RUGBY LEAGUE

Grey River Argus, 19 August 1931, Page 6

RUGBY LEAGUE

j . — | MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE. The weekly meeting of the Manage-' ,ment Committee of the West Coast Rugby League was held last evening. Present; Messrs A. 11. McKane (Preslident), W. Barlow, A. Anisy, A. Kyle, R. Harrington, E. Hogg and J. Anderson (secretary). Messrs W. O’Neill, C. Harrison (Runanga), R. Williams and C. Hall (Marist) were also present. A. letter was received from the Otago Rugby League inviting a representative team from the Coast to tour to Dunedin. On the motion of Messrs Harrington ami Hogg, it was decided Ito inform the Otago League that it would not be possible for a Coast, representative team to visit Dunedin this season. The balance sheet of the Runanga Chib, showing a credit, balance of £l2 Ils 9d, was received as satisfactory, on the motion of Messrs Barlow and j Harrington. I Accounts amounting to £6 Ils were passed for payment. SOUTH ISLAND TEAM. Mr Con Hall, of Greymouth, who ‘was manager of the South Island ’League team which played the North Island at Auckland last Saturday, reI ported on the conduct of the team and I matters of interest concerning the 'code in the North Island. He said ’ that, unfortunately, the West Coast players had to stay a day in Christchurch, whereas if they had gone dii rectly to Auckland, they would have | had an extra day to get over the weariness of travel. The West Coast boys had a run at. Christchurch in Monica Park the day following their 'arrival there, but the weather was 1 most unsuitable. The team assembled I on the boat that night and the latter’ end of the journey was a tedious one, i trying to sleep in seats in the trains. On arrival at Auckland the team was , seized by press representatives and 1 photographers, and also underwent . measurements for fitting of football I togs. Carlaw Park was an “eye--opener” and was found to be an excellent playing area, equal to any I other in New Zealand. The members of the team were all real gentlemen, ’ and were abed early each night prior Ito the o-amc. There were estimated to ibe 7000 spectators at the match and this was indeed small, no doubt owing to a big Soccer attraction, and the Rugby match. The day was a dull and exceedingly cold one and this no doubt ' ! affected the attendance. When the . ' team went on the field, the full-back, Palamountain, missed the first ball and got stage fright, and was not so good after that. McKewen went off ' for twenty minutes, having received slight concussion, and as there were, no replacements, they had to have him attended to, and he came on later. He was sure M cKewen did not know the i score when he came off the field at the finish. During McKewen’s retirement; Dodds had an arduous job in front of him. The three-quarter, Jorgenson, ' ricked his ankle at the start, and was off the field for a-quarter of an hour. | Jorgenson was a very speedy player. Another drawback was the fact of Amos having his ear injured at the New Zealand Boxing Championships. It was very sore and had to be lanced. The South wings were of a fine standard. The standard of the North players was brilliant. He considered Brisbane was as good as Cooke, in fact.: better. The North team not only had brilliancy, but also combination, playing the game like playing draughts. If one of their players broke away he would not scale for the line, unless he had one or two others in support, i Doin£ this made the South on ono or| two occasions, look as if badly out- , witted. The forwards were evenly j matched, and when the South for-j wards would take the ball down to the North’s 25, if they once made a mis- I take, machine-like, the North would work it up Into a try. It had been a wonderful revelation of football to him. The North players played the ball, as per book, and had it down to a fine art, and fanned it out to their backs every time. Every time the hall

I went out in fine chain passing and j they were clean ami pretty, with no I lob passing. Ilf the opposing halfback broke away, the fivecighth would i not tackle him, the full-back doing it. I The North five-eighths would legally I shepherd the opposition inside backs. The South boys were all good, the Coast players especially. Calder playI ed a great game, whilst O ’Brien was not so good. Masters was quite a I creditable half. The full-back, how- ! ever, was poor in his play, and the five-eighth was outed. The team had been officially welcomed by the Auckland Council prior to the match. The Auckland Council were in a strong > financial position, having a credit of I over £9OOO. ‘ He had reported progressiveness in the code on the West Coast. In his estimation the team did not need a manager at all, behaving in a ' very gentlemanly manner, and they were no trouble at all. Socially, and he thought financially, the trip had been a great success. Mr Hall said Mr T. Anisy had been a great help on the tour, and had seen to lots of little matters, which the boys had greatly appreciated. Last Saturday a representative game had been played at Dargavillo and a large crowd assembled to witness it. There were excellent comments from spectators and football enthusiasts, which was very encouraging. In the North it was felt certain that the whole of the Northern Peninsula (North of Auckland) would soon be playing League. The gates were increasing at Wellington. There had been an addition of two Marist school boy teams at Wellington. The President, Mr A. H. McKane, moved a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Hall for the capable manner in which he had managed the tgaoi and th© excellent report of the team’s doings. Mr Harrington seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. PRESENTATION TO MR C. HALL. In appreciation of his managership of the South Island team, the members at Wellington, on return from Auck-

(land, met Mr Hall, and Mr A. Amos handed to Mr A. Eckhoff a handsome pocket wallet, suitably inscribed, I which he asked him to present to Mr [Hall as a gift from members of the team. FIXTURES. The week-end fixtures are:— Marist v. Brunner at Wingham Park, Sunday, 2.45 (Mr C. Dewar); Challenge Shield—Runanga v. Blackball at Blackball, Sunday, 2.45 (Mr J. Neilson); Pirates a bye. Juniors: Southern Division—Marist v. Runanga B at Dunollie, Sunday, 2.45 (Air J. MeTaggart); Pirates v. ■ Runanga A at Wingham Park, Sunday, 1.30 (Mr Stan Smith); O’Donnell. Challenge Cup—Rapahoe v. Waiuta A | at Waiuta, Sunday, 2.45 (Mr F. ■ Beard). Junior Challenge Cup—Nga-' here v. Blackball at Ngahere, Sunday, 2.45 (Mr W. Allen). • Fourth grade; Brunner v. Afarist B at Brunner, Sunday, 1.45 (Air 11. i Hunt); Marist A v. Runanga at Wingham Park, Sunday, 1.30 (Mr R. Culling). Owing Io the School holidays there ! will be no fixtures for the fifth and i sixth grades.