BRIGHTER LEAGUE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 101, 1 May 1931, Page 13

BRIGHTER LEAGUE.

THE 1931 KICK-OFF.

CARLAW PARK MATCHES.

SHORE AND CITY FEATURED,

The Rugby League game in Auckland will enter upon a new era to-morrow, when the 1921 season will be officially opened. Not only has the popular code reached its majority, but it commences under practically a new system of control, which aims at a higher standard of play than that reached in the past few years by the reducing of the number of senior teams to seven instead of eight as formerly. In this way, Marist, which has been one of the premier thirteens for several seasons past, will have call on the services of last season's Kingsland players. In addition, an innovation this season is the introduction of a reserve grade, and matches in this division will be played each Saturday as curtain-raisers to the principal attractions. Particular interest attaches to the reserve grade games, as players are eligible for the higher grade, and can be reinstated again without application to the controlling body.

All clubs during the past few weeks have been devoting serious attention to training, and teams should take the field to-morrow in excellent fettle and be capable of giving of their best. Incidentally, it is anticipated that the effects of the tour of Australia by the New Zealand side last season will be reflected in the style of play adopted, and that the fast, open passing game, with possession and an absence of kicking being the keynotes, will be cultivated as never before.

Pride of place at Carlaw Park for the opening of what promises to be League's best season will be given to Devonport and City, and a fast, open and scientific exposition of the code should be provided. Both sides are wellbalanced and employ tactics that rouse League fans to a high pitch of enthusiasm. Old favourites have donned" the jersey again, and will give solidity to defence and attack by virile forwards and fleet backs. Shore can always be relied upon to provide attractive football, while the same may be said of City with such stalwarts as Steve Watene, the Perry brothers, McLaughlan and others on the ball.

On No. 2 ground Marist will try conclusions with Richmond. There should be no beg pardons about this match, and neither side will leave any stone unturned that is likely to lead to victory. With grafters like Brady, Bachelor, Hassan, Young and Webberley doing service for them, in addition to recruits from Kingsland, the wearers of the green feel confident of success, but they will find the suburban side a tough proposition with Lennie, Ritchie, Telford and Ragg in the van, and Agnew, "Scotty" Prentice, Dunn and Davis forcing the pace among the backs. Ponsonby, last season's champions, have drawn the bye, while the remaining game, between Ellerslie and Newton, will be staged out in the racecourse suburb. While it is difficult to forecast what the outcome of the latter clash will be, on paper the chances of Newton look brightest, but there should not be a great deal between the two thirteens in the end. New talent has been infused into both teams, but players who can always be relied upon to throw the ball about to good purpose are Beattie, Dempsey, Ferguson, Francis and Brimble (Newton) and Hobbs, Cliff, Quirke, Dufty and Somers (Ellerslie). Matches between lower grades will also be commenced. Teams are as follow: — DEVONPORT. Seniors.—Simons, L. p-Leary. Harding, Seagar, T. O'Leary. 0 Donnell, Rhodes. Casey, Masefleld, Simpson, L. Scott, E.< Senior' Reserve.—Ellis, Tate, A. Smith, Black, Saxon, R. Smith, Kirk. Meiklejohn, Gvd'e," Ginn. Adams, Hawke. Hunt. 'Third Grade Open. — Strude, Palmer, Gr'ffin, Barnhill. Coles, Bach, Meehan, Masefield, C. Smith, Hayden, Norris, Neville. Evans, Jack. • Fifth Grade. — Reid. Powell. Rappard, Keating. McComb, Ziegler, McLeod. Rankin. McNeil. Speight. Pennell, Burdot. Sixth Grade—Gamble, Garnett. McLeod, ZiegleV. Donnelly, Gilbert, Stlpich, Ogilvie, McNeill, Pennell, Evans, Moran, McC ° mb ' RICHMOND ROVERS. Seniors.—Lee, Williams, G. Davis. Pell, \lcKinnon, Dunn, Prentice, Agnew, Ritchie, Telford, Lawless, Stehr, McLean, Lagg, L *Keierve Grade.—Valentine, Sale, Mills, Estall. Hobbs, B. Davis, T Davis, Lindsay Spicer, Verrall, Powell, Dunn, Goodwin, Jarvis, R. Jones, Blood, Cavanagh, Allen, Bryan.

