SHORE AND CITY TO PROVIDE MAIN LEAGUE MATCH

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 138, 13 June 1941, Page 4

SHORE AND CITY TO PROVIDE MAIN LEAGUE MATCH

Two of the strongest teams In the Auckland Rugby League's senior championship competition, North Shore and City, will meet in the mum match at Carlaw Park to-morrow.

This season, Shore has a heavy and fast set of forwards, including a very fast raiding player in C. S. Petersen. Rutherford will be hooking, and for support in the front row will have Field and Graham. H. Hunt and Napier will probably be the second row. In B. McArthur. North Shore has an enterprising attacking half-back; Clarke and Chatham will compose the liyceighth line. J. Smith, whose goal kicking was a great feature last Saturday, will play in the ccntre, with a speedy pair of wings in A. Greenwood and K. Wilkie. V. J. Scott will be in his customary .position at full-back.

City has done well this season with a virile and heavy set of forwards, and outstanding players in H. jilataira, W. Mataira and W. Jackson. As W. Mataira will be back in his old place as hooker to-morrow, City backs should get a fair share of the ball.

City will be served by one of the best half-backs in the game in R. Grotte, while the choice of two five-ciphths will be made from A. Donovan, I'. McManus and V . Simpson. Tlie latter played on the wing hist week, and his incisive attack will probably be of greater value in the inside backs. <T. Burgovne, who has been playing in the City five-eighth line, will drop back to centre, where he will l>e supported on the wing by a very speedy player in J. Gould. C. Gould may be seen on the other wing. City have a very reliable full-back in W. S. Clarke, who is showing consistently good form. The match will probably result in a keen fight for forward supremacy, and much may depend on which set of backs gehs mast in the way of possession lroiu set scrums.

The League leaders, Richmond, have been drawn to meet Newton in "the early match on the No. 1 ground, and although Newton has played briiihtlv in recent matchos. it is possible that the Richmond combination may prove too much for ■them. Richmond has an exceptionally well-balanced team, with an even set oi forwards, and backs which have had the advantage of playing together for a ntnnoi(} iwoq sct[ uoijuiMquio,") suofuos 10 joq secret of Richmond's success to date. The early match on the No. 2 ground will be between Mannkau and l'apakura. It will be followed with a match between Ponsonby and Mnrist. Both matches are likely to provide keen and even contests.

How they stand: — Points Ch. P. W. L. D. F. A. Pts. Richmond 4 5 5 - - 99 33 10 North Shore ... 4 3 1 - 68 26 6 City 5 3 2 - 70 61 6 Manukau 4 2 2 - 56 35 4 Pons on by 4 2 2 - 40 42 4 Mt. Albert 5 2 3 - 59 81 4 Newton 4 1 2 1 72 70 3 Marist 5 1 3 1 54 129 3 Papakura 4 - 4 - 38 79 •1940 champion.