LEAGUE CODE

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 124, 26 May 1923, Page 17

LEAGUE CODE

[BY "HALF BACK'I PLAY IN THE MUD

PROSPECTIVE VISITS BY SYDNEY CLUBS.

Frank Burge, of the Glebe Rugby League Club, Sydney, who visited New Zealand with the Kangaroos laet season, and was claimed to be the finest forward in Australia in hia day—and for many a day—has decided to retire from ths game. Burge will be remembered bymany local players who saw him during his visit to Wellington last season. He was a sport in every sense of the word. This is what one writer says : "He is the finest forward in the world, and the most prolific scorer. His astonishing pace, for one so big, his remarkable powers of anticipation, his accurate handling, of the ball, and his magnificent kicking place him among the greatest players, back or forward, that ever lived. He has played in 145 matches, and scored; nearly 170 tries and over 200 goals/, That is a record of which he may justly fee! proud. If he sticks te his decision, Kugby League will be the poorer." " Half-back" agrees with this writer that Rugby League is gbing to be the poorer if Burge retires from the game, but the experience of such a. fine player may be available in other capacities of League football.

Conditions last Saturday were anything but pleasant for the continuation of the games under the code. At Petone, on the League ground, No. 1 was under water, and a Central player informed the writer that the Central-Rover match was like; a water polo game, and because the Petone boys could swim better than the cityites they were able to knock np a much better score. The ground at Emerson street, where the City-Newtown game was played, was in a shocking condition, large pools of water being everywhere. The game throughout was simply a mud scramble, and City won through adopting the right tactics on such a ground—kick and follow up all the time. Newtown backa failed to 'rise to the occasion, and good work by the forwards wae spoilt time and time again.

The surprise victory as published by the local Press to the effect that Central had beaten Petons by 35 points to 25 was far too good to be true. Central supporters were making great preparations for a festival gathering in honour of the event, when, lo and behold ! the official score happened along, and Petone are still an unbeaten team. On Saturday they beat Central by 19 points to nil!

Newtown Juniors made a surprise in the local competitions on .Saturday by defeating South. A fast and interesting game was witnessed. For thje winners Withey and Boyle scored, . and Childs converted both .tries. For' South M. Ward scored, F. Ward converting.

Jason, a new boy. from the Union, played hooker with much success for Central Juniors last Saturday. :He was the lucky one to score the only try for his side.

The prospect of a team from one of the Sydney clubs paying a visit to Auckland during tho season is held out by Mr. J. Carlaw, late chairman of the Management Committee in a letter to Mr. Ivan Culpan, secretary to the Auckland League. Mr. . Carlaw ia -working with League officials across the Tasman with a view to arranging a tour, and 11 is hoped that in the interest of the game his efforts will bear fruit.

Mr. C. T. White (secretary of flic Wellington Rugby League) has received a letter from Mr. S. J. Keegan (late chairman of the Wellington Centre), who did a great deal for the game in Wellington, to the effect that he is endeavouring to arrange with the New South Walea Rugby League to send a club team to Wellington and the SoutE Island. Let us hope he 1 is successful.

The Newtown Club's, "gmoko" at Dustin's on, Saturday night last was a great success, and very well conducted. Mr. A. L. Monteith, M.P., was in the chair. H. Fallen! was a most capabl* secretary.. By all reports, tho League baft to be held in the Town Hall next month will be one of the best ever held in this city.

"Bill" Aamodt, City's senior skipper, played a great game in the mud at Emerson street on Saturday. Rep. honours are «ure to come "Bill's" way. Waaka, City's big Maori forward, was quite at horn» last Saturday. He loves a game in the rain. C. N. Munro and J. Dawson, two of the New South Wales Union representatives lasfc year to play against the All Blacks, are now playing League. Munro, who is only 18 years of age, is close on six feet in height, and weighs over 13 stone. He is playing with conspicuous success for University. Dawson is also a young player, and has thrown in his lot with Eastern Suburbs. He is very fast.

; W. Bowden, South'* new back, played a great game on Saturday. This was his first game of League - football, and from appearances has a fair grasp of the game. He is sure to make good at the new code.

Frank Ward, the South captain, was the best half-back on the ground in the South v. Newtown match on Saturday. Ward took a lot of hard play, which was given out by the Newtown team. The Newtown forwards' dribbling of the ball was a treat to watch, and they will be a very hard team to beat before the season closes.

H. Muray and J. Bert were the pick of the Petone South forwards, and young Foon also played a great game for the South team.

A word of praise must be given to Mr. 0. Wrack for the manner in which he controlled the South v. Nswtown match on Saturday. The Central Club (Wellington) and the Central Club (Ghristchurch) will play their annual cup match at the Hutt League ground on Monday, 4th June. The local Town v. Country junior representatives will try conclusions as a cur-tain-raiser. The two Central Clubs met at Christchurch last year for the right to hold the silver cup, when Central (Wellington) were defeated by the local thirteen by 10 points to G, after a rattling good, clean, and fast game of football. These will be the only local games under the jurisdiction of' League football on Monday week, so a big crowd should be attracted to the Hutt League ground. City and Newtown met at Emerson street last Saturday. The Newtown full-back Jet his side down badly, and fast following-up by City players' soon resulted in three tries being scored, Hawthorne, _ Aamodt, and Duff getting over. A. Whittington scored for City just before . half-time, and, puting ; n a g o^ run, Nixon converted. Newtown changed the positions of their players and a great improvement was manifest! Good work was out of the question, and play consisted chiefly of forward rushes From a scrum, Doig scored a clever try' Unsworth converting with a great kick.' Central junior sorely miss their fullback, L. Thompson, who met with an unfortunate accident a, fortnight ago "Tommy"'was always safe at full-back and was a tower of strength to the team!