LEAGUE FOOTBALL. AUCKLAND REFEREES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 80, 5 April 1938, Page 16

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

AUCKLAND REFEREES.

EARLY START MADE. THE OPENING GAMES. SIDKLIGHTS AND PLAYKRS. j Ihe playing of pn liniiiiary matches j last Saturday by the Auckland Kugby League marked a x cry caily .-tart lor the j game this season in Auckland, but inter- | est was slum n by a fair attendance and I spectators were icxx aided bv .-nine good j Hashes of play. It vv 'i s a sultiy dav and the matches generally xx ere treated a.- plactice events and 11 ,i out for the pia.xcrs. The surpiise xvas the good slnnving by Pa pa km a. the nexx senior team. and Marist had to play all out to dcie.it them by a single point. Ihe Pa pa k 111 a play xx as on the right lines, thoie xx as an eiideaxour to eonibine and id,i,x crs in possession lan fast and • v, "iigl". They appear to liaxe a good .-olid pack oi 1 orxxaids and liax'e an excentioiial back in K. Huigess, who has great dash and pace. Papak lira will further strengthen their team for the coin pet i t ion matches. It is probable that they will gain hill.urn. a good five-eighths from II Mi Kobbie, the Pokeno forward, xxliile there is a possibility that I'. Satherlcy. the former hichmond and Mount Albert forward, will lead the pack. If the latter turns out apakura xxill have au experienced plaver whose knowledge of the game ,-hoiild be extremely beneficial. Marist will [iroliaidy settle down to be "M" " f ' 1 "' strongest teams in the cone pel 1 t in" . 11l M. is la lit th ex liaxe line (,1 11,,. best pivotal pla.xers in Auckland md in hahey and Midgelex vex spoe.lv xx,,,gs. hll.ll colli posl t 101 loi their ill-lde 'V" k -r ,I ' ,S - v ''' •» '••• decided, and on 1,,. — 1111 xx i„ g ~,, Sal 11, ,1., x the former--v I"' 1 I''ax-er. looks like being cei tain of 1,1 Anders,,n. liutle, and Hrced 1 '"'- v M' l x o a tine tin, ,>i fnrxx a i d.-.

Good Set of Backs. Mount Albert should be another of the strong teams in the competition, with a particularly good set of backs. E. Mincham, who has been the best pivotal back for Richmond for some seasons, has joined Mount Albert, and with McXcil itnd McCailum outside him the Mount Albert three-quarter line should be a bit nt a problem lor their opponents. Their lorwards appeal to be just as strong as last season. llie trials have not revealed the full tone oi the Manukau team, and tliey arc waiting for the appearance of Xepia and I Ilemi ill their backs. The latter has ; expi essed a desiie to play lor I'onsonby. j but the tralister muse some difii-«-1111 x . I* ri i\ill< ■. 1 that they have Xepia ! j.ind Hi-iiii the Manukau barks should be ' I piiriicui.il I v st l oii^ 1 -i i - ! their new forward. Peter Ririnui. from the |-..ist ( oast. made ;i impression j I on his li rst appearance, and Brodi ick. the! best fonvanl in Auckland last year,' appears tn be already in jiood form. | : I 'oils, in I»v have practically all their backs ot last season available, and Clark, | a yoiiiiji player fiom Klleisli<\ is the inak- ! oi a nood lull-back. The I'onsonby j pack is very strong and some flood players ■ will liave to be lett out. Kraser. the | • >i 'i met' Taranaki player. has [rood 1 physique and made a fine impression last 1 | Saturday. I Last season Newton did not start in a promising way. but they improved as the | season advanced. Of their old team. \V. j Brimble. I-,. Urimble and Crooks plaved well Oil Saturday, and Kendall, a full-back from North Auckland, showed promise. ; I hey have a fairly good pack of forwards. ! i who stuck to their work well in the pre- I I li in ina ry match. Form of Richmond. . Hi''hnionil have tlire<. well-tried p!a\ ri s i in I'owcll. lii.kcilon and W. Tittletoii 11,1 tjicii 111 si* 1•- backs, who know each ! "ihei s plav well. and \Y. Tilt le- j t "" ls pai ti clllai i\ clever at taking ■be srap ami a movement for 'he men outride linii. Th<> form showed by Muls and <;rahain. two of the jimim*. !M ' n eii ii them |iermanent places in the sen mr team. Kniiiel, was the most

improved full-back in Auckland last seasoil and should make further headway. The play of Devme, the former Wellington Kugby representative forward, was watched with interest and he made a good impression. City, on their showing, do not appear to be exceptionally strong, and they will miss both Alatairu and Donald, who were their best forwards last year. However, Hutchinson's form at the base of the scrum is excellent, AYjberg can be relied upon to gather points consistently witli accuiate goal-kicking, anil tiie lorwards may shake dou into a solid combination.

i A welcome to three vire-presidents w,~ : extended at a inci ting •>: the .VnUl-ind Kugby League Keieit-t*' Ast-n, i.itlou jutt , evening. .Mr. 1.. Hull picr-idcd. | Air. AI. Kenton it-t-.giH'd .it* «1 •-1 <-_r *»• i to the junior managi'iienl. Hi- and Air. i A. Sanders wei e mium quciii !\ «-N-i-I.i ~s | the mading and examination <■..jniiiitt• i Air. L. 1 i 111! a.s II (.>lll i l i;i t<-> i .IS t i 11: • 1 ■ man oil the .ij<p<>illlineiiti-i bo.ii'i. subject : to approval by the contiol boaid.