LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Grey River Argus, 28 July 1925, Page 6

LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Queensland Team

TO PLAY NSW ZEALAND. lIORDER LEFT OUT. (Received July 27 at 5.5 p.m.) BRISBANE, July 27. Tlie League football team to represent. Queensland against New Zealand on Saturday is as follows: Full back. Craig; three-quarters, L’aten. Gorrnan, Brown, ami Spencer; five-eighths, Morris; half-bucks Dunean and Thompson; f a-wards, Potter (Captain), Ileniler. i.n. Bennett, North. Liebke and Ambuste l '. Tlie selectors are criticised for dropping Ilorder at three-quarters and Colin Thompson at- five-eighths. Jealousy is alleged in the ease of Hoi I r. who hrs a brilliant Queensland record. MEETING OF CENTRE. The West Coast Rugby League Centre delegates met last night. Present: Messrs McKane (chair), Gillin, Haurahiin, Warwick, McDonagh, Creagli, Dewar, McLuskie. Donnellan, Hunter. Thomas, Milligan, Buckley, Hall. Moore, O'Brien and Saunders. The Linwood Club wrote stating that thy tigerage weight of their fifth grade team was 9 stone and they were quite prepared to p-lay a fourth grade team. It was decided that the team be gn en a match against a rep. team on Saturday September s:h, and another gaim on Sunday, September (sth.

It v.ms also decided to arrange games for the Hornby Club on the 22. id August. ami Canterbury school teams on the same date.

Inangahua J s challenge to Marist for the Challenge -Shield was declared to l-e in order.

Auckland Centre wrote stating that the West Coast would be included in their representative team’s itinerary. The Canterbury League Executive advised that the most satisfactory date for a representative team’s visit from the Coast, would l-e about the middle of August. It was decided to accept this offer.

In reference to Runanga senior’s protest against Blackball. the New Zealand Council advised that the protest be upheld. It was decided that the ruling be accepted. It was decided that the members of the Rim Club be allowed to play for anv club they choose, and in the finals of all competitions.

The inward correspondence was read (ind received. A. number of registrations were ap-

proved of. The fourth grade competition was declared closed, Runanga being the win ners. The knock-out competition will Start m-xt Sunday. Entiies for the junior knock-out cup were received from the following: Marist, Blackball, Brunner, Grey, Rovers, Nelson ( rec!:, and Inangahua. It was resolved that the knock-out fixtures be held over the competitors being. Senior: Marist, Runanga, Grey, Blm-klmll :iml Inu.igaliun. Third grade: Grey. Marist, Blackball, Rovers, Nelson Creelr,’ ami Athletics. Fourth grade: Grey, Marist, Blackball, Brun ner ami Runanga.

The selectors were asked to pick senior and junior Possible a.id Probable teams Io play at Gmoto on August 9th. the selectors to meet next Thursday night. Lt was deci-ied that

arrangements should l-e made by the Tinrn Committee for the conveyance of players to Omoto, no cars to be engaged unless by consent of the Centre, and that the teams be published on Friday morning (15 players for each team); and players unable to take part are to notify the secretary before Tuesdav.

It was deeid-l to ask the Auckland centre to im-lude some of their New Zealand reps in their touring team. Accounts amounting to 19/- were passed for paymeiit. Marist juniors were granted permission to play a benefit match wilh tlie Brunner team, for a.t injured player. Fixtures for Sunday were made as follows: — Senior: Marist v. Blackball at Blackball. Junior: Backball v. Marist at Omoto at 3 p.ni. Third grade: Marist v. Nelson Creek at Ngahere; Rovers v. Blackball at Blackball at p.m.; Grey v. Athletic at. Omoto, 1.45 p.m.

Fourths: Marist v. Grey at Omoto at 12.30; Runanga v. Blackball at Bl;u kball.

