LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 110, 11 May 1934, Page 13

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

OPENING OF GRANDSTAND. FINE PROGRAMME OF MATCHES. » ARRANGEMENTS FOR TO-MORROW. Added to a fine programme of championship match play, bringing the two unbeaten teams Ponsonby and Richmond in conflict for the first time this season, the Auckland Rugby League to-morrow will celebrate the opening of the new grandstand by his Excellency the Governor-General, who will be making his third visit to Carlaw Park. Arrangements are complete for an impressive yet simple ceremony, a feature of which will be the address by Lord Bledisloe. This will commence at 3 p.m. sharp. ' In order that all senior players will be able to take part, the. .curtain-raiser matches will start punctually at 1.30 p.m., Marists and City on No. 1 ground and Newton and Devonport on the No. 2 area. A fast and open fixture is sure to be seen in the former contest. The City team, profiting from its reverse last week, will be re-arranged and stronger, whilst as regards Marists, the improved personnel will occasion more than ordinary interest. There will be newcomers in the back division. Devonport 'and Newton are well remembered keen rivals of last season, and both thirteens will be at their best. It is confidently expected that the main clash will provide a brilliant exhibition between the youthful Ponsonby combination, coached by F. Delgrosso, and the dashing Richmond elect coached by A. T. McClymont. The packs will be well-matched, and a great deal may depend on the finishing powers of the rearguard. The play-the-ball rule is to be strictly applied by referees, requiring that the tackled plaver shall instantly rise- and play the ball with his foot, faced by one opponent, with the other_ players behind the respective half-backs the move. Teams:— MARIST OLD BOYS. Seniors.—Campbell, List, Purlonger. Lodge, Schultz, Dunn, Hassan. \\ ebberley. Campbell, Flanagan, Nelson, Kean, White, Iverson, Clarke. Reserve Grade.—Gunn, O Connor, O Kane, i Stevens, Strahan, Benson, List, Baknlich, Fitzgerald, Grotte. Chalmers, Glover. Barry, Loader, Smith, Fern, Ford, Pennycook. CITY ROVERS. Seniors.—Watene, R. Pyrdy, White, Tnrei, Wayne, Wiberg, Axeman, Herring. Ragg. S. Clarke, Jones, Nathan, AicLiau£hliii» Kutnerford. Brown. \ Reserve Grade. —Hughes, siun<:e, Brown, Maher, Barchard.' Belcham. Clarke. McLean. Paul, Peachey. Rutherford, Rawiri, Pierce, Thompson, Butl°r. J. Purdy, Brown. PONSONBY. SenHors.—Jones, g.hera, Kay, Littlewood, Riley, W. stock-ley. Halloran. Hutt, Davis, Why,' McLeay, Brown, J. Stockley, Grieve, Keesing, Skelton." , Reserve Grade. —Lane, Small. McGarvey. Midgley, Maher, Midgley, French, Craig. Higgins, Browne, Blood, Lyons, Smith, Verrall, Moran, Peterson, Vickers. NEWTON. Seniors.—Dempsey. Stevens. Bright. Pope, Middleton, Glover, Quirke, Browne, Kelsall, Hall. Merrick, Crook. Brimble, Porteons. Reserve Grade. —Donaldson. Lymbnrnc, Massey, Hill, Burt, Kohn. Ladbrook.. Hammond, Poland. Clenim. Davenport, Hickey, Wilton, Johnson, Craies, Dickson. DEVONPORT UNITED. Seniors.——Donald, Hall,. Hunt, Knock, Laing, Leatherbarrow, Masefield, O'Donnell, Powell, Radonicli, Rhodes, Scott, Seagar, Simpson, Smith, Sowter. , Reserve Grade. — Adams, Blkck, Douglas, Fitzgerald, Hammill, Hunter, Hurley, •Tones, McWilliams, Massey, Neighbour, Newton (2), Webb, Wilson.

RICHMOND ROVERS. Seniors. —Cooke, McNeil, Minchani, Mitchell, Tetley, Young, J. Sntherley, X'rentice, Powell, Jenkinson, C. Satlierley, Lawless, Telford, Broudhead, Milicicli, Metculle. Reserve Grade. —Marshall, J. \oung, Wilkie, Simmons, Campbell, Bickerton, Reynolds, Wilson, Verrall, Douglas, Crookall, Smith, Lennie, Hogan, Swirnberg, Robinson. CORRECTION IN FIXTURES. The fourth grade match between Marists and Ellersiie and the third intermediate game between Richmond and Akarana will take place on Saturday at Western Springs. The school game at Carlaw Park between Devonport and Richmond will start at 12.30 p.m. NEW ZEALAND COUNCIL. AFFAIRS OF VARIOUS CENTRES. The president of the New Zealand Council of the Rugby League (Mr. Cyril Snedden) opened last evening's meeting by extending a hearty welcome to Mr. J. Redwood as the new delegate tor West Coast (South Island) in succession to Mr. A. Phare, recently appointed but unable to accept the position. The Balmain Club (Sydney) wrote stating that it hoped the opportunity would present itself for its to visit New Zealand later this season. The Northland League, in forwarding its annual report, stated that, with the permission of the council, it intended to carry out its intention to tour this season. The Northland balance-sheet showed a credit of over £300. The council decided to request from the centre details of the itinerary of its proposed jtour. The Hawke's Bay League advised that it had six teams in each of its three grades this season, and the game, despite all obstacles, was gcoing along satisfactorily. Only six senior players were not resuming, and there were more than sufficient new registrations to compensate. Hawke's Bay warmly commended the proposal to institute an interprovincial competition for Maori teams on the lines of the Northern Union Cup, as decided upon by the council. It was asked that the trophy be presented first to the Bay, which had an all-Maori club. The council decided to advise that the rules regarding the Maori trophy were not yet formulated. Considerable discussion took place in connection with the new dropout and force-down rule, Mr. E. Stallworthy maintaining that the English ruling should be adhered to. The matter was deferred, and it was decided to write the English Council, arid also the Australian Board of Control, as to whether the English rule had been amended late in the season just closed. ,The appeal of Newton Rangers Club, jvho was suspended for a fortnight by the Auckland League, was dismissed after due consideration of the evidence submitted. A batch of reinstatements (names already published) was approved. The council decided to have report brought down regarding the piaj ing o various rules. . . A further strong protest to the Postmaster-General in connection with broadcasting was decided upon. It was reported that replies had been re ceived to applications made or to com munications on the subject.