outstanding of the Newton backs, his strong, resolute running being a fine asset to his side. Monnan showed pace on the wing, Herewini in the centre was solid throughout and brilliant on occasions. Little was dashing, while Poison quite outplayed his vis-a-vis. Amongst the forwards, Brown, Clark and Purely were always in the limelight. With the notable exception of Hyland, tho Richmond backs were not altogether convincing. Hyland tackled superbly, and with limited chances shone in attack, J. Parkes , play was marked by good strategy, and Davis got the ball away from the scrums smartly. As in the game on the previous Saturday, the inside backs did not have the necessary snap in attack to pierce the defence; they stabbed valiantly in an endeavour to break through, but, metaphorically speaking, it was only a scratch. In the Richmond van, Carroll and Averv were conspicuous with tireless and indomitable attack.

PARNELL'S GREAT FIGHT.

Parnell is putting up a great fight in the senior B division. On Saturday this young team fully extended Northcote and with a little more experience might have won. They are all young players, who have graduated from the junior teams of last season. Patton who played half on Saturday, was a fourth grade player last season. He shows promise of becoming a good man. Parnell throw the ball about and always endeavour to keep the game open. They have ha£ the misfortune to loose their matches this season by the narrowest of margins, but if they keep on as they are doing, wins will come their way soon. The club is handicapped on account of not having training quarters and ap endeavour is being made to secure them.

FEW BRIGHT INCIDENTS. There were few bright incidents in the senior B grade match, Ellersiie v. Kingsland, played at Ellersiie on Saturday, and in winning by 5 points to nil Ellersiie perhaps showed the way. The first spell was very even, neither side shining to any great advantage. Kingsland have a valuable man in Campbell, the fullback, while Kindley and List were prominent in the break-aways. Flowera and E. Sim s worked hard for the losing team, but, if anything, the combination lay with the Ellersiie pack. Hettett was well placed at fullback, and was responsible for many good saves. R. Johnston, as usual, was in form and showed his now well known dash and heady play. Cooke shone out on Saturday and added his weight and pace to several great breaks. Brojran, Williams and Nicholson were prominent, while the nippy half in McGlure was responsible for good work. There was not much to pick and choose from in the first spell, both teams setting a good pace, but both unable to break through. There- was no score in this spell. The second half opened with a bit more vim, and Ellersiie livened considerably. It was after many strenuous efforts that Cooke secured from near the Kingsland line and made the opening which culminated in Shand slipping across. That was the only score, and from then on to the finish the game was fast, but not very interesting. A HARD GAME AT THE SHORE. The game between Graft on Athletics and Devonport on the North. Shore ground on Saturday was hard and fast, and a good contest to watch. Athletic exhibited much better combination than the other side, and their win was a meritorious one indeed, although both teams missed, several tries, and the scores on both sides could have been higher. The winners had £hore well hemmed in in the early stages of the game, but in the second half the eeasiders rallied and played great football. Herring, Te Whata and A very were the pick of the Athletic forwards, although both Avery and Herring still show a tendency to get off side. Dufty played a great game at centre three-quarter, while at fullback Longville was always safe. Lucas, at half-back, also played up well, and Smith was a clashing three-quarter. On the Devonport side Perry gave his usual brilliant display at fuTl-baek, while the Scott brothers and Hemingway pla} r ed really well among the backs. Boryer was responsible for good defensive work as half-bark (pr Devonport, while of the forwards Ruby and Douglas were easily the best. VICTORY FOR OTAHUHU. The game throughout proved a very fast and exciting one, with fine forward play .mi both sides, but the back work however was not of the usual standard. Otaliuhu,. although the lighter of the two, proved themselves to be the better team rigiit from the commencement and well deserved the win. Their halfback, at tines, used bad judgment, which certainly deprived them of more Scores. Ellery's kicking, however, made safe their victory, and Brady, the light, weight of the team, used much grit in his work and played the game of the day. Mangere also were not lacking in good meo, for Lipcom.be, the fullback, was as safe as a church, and Roberts and Labrun carried on fhe good work. Aftar the spell Mangere pushed hard and Otahuhu were forced to play a hard and defensive game. The spectators now became excited, and the referee, Mr. Rogers, was busily occupied keeping the rowdy crowd from taking the field. There is certainly a good time coming for Otahuhu, who it is said defeated the hardest team in the competition. NORTHCOTE BATTLING AWAY. Northcote continues to battle awa~ this season. If any team deserves *'o be successful, then it is the one from the marine suburb. Some new and young players have made their appearance this season and show promise Amongst these is Smith, a member ot the Waitemata Rowing Club, and an erstwhile Rugby p i ayer . p ennvcook that old veteran, is still with tbe'tearr and is playing just as well as ever he did! If Northcote go on as they have started there is a chance of them landin- the B championship, n

NOTES. Probably the most conspicuous player in the Pcnsonby team is Tim Peekham the nippy little chap who throws the ball in the pack and runs round to get it again when McNeil hooks it out. Last season there were many who held the opinion that Peckham should have been selected in the team that toured New South Walee and Queensland, but the selectors decided otherwise, and the Ponsonby half had to be content ■with repre- t-_ d il ... , ' Tim reckhamsentative honours. There is not a great lot of him, but what there is is good, and in two forty-fives on Carlaw Park he does as much* work as many players do in a season. Hargreaves, the Xewton five-eighths, ivas unfortunate against Richmond. He vent down gamely to stop a Richmond -ush when the suburban vanguard had i full ■ head of steam up, and when he ay writhing on the ground there was a rush to help him. The first diagnosis .vas a broken collarbone. He was carfied off on a stretcher, but a further nspection revealed that Hargreaves had sustained a kick on the shoulder, and ;bat his collarbone had escaped. To walk something like 25 miles in srder to play football stamps such a nan as an enthusiast. This is what N. Mouatt does often. Mouatt lives at Blackball and trudges in to Greymouth, i journey taking about five hours. So little does he think of the walk that a kveek ago he strolled over the distance iust to attend a blackboard lecture given jy Mr. E. Mair. One of the mainstays of the City rearguard, Benny Davidson is one of the few who works in harmony with M. Wetherill. Benny has a fine dash of pace, is particularly good at cutting out an opponent and making openings for his associate backs, and the majority of tries scored by the City backs are the result of movements started by him. Just at present he is on the b r» -j sideline with a Ben Davidson. „„„„!„ c v » couple of broken ribs received in the game against Ponsonby.