RUGBY LEAGUE REYIEW.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 211, 7 September 1927, Page 14

RUGBY LEAGUE REYIEW.

SYDNEY TOUTS VISIT.

CANCELLATION OF TOUR.

LOCAL ARRANGEMENTS UPSET.

There has been more than an average share of uncertainty in connection with the representative games this season, and after a fairly well-tangled skein waa straightened out fresh complications have arisen, as notification has now come to hand that the St. George team, of Sydney, will not come across to play * short programme of four matches which had been arranged. The playing dates for the visitors bad not been definitely fixed, but they were expected to fit in immediately the Auckland representative team returned from the Southern tour.

From the meagre information at present to hand, it appear* that the contretemps has been due to the question of finance, although on this aide the development was not anticipated, aa the Auckland Rugby League were prepared to give a guarantee of £400, an amount which was considered sufficient to prevent any likelihood of financial loss as far as the visitors were concerned. At the moment the matter is being further pursued, and there is still a hope that the tour may eventuate. Should, however, the tour be definitely off, there is at least a prospect of the present season being shortened by a couple of weeks, although even then there are enough matches to take until October 15, which is usually regarded as a fairly late date for the plaving of football. Should the prospective blank Saturdays eventuate they might be filled in by putting the match with South Auckland forward and inviting the Buller team to Auckland. The latter, by the way, was hopeful that the Sydney team would extend their tour and play there. Apropos the St. George team, there is a feeling that were the guarantee increased at this end the difficulty could be solved without a great deal of trouble.

It is a matter of regret in connection with the Southern tour of the Auckland rep. team that arrangement* could not be made to play the Buller representatives, as it is probably the strange*: league in the South Island, where the code had made phenomenal progress in its brief history. ' The present programme is to play four matches, one each at Dunedin, Greymouth, Christchurch and Wellington in a space of two weeks. One earlier suggestion was that a combined West Coast team should be played at Chirstchurch, but it was eventually deckled that the game should be played at Greymouth. The next development was that the Grey League was not enthusiastic that Buller players should be included, and on a formal plea of added expense they ruled them out. An obstacle which the local league endeavoured to surmount by a financial contribution. It is gathered, however, that the West Coast League would prefer to play their own team against Auckland, one reason being that such a fixture would make a greater appeal to League supporters in their centre. It is quite a reasonable view to take and the only real solution of the difficulty would be to play Buller in a separate game. Some of the members of the Auckland League seem inclined to be obsessed with the expense of sending a rep. team on tour, but there is a reverse side of the picture, one that football legislators might well ponder over. In the first place the club players need the incentive of periodic tours. Secondly, it is largely a case of "casting bread upon the waters," as the next season the Southern Leagues will be sending teams to Auckland, when there will be the prospect of excellent "gates," that little etcetera which looms so largely in matters sporting. Another thing to remember is that something more than dub football is necessary for any game to thrive. The spectators, who provide the sinew* of war, are partial to club football, but they do like a little in the way of variety, and they are indeed glad of the opportunity of seeing the cream of the code from the other centres in action, if only occasionally.

Inter-Island Match. Arrangements have been completed for the playing of the North v. South Island match at Carlaw Park on September 24; and the South Island team will be selected next Saturday. As far as the North Island combination is concerned, the necessary thirteen could be picked from Auckland player*, and even then there would be a good thirteen left over. The selectors will probably, however, take the opportunity of adding an insular flavour to the selection. Probably the claims of Menzies, the Waikato and Dominion rep. may be considered, while there are several players in Wellington worthy of consideration. The South Island teem be quite a strong combination, as they will hare four leagues to choose from, and in addition to players who took part in the game last season, quite a number of promising new players are in sight. Hawke's Bay Revival. Several interesting communications have come to hand of late in regard to a proposal to re-establish the League code in the Hawke's Bay district. The matter has been before the New Zealand Rugby League, when it was decided to let the Hawke's Bay people take the initiative, the feeling being that success could only he achieved by the creation of a local interest, and 'the arranging of sufficient teams to take part in a club competition. The latest advice is that at least four senior teams will be ready to take the field next season, and that there are also prospects of a number

of junior t«*a»*. At tbe moment steps sre Mag taken to eeenre tbenecf»s»ry playing tern*. Some y*ex» *p> tie code had a fairly strong hold in tfce Bay, tat tbe game withered and died. Services Appreciated. Appreciation of tbe services of Mr. W. J. w«»—"ill as chairman of tbe Aoekland RafjbT League baa been shown by a presentation. Mr. Hammill took the beta at a time when tbe code's finance* needed caref nl nnrsing, and he has vacated the position with the knowledge that tbe Auckland Rugby League ie now in a flourishing condition in regard to finance. The revenue of £5500 last ceasoo at Carlaw Park was a record, and the figures to date this season indicate that tbe figures will be eclipsed. Despite a run of wet Saturdays tbe attendances at tbe club matches have shown a big increase. The time has now come for the League to seriously discuee the proposed building programme to provide additional accommodation for their patrons, sod if the scheme cannot be faced before next season in its entirety, then a portion should be gone on with, the nucleus of a building scheme that could be added to and developed ae funds permit. Last on tbe List. A match ts to be played between the EUerslie and Grafton Athletic teams to decide which shall remain in tbe A grade competition. Irrespective of the result of tbe game, it would be in tbe best interests of tbe code were both teams included in tbe A grade next season. EUerdie nave proved their right to be there. Grafton Athletic is a team with a big leaven of young players, and next aeason tbe team wiil be a much more formidable proposition. An even number of teams trouJd save tbe present bye, and it would mean that all tbe teams would have ■ game each week.