LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Grey River Argus, 24 April 1937, Page 10

LEAGUE FOOTBALL

TO-DAY’S FIXTURES,

League followers will be well catered for to-day with four games scheduled for Victoria Park. Mari,st and Nelson Creek will make their first, Greymouth appearances against Pirates and Runanga respectively, and their performances will be followed with great interest. The results of the games are expected to have a distinct bearing upon championship honours this season. Kumara juniors will play Runanga and Blackball and Runanga thirds should provide spirited curtain-raisers. Two country games are also to be played, Ngahere v. Blackball seniors, at Ngahere, and Brunner and Marist juniors, at Brunner. TEAMS FOB TO-DAY. Marist juniors v. Brunner at Brun, ner to-day.—Hopkins, Power, O'Brien, Kavanagh, Lord, J. Blanehfield, Gro gan, Kirby, Greaney, Gough, Taylor, Clauson, Knapp and Beams. Brunner juniors v. Marist at Taylorville 2-30; Lee, Buckman, Meagher, Karaitiana, Moth, Bernard, Hoggarth (2) ; . Warren, Browning, Pryor, Fleming, Black, Hartigan, Barber- , Marist. seniors v- P'rntes; Pollock, Devonport, Kavanger, Beban, Morel Kiely, .Greaney, O’Brien, Grogan, McQuinq. Price, Seguin, Affleck, Malone, Gilbert, Burger.

NOTES' AND CO’M'MENTS.

Better football weather than was experienced on Sunday could hardly be expected, and the general standard of play was much in keeping with the excellence of the weather. The division of opinion over the question of Saturday and Sunday play has not affected the players, and there appears to be only an isolated case of a player dropping out because n 0 change was- made. ****** No Surprise: No team starts the season under more unfavourable circumstances than Marist whose 1937 team could only b: considered a shadow of last year’s premiership winners. The backs- have suf.

lercu ine joss or 1. UVonnor, E. O’Brien (wli o is unfortunately not in good health)j and ,T. Roberts, who was one of the. chief causes of this old club’s defeat on Sunday. The for. wards have- fared even worse in the defection of versatile Jack Beban (o.i the injured list) It. Williams, W. Me. Neight and G. Scott, although there it a possibility that the latter may don the green jersey again. The team field, ed on Sunday, however, has possibilities. its youth being a major consider 1 !, lion. Intensive training will be ie. quired before many wins can be expected. More Fit: Runxinga were a fresher team when they left the field after their smart victory over Pirates. The black and whites always make “a bird” of early reason training, a mat ter which other clubs seem to have better attended tc this year. Their win was well merited and should be the forerunner of many successes this season. . ****** Good Sticks:

light and extremely youthful, the Runanga back- treated the spectators to some pretty passing movements, until Fisher was specially detailed to break up the formation in the second spell. All have speed, but particularly versatile was Wright, ti promoted junior who should be one of the finds if the season. ' Kennedy, was a sound custodian and handled with ptecisioa. Alossop was the better winger, but Crowe, who replaced Masters, outshone him in the second spell. Crowe has pace to spare, and cut in nicely on several occasions. , Vetertms: The veteians, J. Calder and W. Glynn • both turned on fine football, but neither had quite the dash of last season. The game could be classed as a 3 battle of tactics in which the two used their sides to great advantage. *****■>• No Chance: L. Masters, versatile Runanga five. - eight had no chance o f displaying last year’s promising form a yearly injury compelling his retirement. L. Martyn, ( Pirate full-back als 0 received a kick j before the game progressed far and he had to become an onlooker' for the -j second spell. 3 I*** ♦ ♦ * r One of Hie Best: S. Mulqueen who replaced Martyn playing on the wing, was soon into the thick of the fight. His try showed

that although he came up from third grade for the match, the youngster has greater football capabilities than most would have been prepared to admit. $ * $ Ht * More> than a Chance: Pirates have more than a chance of reaching the top this season, jf Sunday’s display should be an indication of the ■ team’s play this season. As form and fitness are developed, Pirates will become a formidable side. • * « « « A Good Start: Ngahere made a good stait in d<v feating Nelson Creek by 19 to 6. The game was by no means as the scores indicate, and given better formation, Nel; on Creek could have drawn lev-d. The bright spot was J. Weir’s form. Of ■his side’s total, he was responsible for 14 points himself and took no small part in giving a hand with the remainder. If he can retain foim —and nothing suggests that lie eannot —he should be an early choice for tep. honours-.

