REPRESENTATIVE LEAGUE TO-MORROW

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21577, 13 September 1935, Page 18

REPRESENTATIVE LEAGUE TO-MORROW

The Auckland Rugby League team, which plays Canterbury at Monica Park to-morrow, returned to Christchurch from Greymouth last night and is staying at the Hoyal Hotel. This is the first visit from Auckland since 1927, when, in an interesting game, the visitors won by 24 points to 13. The team manager is Mr Grey Campbell, chairman of the Auckland Rugby League, and Vice-president of the New Zealand League Council. Mr H. Avery, captain of the 1926 team to England and one of the best forwards the country has produced, is assistant manager. Mr T. A. McClymont, a New Zealand selector, is also travelling with the team.

Mr Campbell says the code is very popular in Auckland this year. In spite of a very wet season gate takings are up £SOO on last year and £I2OO on three years ago. He regards this team as the best that ever came south from Auckland, as all strive for fast, open play. With perhaps one exception, the players will be chosen as representatives against the Australians.

It will be noted in the following short biographies that the captains of the seven club teams in Auckland are included in the team, a rather reremarkable coincidence, which was not noted till the players were entering Wellington:— A. E. Cooke (lOst 121b), the captain, has a reputation for brilliance wherever football is played. Captain of

the Richmond Club, he generally plays full-back, but at times moves up to the five-eighth line. In club play his forwards do not bother to drop back to help in defence, but take a spell, and wait for Cooke to send the ball back to help in defence, but take a spell and wait for Cooke to send the ball back to them. His play has been really brilliant this season; it is claimed that he is still at his best. Cooke started nis football career in the junior Rugby League ranks in Auckland. Great Scoring Player Lou Brown, captain of the City Club (list), is the best scoring man in New Zealand League to-day. He has become the idol of the crowd wherever he has played. His rise to international standard was meteoric, as he was in a New Zealand team when only 19 years of age. He was in the 1925 team that toured Australia, and later spent six years in England, playing for York

Auckland Players Appearing Against Canterbury

and St. Helens. While in England Brown held the record for the number of tries scored. He was a member of the 1926 team to England. E. Brimble, captain of Newton (lOst 71b), is a brother of C. P. Brimble, of Waimairi. He has been a New Zealand and Auckland representative, showing both pace and cleverness. He has been very good in club football this year, playing as a three-quarter. C. Dempsey (lOst 81b) is full-back for Newton. He is considered about the surest and safest full-back in Auckland, and has a reputation for running his three-quarters into position for attack. At times he takes a place in the three-quarter line. C. Hall (12st 21b), only 21 years of age, is a very fast wing who is hard to stop. He is expected to profit immensely by his experience on this tour. B. Riley (list), 20 years old, is the youngest of the team. A son of the famous Auckland five-eighths of 30 years ago, O. Riley, his play as p five-eighth is of a very high standard and he is extremely hard to catch Promising: Young Player A. Kay '(list 121b), a three-quarter or five-eighths, is considered most promising. He is 21 years of age, and comes from Ponsonby. E. Fletcher (list 31b) is the utility back of the side. He comes from Richmond, and can fill any position with credit. A member of a well-known football family, he played Rugby for the Palmerston North High School, and was also a Manawatu Rugby Union representative half-back. W. Hassan (list 31b) is captain of Mount Albert, has been in a New Zealand team, and .is also New Zealand diving champion. He plays a very solid and hard game at half-back. He hurt an ankle badly at Wellington last Saturday. J. Laird (13st 51b) is captain of Marist A good, hard front-row , forward, he handles very welL Has been a New Zealand representative. L. Hutt (13st 71b), captain of Ponsonby, is the hooker. He has been a New Zealand representative and also played for St. Helens in England. Probably the fastest forward in Auckland at present. C. Satherley (13st 61b), a second row man, is an experienced player who was formerly captain of the Hawke's Bay Union representatives. He is regarded as the man who holds the good Richmond pack together. D. Herring (13st 31b) is 21 years old, and comes of a family that has provided many New Zealand representatives. A second or front row forward of great promise, the plays for Mount Albert, and was picked as the best forward against Wellington. H. Simpson (13st 31b) is a very solid and dependable front row man. He is captain of Devonport, and has been an Auckland representative. B. Keane (12st 131b) has a name as a fast follower up from the Marist Club. Formerly from Rugby Union, he has made great improvement lately, and has been going very strongly this year. H. Tetley (12st lib), the lightest of the forwards, is a very fast breakaway. He was formerly a Rugby Union five-eighths, and handles cleanly and teams in well. The Canterbury Team

"Nerves" is likely to be the main drawback to the Canterbury team, as most of the players are young. A lot, therefore, will, as usual, depend on the captain, J. Amos. If he can lead his men so well as to overcome this, no doubt they will contest every minute of the match. The backs understand each other's play. Standeven, Knight, Logie.Amos, Young, McCarthy, Ward, and Serra were all members of the South Island team this year that were beaten by only one point. The Thacker Shield Last week-end's games found the winners of the West Coast championships in Blackball,' who beat Runanga by 3 points to 2, after a previous draw. Now Addington, local champions, can arrange a date for the Thacker Shield.