Further Recruits To Rugby League Code

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 198, 19 May 1936, Page 14

Further Recruits To Rugby League Code

New Zealand Council Enforces Non-Replacement Rule

(By

RAMBLER.)

QT. GEORGE took the lead in the seuior A grade competition of the Wellington Rugby League when the second series of matches was played on Saturday. The team scored a decisive victory against Bet one, last season’s champion side, and which, on its form of the previous week, was expected to prove a stiff proposition for the city men. After being behind at half-time, however, St. George staged a good recovery, and in a second spell of thrills got the decision by a margin of ten points. At Newtown Park, the young Hutt team played gamely against the fleety Central side, but could not head it off.

Position of Teams. The competition table now stands:—

More Recruits to tlie Code. Saturday saw the appearance of a number of additional recruits to Rugby League from the Rugby Union game, and reports that other men arc turning over have been made. W. Large, a former Hawke’s Bay and North Island Rugby player, who later played League for the Bay. was included in the Hutt pack ou Saturday, and played an outstanding game. One of the Hutt team's wingers was L. Smith, who formerly played Rugby in the same district. A. Hey, fiveeighth, and one of the most promising men in the team, is also a convert from Rugby. A. Kilalea. who played third grade and junior grade Rugby for the Hutt last season, was included in llm Hutt League team on Saturday, playing his first, game for the modern code. G. Quinn, another forward, is in his first season at League also.

“Bunny” Silencer for League. It was reported ou Saturday that the Rugby player. “Bunny” Spencer, will be included in the Hutt League team next Saturday as half-back. He played one game of League last season. G. Wilson, who formerly played senior B grade for Hutt at Rugby, has been training with tiie League team, and may be seen out in the code before long.

Lilburne to Lead Hutt. 11. Lilburne, former Rugby All Black, who turned over to League last season, was a spectator at Newtown Park ou Saturday. _ An injured back has kept him from playing yet this season, but club officials expect that he will be available on Saturday to lead the young Hutt team, of which he will be captain.

Hutt Players. The Hutt team made its first appearance in the city this season when it met. Central at Newtown Park ou Saturday. W. L. Davis, wing,- is a former Randwick player, and the veteran of the side. He lias represented Auckland, Wellington and Otago at Rugby League. H. Todd, centre, and acting-skipper on Saturday, won a place in the representative side last season as full-back when playing for Randwick. B. Land, second liveeighth, played Soccer last, year, but has now come back to League, which he has played before. K. Orr, half-back, is a newcomer to the code. M. Burns and L. Eastwood, forwards, were members of the Randwick club last season.

Former Rugby Administrator. Mr. A. J. Petterson, coach of the Hutt League team, formerly a member of the management committee of the King Country Rugby Union for three years, president of the Ruapehu Rugby subunion, ami one of the best-known referees in the King Country at Rugby, turned over to League last season when he played for St. George. Thio year be is taking a keen interest in building up the young Hutt League team.

No Replacements To Be. Allowed. The Board of Control of the Auckland Rugby League decided last week to give effect to the New Zealand Council’s request by agreeing that on and after Saturday, Ma.v 23, no replacement of players,, injured or otherwise, be allowed. The chairman. Mr. G. Gray Campbell; said there appeared to be no alternative, as it was n demand to give the rule a fair trial, and it was reasonable to comply with the wishes of the parent body. Rule 1 of the game states: "The Rugby League game of football should be played by thirteen players on each side, but when

once the game is started substitutes shall not be introduced to take the place of any player compelled to leave the field of play through injury or any other cause.”

In New Zealand a dispensation has been allowed under this rule to enable replacements to be made up till half-time. Delegates at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Rugby League decided, b.v a majority of one, to enforce the rule. Opposition was expressed to this action on the ground that the game, from a spectator's point of view, would be affected The New Zealand League's decision will presumably apply to all allilialcd Leagues in the country.

Compelling Fitness. At the Auckland League's meeting, Mr. J. Rukutai said he agreed that, uon-re-placemeut would be all right in representative fixtures, but he considered that the

rule should not be applied to club matches. Mr. R. Doble, who is also a member of the New Zealand Council, said the council was not unanimous, but as the law was explicit, and a British team was shortly due, the authorities felt that a proper trial of the rule might assist to improve the standard of fitness. Mr. Doble instanced the form against Australia last year as indicating that the application of the rule might do considerable good and compel increased fitness by players and teams.

When Jim Flynn, the lighting fireman, of Pueblo. Colorado, was lighting Jack Johnson, the heavyweight boxing champion of the world, Johnson said to him: “Yo' awful strong for a li'l white boy.” Flynn replied: "I ain't as strong as you smell.” "I was doing pretty good,” Flynn said, when recalling the incident, “but after that I don't remember much.”

Hedley Verity, Yorkshire and England left-hand slow bowler, made his first, century when he scored 1(11 for Yorkshire against Jamaica, in a five-day match at Kingston, in which Yorkshire led off by making 55G runs for nine wickets.

Pt s. Champ. Team. W . L . D. 1*’. A. Points. St. George .. J 0 0 -13 32 4 Petone . 1 1 0 5(1 2(1 2 Central . 1 1 0 35 2 Hutt . 0 2 0 12 76 0