LEAGUE RULES

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 126, 29 May 1915, Page 14

LEAGUE RULES

(By "Goal-post-. 1 ') THE HEN OR THE CHICKENS? SOMETHING DONE FOR JUNIORS. The Wellington Rugby League has taken 1 a leaf out of Auckland's book by establishing here what was in operation in the north last season — a Junior' Ad- : vieory Board. As the institution is brand new, and appears to be comparatively little understood, a little description of it will not be amiss. In the first place, it shonld be explained that the executive of the League consists of delegates from the various clubs — two from each club playing senior teams, and one from purely junior clubs. The junior teams of clubs of senior standing have, therefore, no direct junior representation on the executive, though it mu6t not be assumed from this that the delegates have not got the interests of the junior players thoroughly at heart. Some of them are enthusiasts on the subject of the "chickens," and will not hear of the older birds getting aJI the coin, which ie, of course, exactly right ; for the chickens grow up. The Advisory Board consist* of two representatives for each' club playing junior teams ; and the .board, as a single body, has a right to send one delegate to the meetings of the League's executive, which will listen to him and weigh his words in the same balance a& those of the most hardened veteran of the congress. The powers of the board m the advisory sense are wide, and it has the utmost freedom to suit itself in the manner of its woi*k. The clubs having appointed their delegates, these meet at a time to suit themselves, and arrange all the junior matches and select the grounds upon which they will play. They can also discuss any matters relating to the interests of junior football, and the result of their work is handed over to the delegate to the executive, whoso duty it is to convey it to the principal body. The only work they do, if the board has fulfilled its part, is to allot referees. The principle of the board is an excellent one ; and if the juniors are really alive to their own interests they have they opportunity of doing a great deal of good, not only to their own departments, but to League football generally 'Probably all the members of the executive would admit, if asked, that the juniors have not been as fully catered for in some directions as they/might have been, and in the setting up of the board the governing body has opened the door to broad-minded action. The new scheme is naturally at present largely experimental. Its success depends partly upon , the goodwill of the senior representatives — a matter upon which no doubt need be entertained j far more, it depends upon the energy of the juniors. PROMISING JUNIORS. It is early yet to start picking winners, but among the junior teams, Central is the most promising, and should put in a big bid for championship honours. They played their first match against Hutt last Saturday, and were victorious by 10 points to 6. The team is a wellequipped one, 'andj when they have played together a bit more they will make an excellent combination, as there is no lack of enthusiasm in the team. The writer noticed a khaki-clad ' Centralite, who will no doubt' be off to the front soon, and probably many of his clubmates will follow suit, as is the case in most clubs.' But still it is to be hoped there will still be thirteen men .ready to turn oui for each of the junior teams,'' so . that the competition will be kept going. There was talk at the beginning of the season of Central entering the Senior Championship/ and it is to be hoped that next year will see the red • and black ! jerseys among the senior , teerms. HUTT LOOKS PRETTY WELL. There were few outstanding features about the , Athletic-Hutt match at Newtown Park, Athletic won by 22 points Ito 12, but the actual merits of the teams came, a good deal closer than the scores indicate. 'As a matter of fact, at least one of the tries was in some doubt.' Athletic, though it romped away in the second spell, when it had the advantage of the wind, found its opponents a good deal tougher proposition than was expected. The Hutt Club was last year unable to produce anything but junior teams, but in blossoming out this season into' the senior grade it has the looks of a very serious, competitor for the Cup. Considering that it has only just moult-, ed its juvenile feathers, as it were, it has made a very fine showing. It is supported by some strong and experienced players whom any club would be glad to own,' and there is a general opinion that when it shakes down a bit and gets into thorough running order, its senior team will keep its rivals working pretty hard. Cudby, who plays fullback for Hutt seniors, is a bright man, whose sure work with the ball has been much admired. He is one of those fortunate players who has a sure grip all round the compass, and the team is lucky in possessing him. The club has hitherto' been weak as to a half-back, but to-day proposes to introduce a new performer, Edlin, who is expected to satisfy all requirements. A POOR GAME. There was very little interest attached to the Suburbs-Petone game, the spectators finding more scope for enjoyment in the junior match that was being played on the adjoining ground. Suburbs had their first win of the season and then only by a narrow margin Taken right through Suburbs had the better of the game, although towards the end Petone Evened up appreciably, and some very strenuous encounters ensued near the Suburbs' line. Suburbs fought hard to stem the tide and just succeeded. If Petone had been given a little more time they would probably have' won the game. Suburbs' chief mode of defence was by falling on the ball and "j)laying" it, thus killing time and gaining wind. This went on more or less continually for five minutes, both teams being apparently too done up to do anything else Again and again Petone would try to force their way over the line, but just rs often they would be hurled back, or held up over the line. From ono of these sorties, Childs fell over the line with the ball 'under him with a. pile of men on top, but Referee Brice ordered a five yards scrum It is hard to say which team has the better backs, as neither team did anything in the passing line. Suburbs' backs were shuffled about during the game, but the change -did not make any improvement. There was not one decent pa-ssing rush all through the match, the handling of the ball oeing very, bad in both teams. The forwards played "soccer" most of the time. Petone were without the services of House and Parker, two of their best men. and this considerably weakened their backs. Ashton played well for Petone : he seems to be able to play in any position and is just the sortof man wanted Crusp, Wliitloy, Langridge, and Childs all played well, while Suburbs best men were Les. Campbell, George. Donaldson, and Spencer It is a wonder that Campbell doe.s not get more kicks at goal. The last two Saturdays lv- kicked two splendid goal? from near halfnay. one ;i diuivkick and Ihf other a pfaeo-kick .Apparently 'he Korer takes the kick at goal in the

