RUGBY LEAGUE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 85, 10 April 1935, Page 17

RUGBY LEAGUE.

PAST SEASON REVIEWED.

IMPROVED STANDARD OF FI-AY. GOOD PROGRESS MADE. The annual meeting of the Auckland Kngby League was held last evening, the chairman, Mr. Grey Campbell, presiding. There was a good attendance, and the report and balanee-iheetj. already published, were adopted. .

In his address to members the chairman said the . balance-sheet and report they could read with grea't pleasure. It would be seen that good., progress had been made in the due to the improved standard of play by all the clubs. The teams had displayed fthat keenness which made for improvement in standard, and this was particularly noticeable among the younger players, The necessity of coaches to see that their teams were in that condition to 'give of their beet at the opening of the season was of paramount importance. Attendances last season had improved, and despite the fact that there were ten wet Saturdays, the attendances were better than the previous year. ,\ ; '

Brighter Than Ever! f ■'I believe the prospects fpii {his year •110 brighter than ever before. The play *ill be better than, ever and I See great possibilities in the younger playe.rs, who. £ feel confident, will ehow that standard of- play which delights the crow.d, said Mi , . Campbell. Mr. Campbell gave an emphatic denial to the statement that had beeujniiule that the League game was dead everywhere in New Zealand, except in Auckland: It was true in regard to punedin, but. the f code was stronger now in Hawke's Bojfc, Xarar naki and the West Coast than it} hud ever been. Particularly in HawkeV.Bay had great progress been made. If the\standard of play shown in provincial matches ami the inter-Island match was maintained there need be no fear for the future ot the code.

A i-'rench Team. The season this year promised more than one treat. An Australian team would Visit the Dominion and there was the possibility of a visit by a French team. If such eventuated it would be a great day for League football in the Dominion.

Gulf Clesed. "The gulf that existed at one time between amateur and professionals has been closed," said Mr. Campbell. "•.■* ol ' know that at one time in English cricket professionals had to go through one £ate and amateurs another. That has been done away with, and the young man who wishes to" play League football need have no fear of the term professional being/ hurled at Him. So far as I know there are no professional League players in .New Zealand." The chairman concluded by asking one and all to put their best foot forward and make the ensuing season even better than the 1934 season. The election t.f officers resulted: — Patron Mr. J. B. Donald: vice-patron. Mr J. F. \V. Dicksori; president. Mr. J. Carlaw chairman. Mr. Grey Campbell; deputy-Vhairman, Mr. E. Plielan; vicepicsidents. Messrs. R. D. Bagnall. l<. Benson, J. Bellamy. 0. Blackwood., J. Donald. C. Drysdale, H. Grange:■ R! ■). Laird, W. J, Lovett. J. AvLec. M.P., J. Montgomery; E. Morton. J. Sayegh, C. Seagof. E. W. Schramm. M.P., JR. IShannan, W. Wallace, H. Walmsley, &. T Wright, R. H. Wood, G. C. Gikuore

and Webb; -club delegates to board of control, J. W. Probert and J. Rukutai; referees' delegate, W. Mincham.

Auckland the Mecca. Mr. C. Snedden, chairman of the New Zealand Rugby League, in a few remarks said the balance-sheet of the Auckland Rugby League was concrete of the progress the League had made. Further evidence was offered in the large attendances throughout the season, and League football was fortunate in having such a capable board of control. Auckland was the Mecca of the League cocie in the Dominion, and in the South the players looked forward to visits to Auckland to see the game played as it is at Carlaw Park. The prejudice, a. stupid prejudice, which had existed against the League game, was being beaten down, and he predicted that in the very near future all that prejudice would be wiped out for ever The League code was not dying out in the South, but, on the other hand, was definitely making progress. The desire ot League supporters in the South was to get a visit from an Auckland representative team. There would be a visit by a team representing Australia during the season, and there was also the possibility of New Zealand in the near future being visited by a French team. Such would be the greatest event in New Zealand s League history. The future of the game was in the hands of the players, and it behove them to see that they were physically fit when they took the held. If they paid the necessary attention to this important matter and saw that nothing was left undone to present the highest standard of football, there was no reason why New Zealand should not be able to held a team to beat the world, just as the Rugby Union All Blacks had done. A' very fine shiel.t witli silver plates upon which to record the names ot lite members was presented to. the Reterees Association by the chairman on bcnalf of the donor, Mr. H. Walmsley Mr. L. Bull accepted the shield on behalt of the association. In expressing his thanks, he emphasised the benefit that would result if delegates of clubs would keep in touch! with'the association, as referees were always ready to give advice. A second shield, also donated oy Mr. Wahuslev, was received, and it was ett to the.A.R.L. committee to decide what form of competition it should be subject.

SEASON OPENS APRIL 27. The Auckland Rugby League season will open on Saturday, April 27 when the first of the club matches will be played. At the annual meeting of. the A. Kb last evening, the chairman, Mr. G e> Campbell, mentioned that in all probab itv. Monday, May 6, would be declared a holiday, and, if bo, one cub match would be played at Carlaw Park that day.