LEAGUE

Grey River Argus, 27 April 1929, Page 2 (Supplement)

LEAGUE

(By “Half-back.”) Robins was the best back on the ground at Cobden last Sunday. He outwitted the defence time after time, but lack of support from his team mates let slip many promising opportunities. His defence also was absolutely sound, and he looked the picture of fitness, many of the other players on the field looked the reverse, and the final twenty minutes of the game found them out.

Doogan played well, and he may get higher than West Coast honours this season if he continues on the way he is at present shaping.

Coulson was a tower of strength to the green forwards, and he will only have to repeat last Sunday’s play to get a trip to Westport in quest of the White Horse Cup. One would think, to see the manner in which Coulson continually chased the ball, that the 1 season was three parts over (be Was that fit) instead of merely commencing. Apart from being always on the ball, he used his head piece and that is the class of player wanted. Quinn Is still the reliable full-back of last season, and it does not look like there being anv one to supersede him for the position in the rep team. Molloy put plenty of dash into his play, but on occasion* gallops about the paddock to no advantage. Griffiths led his men well last Sunday, and set a splendid example by his versatility and judgment on the field. Timlin is the best- man at following up the ball, that plays in the League code on the West Coast. His play in that direction might well be an object lesson to many another forward in the (code. O ’Brien is a grafter and was seen o advantage in many occasions. Harrington, behind the Runanga iscrum, acquitted himself exceedingly well, and was the outstanding back .in the black-and-white rearguard. (There is little wrong with this fellow’s play, and he does not budge Jan inch from the “hard stuff”. More •can be expected of him before the seajson is ove* Harrington is a worthy successor to that old general <f Cod” Purnell, and if he is under the latter 's instruction he should become a first rate half-back. Henderson donned the jersey again, and showed conclusively that he is capable of yet a.iuthcr season of good footblal. It is to be hoped that he will see the club '-rough 1929. for lie will he a difficult man to replace. Tallen yre was all there last Sunday, and looking fit and well, will be of grea 1 assistance to the code this year, as he has been in the past sea-

During the off season there have been all kinds of false rumours in circulation concerning the league code and its chances of starting again in Dunedin this winter (says the Rugby Evening Star Sports Editor.”) No doubt these foundation less tales arose out of a popular belief that the historic and much-lamented second test match between England and New Zealand, played at the Caledonian Ground, had given the game its death knock locally. There is ample evidence to prove that a grievous wound sustained on that occasion was not mortal, and Otago Rugby League footballers j keener and stronger than ever in numbers. are practising hard, with a view to doing full justice to the season’/, series of matches. Not only will all the clubs of last year field formidable senior sides, but there will also be an imposing array of young talent available among the juniors. Moreover, interest in the senior competition will b e heightened by the inclusion of a team from Kaitanga’a, which district, as a matter of fact, considers the game has . revived to such an enthusiastic pitch that it will be possible to field two team". This is indeed good news, for a considerable fly h the ointment last year was the fact that a rather i weak Athletic B team was thrust into the senior grade to enable the league t 0 stage three matches each week and avoid placing one side on the bank. It remains to be seen what material Kaitangata Is going to produce, and its donning of the football garb will be watched with interest.

Although he Nelson Creek s minus the se vices of such we 1-known p'nyers as Brownlee, Bennett, Gieer, Williams and Helem, nevertheless, as the season progrerjes they will be, on the form so fi~r displayed, a. hard team to- beat. Bert Kennedy has been promoted from junior to fill Williams’s place at full-back, and judging him on his last two games, he should develop into a first class custodian. He is fast off the mark, has a good swerve, .and he jiajrs with glentjr of confidence.

team would probably get more value out of such a player if he were placed in the three-quarter or five-eighth line.

Sadler, who played so reliably last year, is one wing three-quarter, and is right up to form, and does his work well. IIi s defence and fielding of the ball are well up to standard.

Tobin, on the other wing, is playing splendid football. Spectacular, and at times brilliant, he played to perfection on Sunday, and capped the day with a solo effort by grounding the ball between the posts after elud ing most of the opposing backs.

Butterworth, at centre, is much improved on last season’s play, and l ,e appears to have a better understanding of what to do when in possession. He should prove to be a solid p-ayer as the season advances.

The five-eighth positions in the Nel son Creek team have not yet been per manently filled, and this requires rec-

tifying a? toon as possible. The same handicap occupied the club’s attention early last year.

Evans and O’Brien played in the fi\e-eighth positions last Sunday and acquitted themselves, well. O’Brien’s place, however, is with Calder—in the pack leading the forwards,. At present he is sorely missed there. The difficulty might be overcome by G. Ryan, ‘he junior full hack, filling that position for the seniors. Kennedy taking Tobin’s place, and Tobin. O’Brien’s. I would suggest that such a trial be made.

The junior team will no doubt be ready to admit that on his play, Ryan’s place is in the senior ranks.

Evans, as second five eighths last Sunday, played good football, and with a. little coaching will improve greatly, and ultimately make good. O’Brien, as usual, was outstanding, spoiling the opposition chances by his solid defence, while he broke through on attack in great style. Southern, at half, played his usual good game. His try, brought about by working the blind side, was worthy of any champion; being executed so quickly and suddenly that it had players and spec ators completely taken by urprise. All his work is snappy, and aided by the right support, some pretty work will be seen this year. The forhvards aile a hnfd-working pack. Calder is as good as ever, and being in great form, showed out in all departments. Charlie Bryant, who took the field on Sunday, played a good game, putting plenty of dash into his efforts. Molloy was handicapped for hooking the ball, by the unevenness of the pack. At times it was quite lopsided. The slow way in which the ball was heeled out prevented quick movements by the back line, and enabled the opposition to smother the half. This is a matter that can be soon rectified. Kennedy and Fisher ployed their usual sound games. Fisher generally makes some good openings. llis reverse pass to Calder surprised the defence and resulted in the latter scoring. Carey played hard, but was the cause of an obvious obstruction, thereby getting two points registered against the team.

A referee will invariably let a player off if he is about to tackle a running man in possession and the ball is parted with only immediately before contact. In Carey’s case the ball was well away, and he had plenty of time • o evade his man. The New South Wales Rugby League is a wealthy institution. It possesses assets of £17,670/15/6, the main item being £10,194/17/4 in the current account at the bank! Last year the receipts were £24 486, and the net profit £4,138. The Legue paid in England and Queensland out of gates in Sydney £11,200. Sydney is the financial Mecca of the Rugby League world, English and Australian. From the ga e? at club matches the League receives only one-third of the net—that, is after the ground charges and gatemen’s wages have been paid. Each club concerned in the match receives a third. The clubs are on a sound financial wicket, seeing that they also receive a proportion of the anioun's paid t 0 the League for the members’ tickets. — Q.rens’.and has a centre three quarter who, experts claim, rivals the famous Herb Gilbert one of he greatest centres of all time. His name is Tonin y Wrigh , and he hails from K ckhampton, and latterly has played with Toowoomba. And it is because Queenslanders expect marvellous things of him in the approaching season that they are even now counting how many places they will secure in the team for England, because of their anticipated dominance in the tests against New §outh Wales,