CITY ROVERS

Seniors. — S. Watene, L. Barchard, G. Munce, B. Davidson. W. McLaughlin, G. Perry, C. Reynolds, J. Iveson, M, Watene, L. Barchard, S. Clarke, H. Forbes, J. Hadley. Senior Reserve. —Kerr, Griffen, Maher, Campney, Chapman. Lunn, Cocks, Alderton, Henderson, Bracegirdle, Rowntree, Sloman, Currie, P. Stepanicic, Anderson, Taylor, Bllsby, McCormack, Green, C. Stepanicic. _ , Third Grade Intermediate.—Buchan (2), Strange, Manning, Hutchinson. Renton, Axeman, Carroll, Louther, Trainor, Gallagher, Gardner, Giles, Ashby, Brett. Fourth Grade. —Sonthey. Louther, McLoughlin, Connor, O'Connor, Manning, Renton, Groon, Carroll, Dow, Henderson, Trainor, Bell. Brett, Jones. Fifth Grade.—Heron. Nelson, Purdy, Trainor, .Tanovich, Nicholson, Gardiner, Bauer, Wales, Olsen, McGregor (2), Tylecoat, Asher, Nicholls, Stirrup. Sixth Grade.—Torpey, Jones, Chernside, Roussell, Francis, Purdie, McDonald, Collins, AVhitley, Pollock, Wall, Beehre, Hansen, Hemmingway, Leabourn, Hutchinson. Seventh Grade.—Belsham, Avery, Colquhoun, Trainor. Rowe, Nicholson, Roussel, McDonald, McClelland, Day, McNeil, Wood. Griffen, Pritehard, McLaughlin, Wall, Purdy. ELLERSLIE-OTAHUHU UNITED. Seniors and Reserve Grade.—Hobbs, Calder, Olliff. Quirke. Blong, Dufty, Drew, Somers, Webb, Hickey. Carter, Boswell, Goodyer, Wilson (3), Roberts (2), Daniels, Young, Glenn. Keesing, Hatcher. Howarth, Sharrock, Arfnur, Crowley, Scott, Prince, Kelly, Kennedy. Fourth Grade.—McCowatt, Ilaydon, Harris, Hedge, Kelly. Forder, Sommerville, Brimble. Young, Greenwood, Cook, Kay, Whye, Greenwood. Fifth Grade.—Alcock. Cawdron (3), McInnarney, Morris. Pinches. Wiltshire, Midglev, McNeil (2), Henderson, Mendelssohn. Longley, Pemberton, Phillips, Beey, Strong, Johnston.

PONSONBY. Second Grade.—Baxter, Bennett, Blakey, Jones, Katterns, McDonald, Pemus'l. Retter. Young, Walker, Thomas, Spencer, Flavell (2), James, Castles, Wardrop, Barclay, Cavanagh, Meet at Mount Albert old terminus. Third Grade.—Robinson, Christmas, Tunnicliffe, Shaw, McCamish. Wilcox, Draper, Flay, Small, Fox. Smith, Bowden, Burton, Martinovich. Meet Ferry Bulfjings, 1.45 p.m. Third Grade Intermediate. —Moslem, francis, Blood, Challis. Akerstein, Prisk, Moore, Perry, Wardroffe, Ellis, Wilson, Magec, Nicholls, Dreaver, Clarkin, Jones, Daniels. Fifth Grade. —Thomas, Chalmers. Pearce, McDonald, Ryan, Smith, Patterson, McGregor, Scott, Miles, Rae, White, Billings, Gerrard, Pedlar, Wilson.

POINT CHEVALIER. Second Grade. —Hemingson, McLaren, Daniels, Lane (2), Christmas, Schlesenger, Humphries, Duncan, Surtees, Jiorrow, McLean, Empson. Mudge, Castles. Meet club shed, 2.30 p.m. sharp. Fourth Oracle.—Cameron, Bowater, Baldwin, Sheppard, Rose, Le Bherg, Giles (2), Bridgens, McNeil, Smith, Howell, Foley, Masson, Dyson. Seventh Grade. —Dormer (2), Beevc, Bates, Skinner, Sampson, Harrop, Meyer, Rowlands, Hooten, Boag, Cunan, Harris. Morris. MOUNT ALBERT. Second Grade.—MacDonald, Mattson, Whaley, Martin (2). Jamieson, Bagnall, Kirwin, Winks, Moran, Wilson, Magee, Walker, Wooller, Brough. Third Grade Intermediate.—Faber (2), Boss, Mellor, Grove, Broadfoot, Skinner, (Vallbank, Ambrose, Heron, Mackrcll (2), Vincent, List. Fourth Grade.—Pollock, Havern, Brough, Andrews, Thorn, Smith, Hart, Pope, Clendon, Kirman, Dracevick, Home, MacLaughlin, Mens. AVONDALE. Fourth Grade.—Hollinger, Foster, Heron, Malam, Clough, McCarthy, Collins, Billingham, Reid, • Jones, Norris, Vaughan, Gray, Jeffs. NORTHCOTE. Fourth Grade.—Wilkius, Bowsker, Clow, France, Watts, Cullen, Vernan, Sto'ckley (2), Brown, Neben, Organ, Halloran. AKARANA. Sixth Grade A.—Neil, Stewart, Hawkes, Killeen, Camplin, Combes, J. McDonald, Daniels, L. McDonald, Killeen, Hunt, Cleave. Fourth Grade A. — Thurlow, Pcngelly, Hearn, Furlonger, Murhtt, Hunter, 11. Smith, Maxwell, Bean, Scholium, Green, Combes, Lusty. O'Conncll, Adams, Truscott, J. Robinson, Anderson. Third Grade Intermediate. — Moore, Heaps, Tennants, Silva, Zannovitch, Kauhoa, Black. Barfoot. Best, Whittle, Stanaway, R. Brown. Ferran, Robinson, C. Peterson, Travis, Manning, Haining, Cleverly.

DUFTY'S SUSPENSION LIFTED

At the meeting of the Council of the New Zealand Rugby League held last evening, Mr. Cyril Snedden presiding, the suspension of C. Dufty, the Ellerslie and international full-back, was lifted. Dufty was suspended last season at the pleasure of the council. The transfer of F. Chapman from Ellerslie-Otahuhu United Club to City (Whangarei) was approved. A remit was received from the Auckland League urging that no special fixtures be held in Auckland to interfere with the club championship. The South Auckland League reported that the following players had been reinstated:—D. W. Whorskey (Huntly), L. W". Dwen, A. G. Jackways, J. F. Farrell and G. S. Smith (Taupiri). The action of the League was approved. The Wellington League advised that it had held a successful annual meeting, and practice matches were being well well attended.

The Otajro League advised that it had donated £10 to the Wellington League.