«**»»» Formidable Forwards: Blackball have a great pack, which under Perrin’s leadership, paved the way for Sunday’s easy victory. Marist, on the other hand, bad a disorganised set of forwards without a leader. * sjc * * * * * Behan’s Form: A. Beban was a dangerous back on Sunday, and should do well this season. He has the speed and is ideal as centre. It will be unfortunate if he does not get better .service frorti the .other inside backs. ****** Forecast Impossible; It is quite impossible to forecast the winners of this year’s championship as Blackball, Runanga, Ngahere, and Pirates, in spite of their defeat must,~-!f coaching is maintained, be well in the running. Maoist, who look, sick' at present, could develop, a good young team; if they g 0 about it the right way, and Nelson Creek may yet be. the undoing of a potential winner. Whatever happens, 1937 will be an open reason, and spectators will witness some great games before the curtain comes down. # tfi aw V * 3Bs j Sidelights: | The necessity for a few more sheep ' t 0 clip the grass on the park. I

Pirates on time. The failure of Runanga’s ex-hooknr playing for Pirates. Calder missing two great chances. Wright's try. ' The opportunism of S. Mtilqueen. The taetie..’ of two capable leaders? Slewart’s early kicking form. Refeiee Mathew’s strict interprets tion of scrum rules.' Alorris’ fall as he kicked Webber finding the line too often. The bright clean play of both learns. Alarist juniors team of “old contemptables”. '“Ginger” Hopkins losing his- ump. teeiith jersey. ****** Some Enthusiasm? A clear indication of Auckland’s on. ithusiasm for the code to the tact that a friendly match between last year’s irc-micr teams Manukau and Richmond Roveis drew a crowd of 7,000 to Caraw Paik. The game, which was playd prior to the season’s opening, was marked bv high class play which de. jghted the crowd. Waiuta Congratulated: That the position o f the Rugby League Code at Waiuta was never tronger was the i eport’ placed befoie he Inangahua Rugby I.eague Sub Centre bv the Secretary. Air. T. F. AleKenz.le. He said that he was v'ry

pleased to see Waiuta field such a line team* on Saturday and paid a compliment to the sportsmanship displayed. The club commit fee elected this year vere out to do all possible to further trengtheu the position of the code and veiyone expressed plea me at the ae. .ion of the Sub Centre in inaugurating he Insurance scheme. Members of t/lie Sub Centre spoke in a complimentary manner at the success of the Waiuta Hub and extended best v,sites to them or a successful sea on. INANGAHUA NOTES. The Inangahua Rugby League Sub outre has every reason to be satisfied vith the prospects for’this teason judgng by the exeelent first of the seaon matches played last Saturday. Alhough one senior team failed to field fuil muster, and this will be tectified

hi s week, the games genetally were of a higher standard than formerly. Only ne junior matvh was played but this reek will see four teams in the field vith a possibility of another one in he near future. At. Waiuta the home seniors turued

ut at full strength and their te !lm th.s ■ear is a much improved one and one and all were unanimous in their approval of the sub-Centre’s action in ranting the free insurance. Among the oiwards we saw in action W. Chur, stain (eapt.) who was in fine iorm, C. Downes, J.m Wilson, E. Chandler and in the backs L. McLennan, Joe Lines, E. Merritt, Mitchell and V. Adams. The attendance at the match augurs well for the popularity of the modern code. The Reefton team were not a full strength but put up a great fight nd this week’s t’eani will be a vastlyimproved one. In the forwards the pick were Sinclair, Flahe-ity, Summers ■and Pureell and in the backs Story, Lissett, McDougall, Byrne and Cooper.'

At Reefton Waratahs were short but gave a glimpse of the fine form that Kiely, Willman and Cutbush being danonly this team can turn on, Scott, gerous at all times. Junction had a full team and played well the pick being Drummond, McManus and Trim in the pack and Clark, Caldwell and Lines i:i the backs. The junior game at the Junction was vety even and only experience enabled Reefton to win. In the Reefton team, Scott, K’ely, Matheson were the pick of the backs and McKenzie, Earl, Harwood and. W. Simmiss in the forwards, The Junction best, were Baker Bros, Pendergast, Southon, Whitnal and Hurley.

This Saturday Reefton and Waraatahs meet on the Racecourse and a great game should result and Mawer-

aiti and Reefton juniors will -try conclusions at the early game. Junction senior.-; will meet Waiuta at Junction and Junction juniors will travel to Waiuta. For the first match of the- season, the gate monies received were in excess of those received last season and this year- should be ti bumper one. If the weather is unsuitable for play to-day and the Sub Centre postpones ts games, all matches will be played on Sunday. CLUB FORMED AT IKAMATUA. At the request of many footballers, who had expressed a desire to play League Footbal. the members of the Inangahua Rugby League Sub Centre visited Ikamatua the other evening, and mot the players concerned. Mr. C. H. Chandler presided and m his opening remarks said how plea-ed he was t () see the interest taken in the Rugby League Code. He made it quite, dear however that it was definitely not the intention of the League to interfere with the Rugby Team that hail been formed at Ikamatua and thi s met. ing had been arranged not to try and get players but to meet those whose wish it was to play League. Mr. T. F. McKenzie outlined the functions of the Sub Centre and also briefly explaint'd the Insurance Scheme. On the motion of Me -srs Byrne and Sinclair it was decided to foim a Rugby League Club to be known as the Grey Valley Club . and that the Mawheraiii player.s be invited to assist. A list ’ of players was handed into the m?e'ing and everyone was suiprised that there- were so many wanting to join up with the modern code. The new dub will replace Mawheraiti in the junior competition, and some of th'* senior players are being absoibed by other senior chibs. It was decided to hold a full meeting c ,f all players next week and that the secretary of the Sub Centie be invited to attend. NO AUSTRALIAAN VISIT. SYDNEY, April 23. The Rugby League Secretary, Air Miller, states there is no chance of the Australian touring League team visiting Auckland for matches, owing to lack of time.