LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 161, 10 July 1928, Page 13

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

REP. PREPARATIONS.

TRIAL TEAMS PICKED.

DEVOXPORT AGAIN DEFEATED

Had the Auckland Rugby League officials had clairvoyant gifts they would probably have staged the Marist-Devon-port match on the No. 1 ground last Saturday, as it proved quite the most exciting game of the day, and Marists' one-point victory over the seasiders caused much jubilation and enthusiasm on tha part of the greens' supporters, who felt that for once their team had played right up to true form. Just a few weeks ago it looked as though Devonport would have literally a walkover for the club championship, but their sequence of victories was broken by Newton, and now, on the following Saturday have demonstrated that there ia really no such thing as invincibility oa Auckland playing grounds. It has certainly made the senior competition much more open, and although Devonport are still in the lead, it is but by tha margin of a couple of points. Literally it was a day of surprises. On paper City have one of the best teams in Auckland, with practically a star back division, yet on Saturday Ellerslie, playing their traditional fast, bustling game, made City look anything but a first-rate team. The third surprise was Ponsonby's easy defeat of Newton, the game going the western suburb team's way so fluently that most of the spectators hived away from the terrace to see much more exciting football on the other ground. To-morrow afternoon a trial game will be played to assist the selectors to pick their representative teams for the big matches ahead. The Possibles and Probables are both strong sides, and even then some good players have been left out, particularly as far as the backs are concerned. If the weather is suitable and the teams field as chosen, an interesting game should result, but with mid-week trial games it often happens that trial teams have to be chopped about considerably, and the result may be anything but a fair criterion of a player's ability. Over in Australia the Englishmen still pursue their winning way. It is evident that they have a very strong forward team, and half backs above the average. In fact the play of the half-backs in conjunction with the forwards has been the real feature of the team's play, with this in addition—the halves have proved themselves adepts at the spoiling game, with the other side in possession; they specialise with the grubber kick for progress when orthodox attack fails, and they are clever at swinging the long pass to a support. Likewise they give the long pass swiftly and correctly, without a disposition to float it on the way. DELGKOSSO STARS. Everything seemed to revolve around Delgrosto in the Poosonby-Newton game, the western suburb's five-eighth being easily the outstanding figure in the game in a versatile display that lit up a singularly bleak afternoon. No>*r a veteran as players go, Delgrosso has come back to the great form which won Km a place in the New Zealand team which went to England in the 1926 season, and on Ms form of late there is not a better inside back in Auckland. DeJgrosso's versatility in the game was surprising, and in defence and attack alike he positively shone, despite the general sloppy conditions, which had a very destructive effect on most of the other players. He scored a try, converted three, and kicked a penalty goal, a surprising display of accuracy, one which must weigh considerably with the selectors of the representative team, seeing that goal kickers of real class are by no means too plentiful.

After reference to Delgrosso there is not a great deal to be said about the match. It was typically wet weather football, the forwards had most of the play, and the backs got but few chances to show anything spectacular in the way of attack. Thompson got a very nice opening try for Ponsonby, sighting a gap quickly, and going through fast, to catch the Newton in«ide« on the wrong foot. Close to the scrum the Ponsorfby back work was very sound, much for the reason that T. Peckham was back at the top of his form, to combine effectively with Delgrosso, while Thompson, in the outer berth, did everything wefl. As things went not a great deal was seen of the Ponsonby three-quarter line, but Letton impressed with heady play, and Schofield at full-back was soundness personified. In the forwards, Stephens deserves more than passing notice, for a good hooker is a priceless possession these days, and he gave his side a fair share of the ball from the set scrums, quite 1 , an achievement on the day, seeing that he was up against a redoubtable opponent in Somcrs. Ford showed up well in the loose play, and is one of the best forwards in the code. The Newton forwards did not disclose the devil they showed in the match against Devonport a week earlier, and collectively seemed to be hampered by the heavy going. Hall played a fine game, and was always prominent. iThere were two contributory reasons to a falling off in the Newton back play. Herewini was hurt fairly early in the game and went off, although Murray, as the understudy, filled the role of cuatodian with credit. &ufty o»e, had an off day, and by the sanWtjien the play of the wings was little coming their wajp although- on. a oouj^-gt

