LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 109, 10 May 1934, Page 22

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

AUCKLAND CONTROL BOARD. OPENING NEW GRANDSTAND. ARRANGEMENTS FOR SATURDAY. At the meeting'of the Auckland Rugby League Control Board last evening, Mr. G. Grey Campbell presiding, a "number of applications were received for vice-president season tickets, and much pleasure was expressed at the receipt of a third anonymous offer of £100 free of interest from a supporter of the code. This was gratefully accepted, together with a donation of a special medal offered by another enthusiast for the most-improved senior goal-kicker during the season. Mr. Campbell reported that . arrangements were complete for the opening of the new grandstand on Saturday by the Governor-General, Lord Bledisloe, and ho asked the full co-operation of officials and clubs to make this day in the twenty-fifth year of the code in Auckland a very successful one.

The principal fixture for Saturday will be Ponsoviby v. Richmond. Based on the information that the Marist Old Boys team would include several of its wellknown players and a number of other footballers calculated to form a very strong side, it was decided to stage the Marist v. City match as the curtainraiser for No. 1. Newton and Devonport will play on No. 2 ground at 1.30 p.m. in order to give the players an opportunity to participate in the grandstand ceremony, and the reserve teams will play at 3 p.m.

The board adopted the rules committee's recommendation, supported by the Referees' Association, that the new forcedown rule should provide for a dropout from the goal-line, both in the case when the defending side forced the ball or kicked it de<sd. The board resolved that the new rule should not be put into operation, out of fairness to teams so far engaged in the premiership, until the start of the second round. Mr. J. Rukutal reported that he controlled the first match between the Tuakau and Kolianga teams in the code on Saturday, and the prospects for the game in the Franklin County were exceptionally good. Hir report was adopted, and the chairman announced that, since Mr. Rukutai's visit, two other clubs had adopted the code at Pukekolie, and would be meeting the Tuakau and Kohanga teams this week-end. It was decided to send a special Auckland referee to control one of the matches. The board went into committee for the appeal of Newton Club in respect of Allen, who was ordered off on opening day. It was decided that the suspension of Allen for two Saturdays should stand. The club notified its intention to appeal to the New Zealand Council. . The chairman said it was the intention of the management to be severe on rough play incidents, as no such football was wanted in the game. . It was announced that the primary schools' management new constitution had been approved, and a very successful competition was in prospect. The chairman intimated that negotiations /regarding broadcasting from Garlaw Park were still in progress. . Reinstatements. —James Freebairn, xseit iDoncaster and C. and R. Wilson. Lynn), F. Glover (New L?nn), and N. Burgess (late Kaipara rep.), to Newton Rangers; Victor J. Lodge (Jlelensyille) and C. W. Turnock (Mount Eden), to Marist Old Boys; D. Fitzgerald (Ponsonby), to Devonport. Tranfers. —A. W. dickers, Mount Albert to Ponsonby reserve; A. C. Miller, Marist reserve to City Rovers. , Regrades.—A. Crouch, from Marist reserves to Mount Albert; R. J. N. Ihomas to Glenora.