BRIGHT PLAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 136, 10 June 1937, Page 24

BRIGHT PLAY.

THE LEAGUE REPS.

AUCKLAND VICTORIES. TWO CUBAR-CUT WINS. That the Rugby League standard is higher in Auckland than in South Auckland or Taranaki was amply illustrated by the two matches played at Carlaw Park yesterday, when the former were defeated by 26 points to 12 ana the latter' by 27 points to 10. The matches provided bright expositions of the code, there was telling combined effort at times, there were occasional flashes of .glittering play and a good many movements which promised well only to fade and die through. faulty execution of effort at some crucial moment. Neither of the visiting teams were-really strong enough to extend the Auckland representatives, who, in their best efforts, rose- to the team effort that is necessary to gather points. The Auckland teams were a fair division of the League strength at the moment in Auckland, although there are eeveral playere in the game whose form in club in a tehee has certainly been good enough to warrant inclusion for representative honours. _

Gathered from the clubs at Huntly, and. in the vicinity, the 'South Aucklandere are denied the training facilities that the city players have, and they lacked in real combination and constructive effort, but their forwards ehowed fine virility, and in the loose, open play quite matched their opponent. To a certain extent a similar comment could. be made on the Taranaki play, with" the addition that their back play wue marked by commendable enter-

prise, and there wae ceaseless effort to get the ball to a man who could find a gap and drive ahead. That the Taranaki League standard has greatly improved was as evident as the fact that taey have some players who may riee to much greater heights in the game. It was in positional play that both Auckland teams excelled their opponents, and swift covering defence on the general plan of every man taking hie opposite number often checked a tide that was beginning to flood againet them.

Both Kerr and Oempsey played well at full-back for Auckland, and most of the spectators were of the opinion that the former was a shade the better of the pai;r.

In MeCallum and Midgeley there were wings with the resource and epeed so necessary to finalise scoring movements. Kay's speed, BrimWe's ~ brilliance and cleverness at ehootiug through a gap-.and clever drawing of opponents before delivery of a good pass made them the most impressive inside backs, while Mahima took the half-back honours.

The Auckland forward play was marked by ite evenness, with Broderick, with his bouncing run and ability to juggle the ball, the most colourful of the lot. Shaw, the South Auckland half-back, was right up'-to standard, while Miki and Jackson were other backs with possibilities, while Timms was their best forward.

Taranaki fielded a very resolute little half-back in Robinson, who went down fearlessly to the hardest of rushes, and Moorhead gave a lot of impetus to their inside backs when he came on to replace an injured player. The Taranaki threequarter line was speedy and clever, with Christensen making the play for the men outside him with marked cleverness. Much of the Taranaki forward play was of a traditional kind, with fiery rushes, and the ball swept along in the lateral way that is so effective. Fraser, a fourteen etoner, played good enough for any company, and for fast raiding work W Lewis often reached brilliant heights. Both matches were played in a fast open way, and a wealth of bright incident was compensation for errors of commission, which were many. There was a Taranaki tendency to follow a growing Auckland habit and over-do the up and under method of progression. A penalty in goal range should be embraced as an opportunity— as a general rule—to garner two points, instead of sending the ball high and iollowmg through in the hopes of a try materialising.

