LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 162, 10 July 1936, Page 13

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

INTER-CLUB GAME.

PROMISE or GREAT PLAY,

STRONG SOUTHERN SIDE.

. Ihe games between the North Island : and South Island Rugby League teams • have in tlio past produced football of a ugh order, and the fixture which has p e ,tV- ail ' ;m f?cd for tomorrow at Garlaw n.nh eleventh of the series, should in o\e no exception to the rule. Particu-.'r-iml 5 511 .'nterest is being shown in the hI; V:",T W °, *r .approaching visit of uic Ln o lish side which is now in Australia In addition to the elect of both slands giving of their best, a large num- .. f other prominent players will appear m the curtain-raiser, and all will be anxious to catch the eyes of the selectors, J linos McClymont, H. Avery and H,?Vn^ int T e r is ';"! d games played to date the IS 01 th Island has triumphed 011 eight occasions. Jhe South lias claimed the honours on one occasion, while the other r\ aS , Tho men from the I youth Island, however, are always hard I to beat, and of late years the encounters I n by th ? il " rivals h y slender )P h S »Vf i yeal i 0 Soutll pack is of the tiaditional order, and is likelv to harass the opposition with such " fine nigged players as Calder, McKneight and Glynn to lead them. Their backs, too, are ci edited with having nip, pace and lesource, and spectators, therefore, can look forward to seeing the Southerners as a more impressive combination than they have been in the past. McCarthy, the half-back, was seen in action at Carlaw I ark last year and gave a sound display The five-eighths are Garrett and V incent, and the former, who is only 10 years of age, is considered to bo one of the most brilliant backs the South Island has produced for many years. Vincent, who usually figures as half-back, was a tormer Canterbury and West Coast representative. The three-quarter lino is fast and dangerous, while Ritchie, the full-back, gives promise of going far in the code. He has gained liis place in the team owing to Standeven, last season's custodian, being unavailable. The North Island pack is one of the strongest that <jould be fielded, as it includes such fine grafters in the tight and loose as Pickrang, Satherlcv, Morgan, Anderson and Tetley, all of Auckland. Coutts, who hails from Wellington, is another fine packman of the heady, hardworking order, and 011 the occasion of his recent appearance at Carlaw Park he was the outstanding forward on the ground. Given a fair share of the ball, the Northern backs are capable of rising to dazzling .heights. Dempsey, the fullback, can be relied upon for sound defence and well-judged kicking, while the wing three-quarters, Lou Brown and Bright, arj as heady a pair as there are to be found in the game in Auckland. Always looking for the opening and frequently finding it, they will be exeedingly dangerous, providing the ball travels speedily out to them. Haslam, the former Rugby representative, is another clever attacking player, and his straight running should give plenty of thrust to the chain. Staples comes from Napier and is credited with plenty of pace and dash, despite his 13 stone. Tittleton is playing wonderfully fine football and can be relied upon to give his supports every opportunity. Coman, the half-back, is a fine attacking half-back and sends out crisp passes from the base of the scrum. Ho gave a fine display when Wellington and Auckland met recently, and he has only to repeat that form to give his three-quarters all the clianpcs they need.

The game, viewed from all angles, promises to be fast and open and crowded with thrills from bell to bell. The deciding factor might be the gaining of possession in the scrums, and the Northern pack will have its hardest job to pntwit the lively Southern sextet, who possess both brains and brawn, and hooking ability. The curtain-raiser should also ~be 'an excellent game, particularly as any outstanding player is to receive consideration for the team to meet the English tourists. The teams for to-morrow are as follow: South Island. Full-back: W. Ritchie (West Coast). Three-quarters: C. Davison (Canterbury), N. Itiely (Reefton), E. Hendry (Canterbury). Five-eighths: J. Garrett (Canterbury), W. Vincent (Reefton). Half-back: J. McCarthy (Canterbury). Forwards: J. Calder (West Coast), R. Ward (Canterbury), W. McNeight (West Coast), W. Glynn (West Coast), M. Smith (Canterbury), J. Beban (West Coast). Reserves—T. O'Connor (West Coast), and I'. Serra (Canterbury). North Island. Full-back: C. Dempsey (Auckland). Three-quarters: R. Bright, R. Haslam, L. Brown (Auckland). Five-eighths: W. Tittleton (Auckland), E. Staples (Napier). Half-back: J. Coman (Wellington). Forwards: F. Pickrang. J. Satlierlcy (Auckland), J. Coutts (Wellington), E. Morgan, J. Anderson, H. Tetley (Auckland). Reserves—A. Kay and J. Petersen (Auckland).