Suburbs team. There also appears to be several skippers in this team, judging from the amount of advice and talk that floats round. TOURS OFF. The Napier tour of the Wellington representatives is definitely off for the present. Napier would have liked a visit for the King's Birthday, and it might have been arranged if the old hurdle of terms had not been too difficult. Napier could not see its way to guarantee the £25 asked for by Wellington as the minimum that would cover the cost of the visit, and Wellington would not accept the offer of the usual "half the gate." Which means that neither club saw very much in the trip anyway, from a financial point of view. Mr. Secretary Brice remarked at the last meeting of the Wellington executive that this was not altogether a time for tours anyway. He is given credit for not having said "sour grapes" in a new formula. The other trip — the New Zealand team's journey to Australia — is also knocked on the head. According to the New Zealand Council it could not be made because New South Wales wanted it in June. It is suggested, however, that the offer may be renewed in August. Possibly by that time the war will be over, and one very important objection — in some minds — will be removed. NOTES. The League is in need of referees, but unfortunately they seem hard to get. The hard-worked men who now officiate will only go round, one hand of fingers, and there are four matches every Saturday, with a prospect of the number increasing. That gives the referees very little chance of standing on the bank, which is a mnch better way of spending the afternoon than splurging round on the mud .with a whistle between one's teeth and trying to keep out of the road of one ball and twenty-six players. A couple more referees would enable some sort of holiday rota to be worked in for these men who have done so much for the game. New Zealand League is about to consider, and no doubt to adopt, a rule whi<>b provides for the free admission of all vice-presidents of clubs under its jurisdiction to interprovincial matches. This is to bring its existing rule, imposing a charge, into line with the rule of the Auckland League. A copy of the motion was sent along to Wellington for consideration, and was received without much enthusiasm. Boiled down, the view of the local committee is that that sort of thing is all very well for Auck land, seeing that the big trophy is at home there; but is no good to challeng ing teams, which must travel to play for it. However, as nothing much could be done, it was left to the Wellington delegate on the council to do bis best with the matter. There is some new blood on the League executive this season, thanks to the birth of the Central Club and the institution of the Junior Advisory Board. Already the effect is apparent. Most of the members are, of course, old friends, and they "mix the ingredients of the Saturday ration of matches with nn amity that is admirable. The new spoons, however, have got well into the business, and stir vigorously ; and in the Admiralty's acceptable phrase, already a classic in the language, there 's a certain liveliness apparent. Mr. W. Martin, who is an out-and-out enthusiast on the subject of his juniors, saya that he exepcts to produce two more junior teams from tho Suburbs' ranks early next' month— as soon as the Wednesday half-holiday goes where all footballers want it—^out.