LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 230, 29 September 1931, Page 12

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

MEETING OF REFEREES

ANNUAL SPORTS RESULTS,

A letter of complaint from the Ponsonby Club, in connection with the refereoing of the drawn third grade match on the 10th instant, between Ponsonby and Marist, was dealt with by the Auckland Rugby League Referees' Association last evening, when the chairman, Mr. A. Ball, mentioned thai the referee had given a clear refutation ot the allegations and his statements were supported bv a linesman and other oflU-iais who had'watched the match. A resolution expressing full confidence in the impartiality and ability of the referee, was adopted unanimously, and the secretary. Mr. V. Simpson, was instructed to write the Auckland League in these terms, pointing out also that the complaint made involved an assertion on one matter upon which the referee was the sole judge.

The chairman expressed the opinion that I the standard or retereelng nail vastly i improved during the season, and it was also gratifying to note the growing strength of the association in membership and unity. Mr. A. Sanders, chairman of the appointments committee, and Mr. llill, also spoke in complimentary manner, and it was anticipated that reports on all referees would be made at the next meeting. ANNUAL PICNIC. The annual picnic of (lie association, held at Henderson Park, proved an unqualified success, there bein£ a full attendance of members, old referees, and a number of vice-presidents, who left the city and suburbs in motor cars provided by members and friends. The weather remaining tine, but dull, enabled participants to thoroughly enjoy a varied programme of sporting events, including an abridged football match. Results were as follow 7 :— Three-legsed Race. —Mincham and Etnirali 1, Sanders and McKnbrey 2. Half-mile. —Free Thompson .1, S, Fisher •i 50 Yards Race. —H. Jackson 1, L. Bull 2. Wheelbarrow. —McKubrey aud Billman 1, Weston and Smith 2. Pick-a-bnek. —Wilson and Smith 1, Chapman and H. Taylor 2. Car Race.—F. Wilson 1, H.' Taylor 2. Championship, 100 Yards.—-A. Kirkland 1, L. Dixon 2, W. Simpson 3. Place-kicking Competition.—W. Caddy. All the events were keenly contested. The prizes were presented at the meeting last evening. WEDNESDAY MATCHES. The draw for the mid-week committee-, competition on Wednesday is as follows :— Waterside Workers v. Stonex and Storuiont's (replay), Oarlaw Park. 3.45, referee Mr. A. Mcfall: Town Board Rovers v. Nicholson Park, for "Nuks" Cup (the lowest teams in the competition), Carlaw Tark, K. 43, Mr. L. Dixon.

REPS. FOR PRACTICE. The Wednesday committee Hopes to send its representative team to the Waikato at the week-end. The selectors, in view of the match to ho played later against the junior representatives at Carlaw Park on tne occasion of the visit of the Eastern Suburbs team, has selected the following prospective players:— Backs. —Peckham, Purdy, Joy (Waterside Workers), Hickey and Irvine (Railway Loco.), Munee and Brown (Stonex and Stormont's), Mills (City Markets), Bowen (Town Board), and Halls (Nicholson Park).

Forwards.—-Ragg, Hallett and Karrup (Waterside Workers), Burrell, Hunt and Uawkes (Railway Loco.), J. Purdie (City Markets), F. Chapman (Town Board Rovers), and Davies (Nicholson Park).

Players are ro attend Carlaw Park at 8 p.m. on Thursday.

DEVONPORT V. JUNIOR REPS. Although pitted against a somewhat deficient Devonport reserve grade side, tne junior reps, were seen in a favourable light on their tirst appearauce of the season, when they won by IS points to 6. it must he remembered, however, tJiat tne North Shore reserves have been out ot action for some weeks, and this, comuipeu with lack of practice, probably accounted for thei fielding of a scratch side. Nevertheless the match had its bright patches and the juniors, playing with vim and combination, showed to advantage on many occasions. The inside backs, with a plentiful supply of the ball from Martin, opened up to their supports with crisp and accurate handling, but there was a Jlttlo too much tendency to run across tielu. Lou Wilson was a trifle more enterprising than Fitzgerald, and the centre, singer, was reliable and speedy. He succeeded in straightening up the attacks and giving his wingers more chance. He illustrated the value of good supporting tact.cs. Young showed promise on the flank and James, though not so peedy, was resourceful. P.acnall played « good game as custodian and his try was well earned. The forwards nil did their part well, Duncan, it' anything, being outstanding, and Francis demonstrated his extra worth as a goalkieker. , ~ . . Devonport gave a taste of tnedr real worth towards the end, when Adams, at centre three-quarter, made gaps in the defence. The three-quarters were hardly equal to those of (lie opposition, and, but for the good tackling of C. Smith and Saxon, the five-eighths assisted by effective raiding by the forwards, the junior might' have operated their rearguard more effectively. For a five-man pack (in which Ihe inn for forward, Whaley, took part) North Shore scrummers did commendablv. Hurlev, Langton and York bucked into their work with a will, especially in the loose. Still, when a club undertakes to do its part in a special fixture, it should make sure that it is in a position to field a team well worthy of such an occasion. The reserve grule champions should have presented- a bolder front.