CODE JOTTINGS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 261, 4 November 1933, Page 2 (Supplement)

CODE JOTTINGS.

With the Kangaroos.—Four Losses in Sixteen Games.—Play In English League.—Lou Brown Doing Well. — Hardgrave Injured. — Cup Final for Wembley.—General Notes. A night football competition was started by the New South Wales League on Saturday with much success. Since the first Test match, the Kangaroos now in England have been beaten by Bradford Northern, Warrington and Salford clubs and the Northern League representatives. Therefore, in 10 matches up to this week the visitors have lost live (including the first Test), scoring — points, with —against. In view of suggestions made in Australia that the team has met with severe "spotting" and destructive opposition tactics —preventing the type of display that is the real spirit of the code —it "would not be surprising to learn that the tourists have more than a fair share of casualties to cope with. However, that seems to be an inevitable part of touring experience and, no doubt, the "Aussies" will soon be hardened to their campaign.

The. earlier series of matches in the English Rugby League this season show that two very strong clubs had by no means struck form, this being notably the case in connection with Wigan and Huddersfield, the latter completing its fifth successive loss in defeat by York, for whom Lou Brown, of Auckland, is showing all his usual brilliance. Jeff iloorcs, the Australian international, is now leading York, and as a great centre, the robust and speedy Brown should get better chances this rear.

Harold Thomas, the York three t quarter, who scored both of that club's tries in the Challenge Cup final, lost to Halifax in 1931, has been acquired by Halifax. Thomas, who was Brown's closest club scoring rival last year, is fast and a'so a reliable defender. The Christchureh player, Spillane, is captain of Keighley, who, on September 9, ran Leeds to o—(i0 —(i margin. Cutbush, the Wellington player with Halifax, received an injury which was expected to keep him on the side-line for several weeks.

When St. Helens, who were well near the top of the ladder, defeated Warrington by 11—7, Aucklander Roy Hardgrave also had the hard luck to receive rib injury. Hull Kingston Rovers have signed on Harrington, a Welsh Rugby Union fly-half, and Lemon, an international from the same quarter. Swinton and Salford appear to be the strongest teams in the season's first flush. Neither Buckingham (Waikato player .for the former club), nor Walker, the Wairarapa winger with Huddersfield. seem to have been in the top team so far. It is officially announced that the Rugby League Cup final will again be played at Wembley on May ">. There had been some suggestion that the fixture should be at the White City Stadium, the home of the London Highfield Club. ' ; Gordon Innes, the Canterbury Rugby! Union player who recently went to Eng-' land to play for Wigan, was greeted as | a "husky fellow," with a reputation as I a likely centre. He did fairly well against the Australians and is expected to shine with first-class training and uood coaching. ■,

As a result of a special team photo appearing in the Xew Zealand annual, the Rugby League is pleased to have located the cups, flags and banners of the old Nelson Rugby League. The book, which is still in demand, is highly praised by the Australian Press. ' ' >