FAMOUS REFEREE RETIRES.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 206, 31 August 1926, Page 10

FAMOUS REFEREE RETIRES.

N.Z. TEAM'S ITINERARY.

NOTES AND COMMENTS,

That the standard of the League game < ie 'higher in Auckland than other parts 1 of New Zealand has been revealed by ( the interprovincial games that have been played this season, but both Otago and Canterbury impreseed by their methods, and the big leaven of youth in the southern sides augura well for the future. This season the in Auckland has reached a relatively high plane, although then.- is still room for improvement in the back play in ths matter of backing up and crisp handling, which was so ably demonstrated ier-> by the New South Walee touring team of 1913, the British team of 1914, and the bri- ,- liaut Queensland combination of a couple of seasons ago. The fact that It Aucklarder3 are on tour with the New Zea-land team has weakened the local rep. sides to some extent, but 'by no means as much as was expected. It hae resulted in other players getting a o'lance that they would not otherwise have had, and in almost every instance they have made good. No fullback of the calibre of Dufty or Gregory hae materialised, but at wing threequarter Wade and Littlewood have displayed spendid form, and List in the centre has given displays of a class that has made many League supporters regret that he was not sighted earlier in the season, and given a chanoe in the trial games that were played before the Dominion side eet out on tour. Prentice is another of the younger generation who has done remarkably well in big company, with play of consistently good quality. Peckham 'has given exhibitions behind the pack that have stamped him as, next to Wilson Hall, the best scrum half in the game, and he was decidedly unlucky not to be picked for the Home trip. Even with Singe, Avery and Herring away, the Auckland pack ie as good as ever, and has proved too good for the sidee that have been met. The best forward at the moment ie probably O'Brien (Marist), who has had the dietinction of being a Rugby Union All Black. Commenting upon the play of P. Hickey in Dunedin, a southern writer regrets the fact that he was not choeen for the New Zealand team to go Home. Hickey hae had a varied Rugby career that has been brilliant and mediocre in turn. In the 1923 season there was talk of a brilliant three-quarter that -had been located in the Taranaki district, and Hickey materialised to gain a place in the North Island team of that year againet the South Island. One remarkable and spectacular run in that game went a long way to winning for him Dominion honours, and he was included in the 1923 New Zealand team for Australia. During the next couple of seasons, Hickey showed an unaccountable lo3s of form, but last year, while playing at Wellington, he was as good as ever. Hickey went over to the League game during the present season, and played in the Rugby League trials at Carlaw Park. Hβ did not get the beet of opportunities from the ineide backs that he was associated with, and did not play himself into the touring team, although there were a good "many who considered that he was well worthy of a place. Gate receipts for matches on August 7, in Sydney, were: —Cricket ground, £553 17/8; North Sydney, £158 4/; Wentworth Park, £95 12/9; Marrickville, £85 12/; total, £893 6/5. On the corresponding date last year the total was £277 19/5. The increase for the season up to the date in question has been £5674 5/7. The shares of the different clubs up to August 7, were:—South Sydney, £1689 3/4; University, £1022 0/9; Glebe, £983 9/4; Eastern Suburbs, £864 6/10; Western Suburbs, £722 14/5; Balmain, £660 4/2; Newtown, £578 9/8; North Sydney, £555 12/; St. George, £551 6/11. Sydney's two leading Rugby League referees, W. Neill and T. MeMahon, referee school matches, and at the same time tutor the boys in the finer points of the game. . In this respect, "Tom" MeMahon is a past-master, and all the schoolboys like to play under him. He gives them his reasons for his decisions, and in this way puts the young players on the right road. The lid ie on the argument as to which League footballer in Australia has played the greatest number of firstgrade matches (says a Sydney paper). Last week it looked as if "Ohook" Fraser, of Balmain, "walked in" with a score of 215. Ted Courtney hae figured in nearly a hundred more games than Fraser, though all have, not been played with the one club. And, added to hie League record, Courtney played in the Union before the League came into existence. Courtney appeared altogether in 304 League first-grade fixtures, dating from 1907 to 1925, and with the exception of the 1910 season with North Sydney, he played the whole of them with Western Suburbs. Wales, once the stronghold of Rugby Union football, has been invaded by the League code, for a club has been formed at Pontypridd, where the first League International between England and Wales was played last season. Many prominent players in the big clubs are Welshmen. It cannot be said that the New Zealand team will be pitted against a weak combination in their first game in England, as Dewstiury, the team they meet, won the knock-out cup last year from a long list of competitors. Touring Team'i Itinerary. The New Zealand team's tour will open on Saturday, September 11, with a match against Dewsbury, one of the weaker teams in the British Rugby League's competition. The first Teat gatme hae been placed very early in the itinerary, and the tourists will need to quickly pick up their beet form to have any proepect of success. The complete list of matches ie as follows: — 1926, September 11, Dewsbury; 15, Leigh; 18, Halifax; 22, Castleford; 25, Barrow; 29, Widnes. October 2, first Test, at Wigan,; 6, York; 9, Warrington; 13, Featherstone; Iβ, Hull; 20, Bradford N.; 23, Oldham; 27, Leede; 30, St. Helens Recs. November 3, Salford; 6, Huddersfield; 10, Bramley; 13, second Test match, at Hull; 17, Wigan Highf.eld; 20, Batley; 23, Keighley; 27, Swinton; date not fixed, Lanes. County. December 4, Wales, at Pontypridd; 8, ■St. Helens; 11, Wigan; date not fixed, : Yorks County; 18, Hunslet; 25, Pontypridd; 27, Broughton. 1927, January 1, Hull K.R.; 3, Rochdale H; 8, Cumberland County; 15, third Test at Leeds; 22, Wakefield Trinity; 29, England, in Paris.

