LEAGUE CODE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVXIII, Issue 110, 11 May 1937, Page 15

LEAGUE CODE.

FIRST BIG GAME.

MAORIS VERSUS AUCKLAND.

KEEN CONTEST PROMISED.

The Coronation Day attraction at Corlaw Park to-morrow will be the meeting of the Auckland representative thirteen, chosen by the Hole .selector, Mr. H. Brisbane, and a Maori side selected by Mr. E. K. Asher, and supporters of the code are promised a thrilling contest.

The Auckland team is well-balanced, both among the forwards and backs, and the players who are being given a trial nave won their way into the team by sheer merit The backs are a speedy lot, and with lowdl behind the scrum, they should be given plenty of opportunities to open up the play. W. Tittletoii and Stocklev have teamed before in the five-eighths, and their understanding should go a long way to setting in motion the three-quarters. Minchani, Kay and McCallum. The last named, who hails from North Auckland will be seen in action in big football for the hist tune, and he has only to repeat the form which he has been revealing in cub matches to be a point-getter. Dempsey should make an admirable last line of defence. The forwards have weight, speed in the loose, and will give as good as they receive in the hard stuff. The Maori thirteen looks particularly promising on Paper Ihe forwards, with Steve Watene to hold them together, and such men as Kawe, Mmnix and McLeod to lend them support, are a weighty lot, who never slacken pace from bell to bell. The backs too, have enterprise and dash. Mahima behind the scrum will let no chances of opening up the play escape him. Bickerton and Kata should make an ideal pair of five-eighths-, while Broughton, Hemi and Broderiek are big and, dashing enough to press home any advantages which come their way. Tawhai is capable and reliable at full-back.

Tlie main attraction will be preceded by interesting: curtain-raisers. llie teams are as follows:—MAORIS. Full-back: Tawhai (City). Three-quarters: Brough'ton, Hemi, Brodei ick (Manukau). Five-eighths: Bickerton (Richmond), Rata (City). Half-back: Mahima (Manukau). forwards: Kawe (Manukau), Proctor ( c\yton), Minnix (City), McLeod (Richmond), Rickett (Manukau), Watene (Manukau). Reserves: R. Brimble, B. Brimble, Raymond, Logan. AUCKLAND. Full-back: Dempsey (Xewton). Three-quarters: McCallum (Mount Albert), Kay (Ponsonby), G. Tittleton (Richmond). Five-eighths: W. Stocklev (Ponsonby) W. Titjleton (Richmond). Half-back: Powell (Richmond). Forwards. Breed (Marist). Satherlev (Richmond), Gault (Manukau). Hollows (>.orth Shore), Gunning (Mount Albert). Morgan (Ponsonby). Reserves: Backs, Halloran (Ponsonbv) Midgley (Marist), Telford (Richmond) Petersen (Mount Albert). AFFAIRS OF REFEREES. At the meeting of the Auckland Rugbv League Referees' Association last evenifig. Mr. L. Bull presiding, the executive intimated that the .play-the-ball rule would be strictly enforced, while indiscriminate kicking and late tackling would be vigorously penalised. It was ruled that an injured player on the side-line wishing to return to the field, must wait until the ball is dead, and then either the line umpire or the referee of his intention to resume.