SATURDAY'S ENGAGEMENTS

♦», M s* c, L e i e for next Saturday by the Auckland Rugby League:— Senior.—Richmond v. Manukau, Carlaw £ N .°" *' 3 pm -' Mr - M - Wetherill; City v. Marist, Carlaw Park No. 1, 1.30 p m Air. A. Lennie; Ponsonby v. Mount Albert Northcote, 3 p.m., Mr. P. Rogers; North 1 re iLr V * i» N SS tO,,, Domain, 3 p.m., Mr. F. Thompson. Reserve Grade—City t. Marist. Domain ef'i. ' 3 . P S-' Mr - A - F *rrell; Manukau v. Richmond, Domain No. 1, 1.30 p.m Mr A Simpson; Ponsonby v. Mount Albert, 'Dooiain No. 5, 1.30 p.m., Mr. J. Gedye: Newton v. North Shore, Devonport. 1.30 p.m., Mr. A. Kinnaird. Senior B.—Manukau v. Papakura, Otahuhu, 3 p.m., Mr. G. Kelly ; Green Lane v. Richmond. Grey Lynn Park, 3 p.m., Mr S Fisher; Northcote v. Newton, Domain No! £• 3 P- m - Mr. J. Ryan; Mount Albert v. R.V., Point Chevalier, 3 p.m., Mr. O. Chalmers ; Point Chevalier, a lye Th'jd Grade.—No. 1 section : R.V. v Ellerslie EUerslle, 3 p.m.. Mr. U Evans: Mount Albert v. Marist, Point Chevalier, 3 g-ra-. Mr. R. Otto; Papakura A v. North «* o i e V Papa w ura ' 3 P m ' Mr - M - Renton; Otahuhu, a bye. No. 2 section : Glenora v Manukau, Glen Eden, 3 p,m., Mr J Macown; City v. Papakura B, Western Springs, 3 p.m.. Mr. G. Barnhill; Richmond and Point Chevalier, byes Fourth Grade.—North Shore Albions v. Northcote, Northcote, 1.45 p.m.. Mr C Knott; Ponsonby .v. Richmond, Victoria Park 3 pm.. Mr. A. Pearson 1 ; Glenora v. U ™ l l e, E " erslie . 1-45 p.m., Mr. T. Evane. Fifth Grade.—Papakura v. Ellerslie, Papakura, 1.45 p.m., Mr. M. Renton ; Avond?,e J-' Otahuhu, Point Chevalier, 1.45 pjn Mr. R Otto; Richmmond v. Northcote, Grey Lynn Park 1.45 p.m., Mr. S. Fisher; City v. North Shore, Outer Domain, 3 p.m., Mr Hi. iiUtt.

Sixth Grade.—Richmond v. City Outer D S D - 1 /. 45 pm " Mr - K Mclvor; Moun? rt »7- G^" een Lane - Polnt Chevalier, 1.45 p.m. Mr. O. Chalmers; Point Chevalier v. Papakura, Manurewa, 2 p.m Mr D

Seventh Grade.—Pongoaby v. North Shore Victoria Park No. 1, 1.45 p.m., Mr H. Tate; Richmond t. Qlenora, Western Springs, I t° £- m ,Z Mr G - Barnhill; Otahuhu, a bye. Schoolboys.—Junior grade : Point Chevalier v. Newton, Outer Domain, 10 a m • Manukau v. Geo. Courts, Outer Domain', 10.10 a™-; Balmoral v. Marist, Outer Dccnain. 10.30 a.m.; Ponsonby v. North Shore, Devonport, 3.45 p.m.; Richmond v. Newton, Carlaw Park, 2 p.m. f Northcote v Geo. Courts B, Carlaw Park, 3 45 ■ Intermediate Grade.—Otahuhu v. AvonSi ttle ;. A X ondale ' 1230 P m - Mr A - Smith: North fchore v. Ponsonby, Devonport, 12 30 p.in., Mr. A. Kinnaird ; Marist v. Balmoral Domain No. 5, 12.30 p.m., Mr. J. Cottin«hain ,j Northcote v. Newton, Domain No. 1, 12.30 p.m., Mr. T. Tracey; Ellerslie v. Richmond, Grey Lynn, 12.30 p.m., Mr. G. Korn : Point Chevalier v. Mount Albert, Point Chevalier, 12.30 p.m., Mr. W. Skitt. Senior Grade. —Marist v. Newton, Outer Domain, 12.20 p.m., Mr. C. Buchan ; Ellerslie v. Manukau, Ellerslie. 12.20 p.m., Mr Hanvnond; Richmond v. Point Chevalier Point Chevalier. 12.30 p.m., Mr. W Simpson; Mouut Albert v. Avondale Convent Avondale, 1.30 p.m., Mr. A. Smith Linesmen.—Carlaw Park No. 1. Messrs. H. Carroll and P. Brady; reserve referee, Mr. S- Billman.

OTAHUHU SCHOOL CHILDREN. A complaint was received at last evenings meeting of the Auckland Rugby League that undue influence was being brought to bear in the matter of schoolchildren attending football matches at Otahuhu. The chairman, Mr. G. Grey Campbell, read a printed circular issued to school children advertising the Rngby Union matches.- for. next Saturday at- Sturzess Park. Several delegates asked that the matter should be referred to the Education Department. On the suggestion of the chairman it- was decided to approach the local school committee on the matter application of Hawea Mataira, the New Zealand and Maori All Black, to play for the City Clnb next Saturday was approved. - SEVEN A-SIDE AT WHANGAREI. Thirty trams took part in the Northland Rugby League's seven-a-side tournament yesterday. Results: — Senior.—Kamo 8, v. Hikurangl 0. Junior Grade.—One Tree Point beat City by a force-down. Third Grade.—Kamo 16, v. Whakapura 0. Fourth Grade—Hikurangi 13, v. City 0