Treating Them Right. The members of the Auckland Rugby League make fine hosts, and though the Canterbury team had to acknowledge defeat at the hands of the Auddn^ 1 "'-V the visitors would have happy memories of their trip to Auckla.T" 1 rt - Saturday after the match they were entertained at a dinner given by the A.R.L., and on Sunday were taken for an extensive motor tour through the city and n"* , --'"-> districts. Everything possible was done to provide an enjoyable outing, and the southern players ■were delighted with the run. Waikato Strengthened. For the past couple of seasons the League code has not made the progresc in the Waikato that one expected, eeeing what a solid footing the game is on in Auckland. Though South Auckland could field a useful side, it was never within points of the best Auckland thu teen. However, the return to the fold of 30 Huntly players who have been playing Eugby should offer material which can be utilised to strengthen the South Auckland team, and the match which they are booked to play against Auckland in a few weeks will be awaited with interest. Unlucky List. The more one sees of A. List, the more convinced one becomes that he is indeed unlucky in not being en route to England. Twelve months ago he was one of the outstanding backs in the B division teams, and the present season had not been in swing many weeks before good judges and close observers of the game voiced the opinion that List would get in the New Zealand team. The writer did not see List till the representative games happened along, but by that time the selectors had announced the 26 to go to England. Assuming that List was showing the same form as in the representative matches, and apparently he was, then there are some lucky players away on tour. It can be said for List that while he is solid in both attack and defence, he is unselfishness itself, and even though he has plenty of good scoring chances, he always sends the ball along if a supporting player appears to have a better chance. The Turnstiles. While we shall have to await the end of the season before a true statement of the gate receipts at Carlaw Park is available, it ie pretty safe to offer the prediction that a fresh record will be established. Right from the opening of the season the attendances have been greater than in other years, and though visiting teams invariably show a loss, even allowing for this, the A.R.L., there is every reason to believe, could show a ver) ■happy statement just now. It is to be hoped that the support of the public continues right to the end, as the League is desirous of starting on a big scheme of improvements to provide comfort for both playere and public alike. Who Will Win? It is doubtful whether any club gams this season has created greater interest than the match between City and Devonport, which is the star item on the League bill of fare for Saturday next. City will miss Brown and Davidson from the backs, but even bo the team is a solid one, with heaps of pace. On the other hand, recent form would suggest Devonport as the beet club team at present; but the men from across the harbour have always been up against it whenever they have met City. It should be a rare struggle, and one which should attract a big crowd.