LEAGUE CODE

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 48, 25 August 1923, Page 17

LEAGUE CODE

[»V HALF BACK"]

NOTES AND COMMENTS

VISIT. OF WEST COASTERS.

South Auckland still retain the Northern Union Challenge Shield, having defeated a Wellington combination (challengers) at Hamilton last Saturday, in the presence of a record attendance. The game resulted in favour of the Northerners by 27 points to 11. The points registered are no criterion of*the standard of play. . The game was reported to have been of a tine, interesting nature.' Once again the reputation of the South' Aucklanders holds good—in that they have never been defeated on their own ground. Up to last season the Northern Union Challenge Cup had been always held by Auckland, which is well known as the. stronghold of Rugby League in New Zealand, but in 1922 South °Auck-' land, challengers, beat the holders, and: the trophy began to show signs of coming south. This year the code is very, strong in Canterbury and on the \Vest Coast, while in Wellington the standard of play has shown marked improvement upon previous years, and there is gome good material available. The; game at Hamilton last Saturday should do much towards the advancement of the League, code. ' .

No senior football was played in Wellington last Saturday, but the junior and third-grade competitions were continued. The two leading teams in the third grade, Rovers and City, met and played a drawn game, each side getting a penalty, goal—2 points each. These two teams are playing consistently good football, and on no occasion when they: met this season has the margin of points exceeded five. They have played very close games. "Half-back" suggested that these two teams might play a cur-tain-raiser to the West Coast-Wellington match on the Basin Keserye, next Saturday.

F. Nunn, ■ captain of the > Wellington representatives who played against South Auckland at Hamilton last Saturday, and against Auckland representa-. tives at Auckland on Wednesday, is undoubtedly one, of the best League fiveeighths playing in New Zealand. A Northern - writer and enthusiast of the code states that there: is nothing in' Auckland to compare with Nunn.

- Jack Hedges; skipper of the Central eenior team,, and, without doubt, the best forward:in Wellington, and a player who' can take his place anywhere on thefield, made the trip_ north. Hedges has been connected with League football; for quite a number of years. He kicked a penalty goal for his side against South Auckland; and played a fine.game throughout. -.'.': : .

Don Whittington, of the Central Club, played, splendidly in the Welling-ton-forwards at. Christchurch, and his try was the"result of a pretty piece of work and well merited. 'He played sound football on; the Northern tour, and has 1 well earned; representative honours. W. ■ Aamodt, City's senior skipper, is playing very , well, this season," and was a member of the Northern' touring team. He played a really good "game at Christchurch a few weeks ago, and has merited , his place, in the representatives. He is handy in the full-back position. The ' team which went North missed the services of Jimmy Kruse, the representative half-back: - Kruse has gone South-for.:a"few.weeks on business. ; Snieaton, captain of the City junior team, who was injured in; the'representative game.at Christchurchj' ft,not likely to play, again t&Y season."- Smeaton was captain of the junior representatives. He is a sound and very heady player, and should /be heard of in bigger football later on. ' • - v An Australian .League -player was recently taken to task for not appearing in proper football attire.- The arms of his jersey were missing, and it was explained to the committee that the player had cut theae off to provide himself with socks/ The committee, instead of penalising the player, almost extended congratulations! It was a clever piece of economising. ', ...-.'. . Mr. Carpenter, late vice-chairman of the Junior Advisory Board of thi Auckland Eugby League, hasarrived in Wellington, and has already commenced' to get busy in fostering the code locally. Mr. Carpenter did a great deal towarcU putting the League on its present sound footing in Auckland. > . . ' f . '. Hawkes Bay_ are, ready to take the field again, with; their League teams,; and next year we may,look to see them out stronger. than , ever.: . They were about to start playing thin sea6on, but it is understood that they are now going to wait, until next season, in the-mean-time further strengthening their clubs Although they have not been playing League in llawkes Bay this season, the clubs are intact,.and have been holding weekly dances- with the object of building -up their finances. "Half-back" wishes the Hawkes'Bay Eugby League every sucoes3 when they enter the field again. ; ■ ■ ' . ■ . ■ :

Mli G- Ppnder< WeUington co-delegate on the New Zealand Rugby League' Council, was a recent visitor to Wellington. Mr. Ponder is very keen on League football, and is doing much on the council in the interests of the code in Wellington, and in the Dominion as a whole. . . . . .

The Canterbury Rugby League has a large membership in its five grade competitions, there being over 600 players competing every Saturday,- from the fifth grade to the senior division. Starting with four cluiba . m 1913, there are to-day twelve clubs with over 33 teams The West Coast .representatives will play the local combination at the Basin Reserve on Saturday next, and enthusiasts and supporters of the game can rely upon an excellent exhibition. ,W. Watt is one of Petone Souths bait forwards. He is very fast- and ia always on the ball. ■

F. Foon (South) played a great game on the wing against Rovers on Saturday. '....'.■'.■

C. Brown (South forwards) played a very sound game against Rovers. His dribbling, of the ball and fast folio wineup were a treat. . -

■ F. Ward (South junior captain) is playing up to form, and on Saturday his tackling was a treafc to watch This player has a bright future. Clark (Rovers) showed .fine form on Saturday against South. . P. Webster (Rovers) played attractive, ly on the wing against South. His try was obtained m good style. . ? •W. Anderson, referee, is very popular among the players,: and-his iairneTand knowledge of the game is doing a lot for ioot>DtUl. ■ ■ ■ ■-.',

S. Piper (City) is a hooker who plays a sound and fast game., B. Pi per turnwl out again last Saturday for C ty junior^ showing all his old prowess as aZ' bailer ° Boyjo ■ (Newfewn)* " ntfc wing-three-quarter. "^ . S. Smith is a hard worker in the City junior forwards. Gason (Central) i s a player with bright prospects. B Salisbury (an ex-City player) h as 4en uj> refereemg, and his services are very much appreciated. C. Nixo n uses his weight to advantage in the CitT forwards. A. ■Wh.thngton (City) £* fot- I T"T["' "v w Pi' aying Sood football lor las club. M. Wilson and W Lnrilnw are two usetul forwards' m the P?fv