LEAGUE

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 49, 26 August 1922, Page 14

LEAGUE

NOTES AND COMMENTS (By"H»lf-Btck.") \ The Auckland League has contributed £269 12s 6d in amusement tax since tho season opened, and at the last meeting of the Management Committee, the chairman and Mr. E.. Phelan were appointed to- interview local sports bodies with a view to enlisting their support to, get the tax removed. When the " Auckland Rugby League had under consideration the appointment of a coach, it was stipulatedthat .' the man selected should k alto met as groundsman at Carlaw.' Park. Cub'itt, however, would only have been Mtilable for two afternoons and two evenings per week, and he would have taken on the ground work only during those afternoons. Further, he would not have remained in New Zealand beyond November. N ln the" circumstances, the Management Ommittee would not entertain the offer, and Mr. Francis (an ex-Rugby representative) wae, hi consequence, appointed for the remainder of the season. '.It is anticipated that next season a permanent appointment will.be made. ■'.';.' '-. ■ -Mr. E. Buckland, the well known exNew Zealand representative and New Zealand selector, is now coaching the , Petone North Club, and the improvement -in the team's display against . South on Saturday last goes to show that Mr. Buckland's services are proving of much value to the players. Very noticeable was the fact that very little kicking was indulged in by the North backs. These backs threw the ball about in great style. ' ' The match between North and-South was a splendid exhibition of the.code, and was witnessed by a large number of people. Right' from the start the game was ; fast and willing. '' The winning score by North was secured two minutes before'the tune-whistle blew. The outstanding piece of play of the match was the try scored by Tetley - for South, who" intercepted a past in mid-field, anft, brilliaiitly side-stepping and dodging his. .opponents, soored under the posts.' The spectators" were not alow to appreciate his brilliant ef-^ forts.:- A selection from'these two teams would take a lot'of beating. The New Zealand Challenge Shield, held by the City Club (Auckland), is attracting quite a lot of attention this season, challenges having been put' in by ' United (Hamilton), "Petone (Wellington), and Sydenham (Christchurch). City will 'have quite a'-busy time defending the trophy. > Carlaw Park (Auckland) is to be provided with electric light, and the work should be completed this week. It is the intention of the' Auckland League to hold evening sports meetings there. Th^ season locally,' as far is club competition is concerned, is nearing an V 4nd. The standard of play has vastly improved, .upon th»t of, years, and some most interesting games, with sufrptiees in stone, especially in ' tha junior games, have, been povided. We have, however,, a lot to learn, to r«»ch the same standard as that in Australia, but the club games show we have tho material here, and, with competent coaching in view, it is, confidently expected that there -frill'be-.a great improvement when the representative fix- - tures approach next season! As far, as other centres ere concerned, the season had been * very good one, all centres showing a big increase in the number of players, and a greiatly improved standard of play.' Locally, we folly anticipate having, at least,.six. senior teams in the field, with an.increase in the other grades. Christchurch expects . to enter ten senior- teams next year. .This, may be a great mistake. It does not tend to increase the standard of play", when there are, say,. more than eight senior teams in a 'competition. Auckland keep their competition down to eight teams, and all aro top-notchers. It is better to have eight- strong teams than ten1 weak ones. Of course, that ten teams are being affiliated with the Canterbury centre is an indication, of the prosperity of the game in the southern city.. ' J-' ■' • ' The local junior competition is providing a great deal of excitement at present. Of the six team* in this grade, City and South an leading with sixteen points each, - and Central and. North "are next on the ladder • with fourteen points each. The other, two teams, Rovers and New town, are several, points down. South and. Rovers, meet to-d»y, and as the Rovers have' brought, off one or vtwo very big surprises of late Saturdays, another may occur to-day. To-day's result should show clearly how the" competition is going. . x , ';': ■■-■'

The local clubs are all sow fairly financial, after their series of. dances held during the season, and the players next season will be presented with jerseys, and possibly other playing gear. Newtown have already supplied* jerseys' to the senior and junior' teams, but as the season is now so near- an end, other clubs are . holding off till nex^ year. This supplying of gear to players by clubs is a wise move, for it his enabled players to stand byclubs. Otherwise many players would be unable to buy the necessary gear,: and -would 'thus > not be able to play, eventually drifting away frofn the clnbs, having lost, any interest they .had in. football. Dances are'still being held by the NewtoWn and Central Clubs, and more money is continually being added to the coffers of the clubs. The dances are interesting large numbers of people in the League game. . / 4', Arrangements are. reported to be. well' in hand for the visit of the Australian teams, but at the time of writing these notes, the matter had not been definitely fixed, though it was thought to be fairly certain that the tour would; take place. The itinerary, it is understood, is to include Auckland, Hamilton, Hawkes Bay, Wellington^ Christcßurch,'; and probably an exhibition, game in Punedin. Exhibition matches will also Be arranged in the other places visited; that''is, games between the Kangaroos who visited England, and an. Australasian thirteen.

At a meeting of the AustralianUrii-/! versifies Sports' Association, it was de-; cided to award twelve blues to reple--sentatives of the Sydney University.. League Football Club and two to representatives of the Queensland' University (says the "Rugby League News"). When the New South Wal*s League decided to send an Australian 'Varsity team to New Zealand-to further the interests of the game here, the Australian Universities' Sports Association agreed to extend its patronage to the team, but efforts were made to prevent the team being' recognised as a university body. The decision of the Australian Universities' Sports Association to award the blues to members of the team spells something akin to victory for Rugby League. ■'■" '„'■''.,