LeagueJMotes (By ‘‘Spectator’ ). The game on tin- Rec on Saturday between Blackball juniors and Marist juniors for possession of the- Wingham Cup, ending in a draw, wan a fitting result. The- ground was greasy, and in some places water w n ’’ lying in pools, so, taking these facts into consideration the game was nci to ( > bad. When Blackball secured a two-points lead in the second half, with wind and slope in their fav&ur, the match seemed good as won, but Marists camo at them in the last ■quarter with considerable pep and snatched the game out of the fire. During this period, Loth wings Clark and "Nqpia” Kcepa went very close to scoring the winning try. For Blackball, Kinsella played his u«3al good game, and was in a- class by himself. Three or four times he broke away unsupported and goc*' -I 'Scoring opportunities were missed. Atjatn Clarke, the first five-eighth for Blackball did not play well at all, taking his passes while standing- flatfooted, and lobbing the transfer to Mac Smith. The latter was the pick of the mining camp’s inside backs, after Kinsella. Croft was net an fflon as usual, in fact, in attack the whole lot were lobbing passes in a wav not usually associated with the

Blackball styld of play, Kerr, on tlio wing was a good tackler and that is his only good point. His other play was very unsatisfactory, dropped very little coming his way. Olliver played a good game at full back, though on one or two occasions he wa s beaten by a bouncing ball when fie could have taken it on the tuff. He was also lucky that a Marist forward missed th e ball after ctriobling it over the Blackball line Moody and Williams were the best of a good even pack, the former doing some heavy tackling.

For Marist, Quinn played a good game at full back his kicking handling being creditable for such n day, Doogan, at centre, was the -'iviour of his side, his handling and running being the feature, of the Green's back play. Clark saved one certain try by using his pace overhauling a breakaway in fine style. In attack, he was too far away from hi s centre, the latter having to run across a,nd throw out a long pass to get the ball to him. “Nepia” Keepa, who came into the team at the Inst moment, though not knowing the fine points of the game was very willing and gave it a go on every

occasion. Lake, Simmonds and Kiely all played fairly good games. For.' irl the pick was King, Sigley. and I.arcombe, the heavy going suiting their play. The Blackball pack had the best of matters up to the final quarter, when the Green’s superior condition saved the game. If the replay is on a fine day and dry ground, the game should provide a Better exhibition of the handling code. Referee Armstrong had good control of the game, but should pay more attention to the “plav the ball” rule. In thi s game the players was scarcely even allowed to play the ball orrectIv, the tackling side being massed round in serum formation. This is one of the most important rules, and if violated as frequently, as on this occasion, will ruin any game. The third grade game at Omoto, Marist v. Rovers, was a good exhibition, considering the state of the bail and the ground. Rovers lost the game in the last- minute through getting offside- under their own goal-posts, Kiely landing the goal. The game was fast and willing. Rovers had the Stronger pacH, Heslin giving his backs the ball on most occasions. O'Neill and Winstanley were the best of the backs for Rovers; and Miek Brown and Kiely were the pick of the Greens. Preston was the best man in the green pack, being on the bill the whole time, find Sigley being a good second. Rovers were penalised very often for not letting the opposing player play the ball after being tackled. Seme of their supporters l,n the line, who have played the gani e for years, did not assist the younger players by continually shouting to them to “Pack around Rovers!” A

player, when tackled, must, not be interfered with in playing the ball, and to pack around in scrum formation is interference under the “Play the-Ball” rule.

In the senior game, Runanga v. Grey, the latter turned out W’’h t<n men, two juniors included. I understand sickness was the cause , f the shortage. Even so, the club should endeavour to notify the Centre in time for forthcoming

time for postponement. It does the game no good when the public journey to Omoto to see a game and a burlesque is staged in its place. Our reps in N.S.W. are doing exceedingly well. To win two out of three tests against the Mother State is proof of the advancement . f the code here. Over-anxiousness vns the

cause of the first test being b.st, ns time after time a knock-on or a. f rwarcl pass nullified good work that had the. defence clearly beaten. Laing

the New Zealand skipper does tot get a good name from Sydney critics, uncertain handling and slowness on his part having been partly responsible for the defeat. Meatherall was th e best inside back on the visitors

side and all who remember him against the C'loast side, when he cht>tained the Auckland touring team, will be disposed to agree with the critics’ estimation of him. He was a wonder that day, as good as v.as ever seen here, not forgetting the I'me'ish teams we have had. Molialt i-nnu's in for some very great, praise, iceed, being compared to Gauiigher Dnrw 11 Petter and Burgeetc. No doubt the

League game suits his style <.( phiy. and the better the game, Tim better he plays. His experience, giro: J over there, should be of inestimable value t» the game on the Coast when h c returns.