TRIAL MATCH. A TEAM. Full-back: J. Hemi. Three-quarters: L. Scott, B. Riley, S. Loader. Five-eighths: T. O'Connor (West Coast), W. Stockley. Half-back: R. Powell. Forwards: W. Telford, C. Flanagan, J. Gault, S. Watene, J. Donald, J. Petersen.

B TEAM. Full-back: G. Kerr. Three-quarters: N. Bickcrton, A, Kay, C. Jones;. Five-eighths: L. Sehultz, R. Trevatlian. Half-back: E. Scott. l'orwards: S. Clark, J. Rutherford. N. Breed, A. Carter, D. Iveane, P. Sena (Canterbury). Reserves for both teams:—Backs; D. Wilkie, G. Tittleton, F. H-illoran. Forwards: W. Johnson, R. Hollows. L Kawe. Mr. M. Wetherill will be referee. DEVONPORT UNITED. >.^. e .?? lvc tirade.—Carrol, Thompson (2), McGill, Hamill, V. Scott, Neighbour, Cossell, Kennedy, Barnett, Beaslev, E. Briggs Black, Archer, Matthews,' Valentine, Crooks, Miller, Jordan, Hall. COUNCIL WELCOME. SOUTH ISLAND CONFIDENT. CHARGES FOR ENGLISH MATCHES. Extending a welcome to the South Island team, the manager and accompanying visitors, prior to the opening of the meeting of the council of the New Zealand Rugby League last evening, the president, Mr. Cyril Sneddon, said the Southerners could rely upon the goodwill of the Auckland public. This had been created by former teams from the South, including a number of "old friends." It would be the duty of the new players to uphold the reputations built up by South Island teams in past years, in what had become regarded as one of the most popular fixtures of the football year. (Applause.) That appreciation had been achieved through the spectacular and determined displays by the Southerners, even when at a disadvantage. Features were not only the strength of the South forwards, but the sporting spirit always shown by the visitors. The speaker said he witnessed a hard game at Whangarei on Saturday between South Auckland and Northland, and it was marked by a similar friendly tone and freedom from casualty. That kind of a game was possible only with team co-operation by fully fit players worthy of their clubs, provinces and of their country, in skill, speed, stamina and strategy. The inter-Island game 011 Saturday was regarded as a trial for the choosing of players to meet the Englishmen, in the effort to show that New Zealand now ranked with the best of the world in the code. Those aspiring to honour the Dominion had to forget self in a worthy objective, lie wished the South Island a success that would enhance the prospects of New Zealand in the international programme ahead. The Courtney Silver Football Trophy involved was presented by Mr. R. O. Courtney, of Christchurch, whose generosity to the game with his remodelled international goodwill trophy was referred to in terms of hearty appreciation by the speaker. Mr. J. Rukutat. in the absence of the chairman of the Auckland Rugby League, Mr. G. Grey Campbell, eloquently welcomed the visitors. Mr. J. E. A. Amos, South Island selector and manager, said 110 was a playing member a few years ago of a South Island team which beat the North, and he thought that win could be repeated to-morrow. Mr. ,T. Beban, captain, expressing surprise at the cordiality of the welcome, said he felt sure the team would win, and the North Island would know it had had a real test.

Final arrangements were made for the inter-Island match, and it was decided to tender an official dinner to the two teams and visitors after tho match.