both Hardgrave and Little got at least temporarily into the picture. ' The back who really impressed wae Wilson at five-eighths, and although his play is not of the spectacular kind which catches the eye of the crowd, it k consistently first-rate, and his appearance with Newton has made a great difference to the strength of the team. Wilson has the advantage of splendid physique, his defence is solid always, and in attack he varies his play cleverly to meet the needs of the moment, with a penchant for the short exploiting kick ahead. Hoffman, who got a chance for Newton when Herewini went off, was formerly a Taranaki senior player. He played for the Star Club at New Plymouth, and formerly was associated with the Western United senior team at Palmerston North. ADAPTABLE TYKES. The adaptability of Tykes to wet day conditions spelt the doom of Devonport 5n Saturday, and was responsible for the sea-siders' second consecutive defeat. Easily the best game of the day, it was deserving of pride of place in the attractions at the park, but the fixtures committee erred in their judgment for once, and staged it on Number 2 ground. Even the rain that fell throughout the greater portion of the match, however, did not deter supporters of the rival teams, who lined the enclosure, and cheered encouragement- to their particular favourites. And despite the discomforts of the elements, it was well worth it, for the game was packed with thrills, and interesting from the word go, owing to the incisive tackling of both sides, and the fluctuating fortunes. Sight up to the last minute of play, the issue—with Marist nursing a bare advantage of a single point and Shore knocking at the door with vigour in an effort to snatch victory—was In doubt. But the battling Tykes held suflicient in reserve to stem the tide, and emerge triumphant. If ever a team deserved to win it was Tykes. They made every post a winning one, and exploited "kick-hard-and-follow-up tactics," that spell succ cess when the ball and the ground are treacherously greasy. Be it said for Shore, however, that they were out of their element in the wet; and in addition were prevented from getting their usual share of the ball from the scrummages. To & large extent they have to hand it to "Stump" Campbell for blocking them in the scrums, though the referee was decidedly lenient towards him, for he frequently swung across "before the ball was ever put in. But even so, even when Devonport did get the ball, the Tykes were equal to the occasion, and fast breaking up frustrated Cleaver's attempts to open up the play. In this respect Jim O'Brien, who returned to the green fold after a retirement that gave the appearance of being permanent, shone. A

lorwara 01 ine ruggea type, equal to the hard stuff as well as the loose plav, he literally camped on top of the opposing insides. He showed surprising form for his first game of the season, and must have caught the eyes of the slectors as a probable candidate for rep. honours when the Englishmen arrive. Keenan, Noble. Graham and Johnson were also conspicuous for raking tactics, and fast following up that perplexed the defence. Brady, who did not impress the previous week, was one of the best backs on the ground as second five-eighths for Marists, and used good range and judgment in kicking for the gap, so as not to unnecessarily race his forwards. He combined well with brilliant Brisbane, who was always alert at centre, and scored two fine tries through fast following through, and Gregory, Hassan and Cronin, who played inside him. The defence of the quartet was of the highest order. Bachelor had little to do on the right flank, and was conspicuous for several dashing individual efforts. 0»i the opposite wing, Nasey was the weak link, and was no match for Len Scott, when Shore's great scoring winger got his one real chance early in the first spell. One had only one fault to "find with Gregory, who filled the role of five-eighths and full-back in the first and second spells respectively, and that was his penchant for unnecessary talk. Sid Rule was the particular Devonport forward who caught the eye. Always at the head of incursions into enemy country, he was on hand when required. Ruby was as electric as ever, right np with the play, while Dixon and A. Scott lent their weight, and were always to the fore. Cleaver had a day out in the mud, but though he grafted continually behind a losing pack, his efforts to give his rearguard opportunities were rarely effective. The usually dazzling Preston-Sea-gar-Beattie combination was hampered by the heavy going, and though individually they acquitted themselves well, they showed little expression of concerted effort. "Pip" Webb's positional play as the last line of defence caused a good deal of trouble, and the decision of A. Scott to shift him up to the wing, in the second spell, and reulacv him by Simons, was justified. Dry weather would have spelt a iifferent story for Shore, but the fact refrains they were beaten by better generals on the day!

ENGLISH TEAM'S TOUR.

(By Telegrapti.—Press Association.) CHRISTOHURCH, Monday. At a meeting of the executive of the Rugby Football League this evening, it was reported that \he third Test match between New Zealand and England would be played at Christchurch on August 25.