RUGBY LEAGUE REVIEW.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 128, 2 June 1927, Page 13

RUGBY LEAGUE REVIEW.

NEXT SEASON'S ATTRACTIONS ENGLISH TEAM TO TOUR. ' By tacit understanding, the English Rugby League sends-a touring team to - Austialia and Xew Zealand every fourth season, and next year will sec the fifth touring side in Auckland. The first English team was here in the 1910 season with a strength that overwhelmed Xew Zealand •iuc». as the League game at that time was very young in the Dominion. Other English teams followed in 1914, 1920 and 1924. The last visit was remarkable for the reason that Xew Zea- j land won two of the three Test games j played, only to surrender the mythical : ashes when the ill-starred Dominion side [ went to England last si* son. Although the next tour is fairly far ahead, it is interesting to speculate on the probable personnel of the tourist*' i ranks, and it seems possible that quite .i number of the 1!>24 side will again be out this way. The players who took part in the last representative game ol the English season were: Wales: Sullivan (Wigan): F. Evans (Swinton). Lewis (St. Helens)), Bacon (Leeds). King (Wigan); Caswell (Hull), Rees (Swinton): Green (Pontypridd), Oliver (Pontypridd). Jenkins (Htirslct). Davits (Pontypridd). Watkins (Leeds) - , Gore. (Salford'). England: Osbornc (Kingston Rovers j; Ellaby (St. Helens), Carr (Barrow). ,T. Evans (Swinton). BroekbankjSwinton); Parkin (Wakefield Trinity). (St. Helens); Bowman (Hull). Smith (Halifax), Hotighton (St. Helens). Fildes (St. Helens Recreation), Hirincs (Salford), Gallagher (Batley). Of these players. Parkin. Bacon, and Gallagher were members of the 1920 and 1924 teams that toured Xew Zealand, Parkin being captain of the last combination. Others who played here in 1924 are Sullivan, F. Evans. Ring. Oaxr and Bowman. Several of these players are likely to come again in 1925. nnd Sullivan and Carr must be considered as certainties, i They were the "babies" of the 1924 team, but both were notably successful;; Sullivan as a great full-back and great goalkicker. and Carr as nn attractive centre. He has since developed into a player of outstanding ability. Bowman was a solid front row forward, and Evans a gritty winger; but Ring, the fastest man in the side, though gifted as a footballer, wns comparatively a failure, revealing n marked lack of determination. It does not say much for England's strength in forwards that veteran Frank Gallagher is able to retain bis place as lock man; but it is interesting to note that the selectors for the match referred to above, scrapped the English front row. Cunliffe, Bennett, and Burgess, in favour of younger players. Among new plavers likely t« be seen I here next year i« Ellaby. a forceful winger, regarded as tlie ''find' , of the I 192fi-7 season. ■ J Of the Welsh side. Cnswell has the re- ; nutation of being a crafty half-back, and ■ J Rees an excellent five-eighth, while Oli- || ver, Jenkins. Watkins. and Gor« were Jail Welsh Rugby Union international -! forwards. On the English side, besides Ellaby. J wns Osborne. a steady full-bback with a t powerful kick. r Other players of note in the League ' game at Home this season arc Broujjh and Hollidav, both of whom were Engi lish international fullbacks in the sister • code before turning over. Dowdall. ex- \ Welsh Rugby Union half-back, and Kin- . near, whose recent defection from the * Scottish Union international side caused I a sensation. It is probable that '.his r quartet will be well in the running . when the team is chosen. Four South African international players, Oliver, Booyeen. Van Rooyen and Van Hecrdcn are playing well. The latter two are well known in New Zealand as members of the last Springbok side that ramc r this way. The selection of any of the " South African players is problematical, ■' as the practice of the past has been not to include them in touring sides. During the past season in England the praises have been loudly sung of G. E. Andrews. Welsh Rugby Union wing three-quarter, whose play was said i to recall the great Llewellyn nnd Morgan eat their very beet. Xow Andrews haa 1 joined the Leeds Rugby League Club, a defection that has caused much heartburning in Welsh football.

No love is lost between the various football codes at Home.

There ie at present a big squabble taking place in South Wales over the use of a ground for a charity match. The Welfare Committee at Ebbw Vale granted the use of their ground for a

Monmouthshire v. Glamorgan match, in aid of a war memorial, and if it is decided the Welsh Rugby Union have no option but to suspend the Ebbw Vale club and professionalise the ground.

The Ebbw Vale club are strongly opposing the playing of the match, and state that it will not be played. They contend it is unfair to put them out of existence, seeing there is no other suitable ground in the district. The situation is a highly interesting one. and at the same time it shows the amount of red tape there is. Already professional Association football has been played ion the ground, while there have also been professional sports. Then, again, football under the auspices of the Rugby League used to be played there. It is difficult to understand why the ground should become taint because a professional Rugby player steps on to it. Surely his standing is as good as that of the Soccer player and the professional runner. When all is said and done the ground is leased to the club and the Welfare Committee have a perfect right to let it any time they like and to whom they like. The War Memorial Committee are indignant, for the Rugby League authorities have agreed to pay all expenses. As the League chairman. Mr. Osborne, says, it is Gillwrt and Sullivan without music. The Rughy Union play on some professional grounds for their big matches because their own arc not big enough. Surely this is the wrong spirit for snorting men to take, and especially when the cause at slake is charity. Apparently charity, although reputedly greater than faith and hope, is mily a secondary consideration when weighed in the balance with another football code.

MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE MEETS.

TRANSFER OF PLAYERS The Management Committee of the Auckland Rugby League met Jast evening. Mr. W. J. Hammlll presiding. Reinstated. —R. A. Hardgrare. trbo bas been playing for the Trarowa.ru Rugby Club. was relostated. Players Transferred. —ejhr following transfers were granted : J.TMirdy. City to Point rhf-vallrr: J. Hairs. f»cvonport t.i Nrwton : F. Brypr. I>ovoni»ort to Crafton Athletic.

To-|norrow"s Ounic — Mr, B. Kiniral! ivas appointed referee for the Rirhtnond-lH<vnn-port senior game, and 'it was decided that the. curtain-raiser game should he between the Papatoetoe and Otthubu schools.

GAMES AT CARLAW PAKE.

KING'S BIRTHDAY FIXTURES

A senior competition game, between' Richmond and Dcvonport. will be played to-morrow afternoon (Ring's Birthday) at Carlaw Park, while the curtain-raiser i will be a match between the Papaloctoc and Otahuhu school team*. The Richmond loam I* : —Hanlon. layior. Jcnklnfnn, Prentlee. Davit, Parfccs. Carroll. C.impbell. Telford. Dlxon. Strlft, Stewart. McCarthy. Donald. Bass, Lcnnle. FIXTURES FOR SATURDAY. The following matches were arranjre.l for Saiiinlny : — SENIOR GRADE. Station A.—MariM v. Newton. Carlaw Park No. 1. 3 p.m- Mr. A. Rae : I'onwnSv v. Athletic. Carlair Park N«a 2. 3 p.m.. Mr. H. McKubrov. Se<-ilon n.— Point Chevalier t. Ellerslie. F-llen-lie. S p.m.. Mr. U. Emcrell: Norlhcotr v. Klne-lnml. Victoria Park. 3 p.m.. Mr. P. Roser«> : Manjrere v. P.irnell. Otahuhu Trotting Ground. 3 p m.. Mr. 11. Taylor. SECOND GRADE. Richmond v. Kln;r»lnnd. Domain No. r>. 3 p.m., Mr. V. Simpson : Pon«onby v. Rcroucra. 1 otahuhu Trotting Ground, 3 p.m.. Mr. T. Churn side. THIJID GRADE. OPEN. Ponsonliy r Dcvonport. Devonport. -". p.m.. Mr. \V. K. Simpson: Northcote v! Mangere. Mansoro. 3 p.m.. Mr. W. Stork : Now I.ynn r. Glen Eden, Glen Eden, 3 p.m.. Mr. S. Rillmnn. THIRD GRADE. INTERMEDIATE. Kin?s)and v. Cltv. Domain No. 1. 3 p.m . Mr. a: E. Smith : Ellerslle v. Richmond A. Outrr Domain. 3 p.m.. Mr. E. Bailey : Newton x- Richmond B. Grejr I.ynn Park. 3 p.m Mr. C. Smith : Oevonport v. point <"!iera Her. Point Chevalier. 3 p.m.. Mr. II Ncal. FOURTH GRADE. Devonporl v. Richmond. Cir'.aw Park. No. 1. 1.30 p.m.. Mr. A. Innes: Ellcr*lle v. Ponsonby A. E"Vr»He. 'J p.m. Mr. A. Row: Grafton .\:hl:-lir v. l*on»odby n. We«trrn Spring. H p.m.. Mr. U' Western. FIFTH GRADE. Akarana v. Northcote. Carlaw Park No. 2. 1.3H p.m.. Mr. 1.. Ileminlns . City v. Poasonlij. Victoria Park, 2 p.m.. Mr. C. Thompson. SIXTH GRADE. Section A.—Akarana r. City. Outer Domain. 2 p.m.. Mr. K Mcnclc*: Grafton Alb letlc v. Richmond. Grey Lynn Park, 2 p.m.. Mr. C. Smith : Point Chevalier r. Dcvonpor;, Point Chevalier. 2 p.m.. Mr. H. Xea I. Section R.—KlngiOand v. Richmond. Western Springe. 2 p.m.. Mr. W. Western : Matin v. Devon|K>rt. Devonport. 2 p.m.. Mr W. E. Simpson : Point Chevalier v. City. Domain No. 1. 2 p.m.. Mr. A. K. Smith. SCHOOLS" GRADE. Newmarket r. Oncbnnga Convent. Domain. 2 p.m. : Oiieluuica Public School v. Otahiihn. Domain. I p.m. : Papatoctoc v Richmond. Carlair Park, 12.1.1 p.m.