RUGBY LEAGUE NORTHERN TOUR GRAND IDEA AND SPORTING GESTURE

Grey River Argus, 28 June 1947, Page 6

RUGBY LEAGUE NORTHERN TOUR GRAND IDEA AND SPORTING GESTURE

The proposal of the West Coast League to send a team on tour to the North Island in an effort to foster the code in places such as New Plymouth, Wanganui, and Huntly, is undoubtedly a grand idea. It is a most ambitious plan and a very fine sporting gesture that should be readily snapped up by the authorities concerned. Furthermore it is a fitting reward to the senior players of the various clubs, who have provided such delightful matches during the past three or four seasons. It is by no means late in the year to organise the trip and it is one that should almost pay for itself. If it does not, well why worry. The sport is the thing and the' progressive Board of Control will not quibble about having to meet a few pounds out of its revenue. So far as the West Coast League is concerned it appears that the trip will be definite, providing arrangements can be made for their reception in the areas indicated. It will undoubtedly be a great filip to League on the West Coast and also will give the side a chance to mould itself into a formidable combination, both for future representative and club fixtures, even next season or later. It is felt that if the League gives as many young players as possible a chance that it will be a great thing for them and the province and the game generally will undoubtedly benefit as a result in seasons ahead.

UNFORTUNATE: It was most unfortunate that there should have been a lapse on the part of the Canterbury League in the reception of the teams which visited Christchurch last week-end. This is unpardonable as it has occurred pre viously, and it cannot be claimed that it was through lack of advice as this was most specific from this end. There appears to be a general lack of organising ability in Canterbury League circles and this is distinctly unfortunate as the game is undoubtedly coming into its own on the other side of the Alps. It is hoped that the West Coast League will register a protest in the hope that those responsible can be stirred out of heir lethargi attitude. The trip across the Lewis ..Fass in the buses was an irksome and weary one for the players and they were deserving of better treatment that experienced on arrival at Christchurch. ALTERATIONS TO RULES Many writers —some not wholly sympathetic to the League cause, to say the least—are indulging in flights of fancy over suggested alterations to the laws of the game, pertaining to play the ball and re-introduction of the Union throw-in method of restarting play after the ball has gone into touch. As a fact, no person, either in New Zealand or England, has any clear conception of the mind of the English League at the moment. Our correspondent remarks that these proposals are receiving attention, and “there may be surprising moves. We must wait and see what happens at the summer meeting of the Council.” This from the Secretary of one of England’s most important professional Clubs, was confirmed in conversation with members of the New Zealand Referees’ Association, who stated that no notice of impending alterations had been received.

As a matter of fact, both matters under review were tried out. Says “Little John” in the “Yorkshire Post” of January 11th: “Now they are looking to the touchline again in an effort to reduce the number of scrummages. Experimental games will be played between Leeds and Hunslet (Yorkshire) and Wigan and Warrington (Lancashire), to try the throw-back from touch instead of a scrum when the ball goes into touch on the bounce and when it goes direct to touch from a penalty kick. “The play the ball law was planned to open out the game, and its authors optimistically prophesied great things of it. But, instead of that happening, the law broke the continuity of play in a fashion nevei’ dreamed of; in fact, has slowed up the game. “All of which brings me to the point that, no matter how the laws of any game are changed, there will always be those spoilers who will scheme a way to defeat the purpose of those who plan to build. Mr A. S. Dobson, of Featherstone, who is to have a hand in the experimental games, says that simply the half should go to the mouth of the tunnel and put the bail in. That’s all.” HIGHLIGHT OF THE SEASON On July sth., the select thirteens of the North and South Island will file out on the Park to contest the 1947 insular supremacy of the Dominion. And, of course, we must not overlook that players included in these teams must obviously, in the opinion of selectors, be considered the cream of New Zealand’s talent and therefore reasonably certain of a visit to England and France. The convincing .W'ctory of South Island last season gave Auckland critics a mild shock, intensified later in the year when West Coast accounted for the travelling Blue and White combination at Greymouth. The recent triumph of Canterbury over Coast has set brains revolving at this end of the Dominion as to just how good is the material "down under.” July sth., will disclose the answer to this question. ALLOWANCES ON TOUR AUCKLAND, June 26. The Auckland request for the allowance for married men on the forthcoming New Zealand League team’s tour of Britain to be increased by £1 to £5 10s a week has been refused by the New Zealand Rugby League, according to a report by the Auckland League’s delegate. Advice has been received from the West Coast Rugby League that it was prepared to send a representative team to play Auckland on August 23, and also wished to make an

extended tour, playing against Wanganui, Taranaki, Wellington and South Auckland.

POTENTIAL NORTH ISLAND PLAYERS

(Special to “Argus.”). Auckland v. The Rest of North Island. The weather was atrocious and the ground a quagmire. The game was ably controlled by the youthful T. Avery, of South Auckland, who is only twenty years of age. Despite the weather the popularity of the code was evident, by the attendance of 5000. Auckland players showed superior knowledge of the finer points of the game, to emerge the winners by 32 to 11. The following is a tabloid of how the respective players shaped. REST OF NORTH ISLAND J. Broughton, full-back, Taranaki, (poor). W. Dryborough, wing-three-quarter, South Auckland, (poor). H. Evans, centre-three-quarter, Wellington, (good). G. Stackhouse, wing-three-quarter, Wellington, (good). O. Brooks, five-eights, South Auckland, (good). J. Anderson, live-eighth, Taranaki, (poor). L. Allan, half-back, South Auckland, very good). Forwards J. O’Brien, Wellington, (very good). H. Kruge, Wellington, (good). D. Williams, South Auckland (fair). R. Dow, South Auckland, (good). J. Tautae, South Auckland, (very good). L. Hamilton, South Auckland, (very good). Auckland A. Wiles, full-back, Mt. Albert, (good). A. Mclnaviney, wing-three-quarter, Mt. Albert, (very good). J. Jordan centre-three-quarter (Ponsonby, (very good). A. Read, wing-three-quarter, North Shore (fair). A. Graham, live-eighth, Richmond, very good). M. Robertson, five-eighth, City, (fair).. Forwards G. Hardwick, Ponsonby, (very good). W. Breed, Otahuhu, (good). C. Hurndell, Richmond, (very good). J. Johnson, Otahuhu, (good). R. Roff, Mt. Albert, (very good). B. Graham, North Shore, (good). Senior Championship The West Coast Rugby League senior championship has reached an interesting stage, and is perhaps the closest and most exciting seen for some years. Blackball, champions for the past few years, are still at the top of the list, but their margin is a slender one; they have one loss and a draw to their credit this season. Ngahere, with two losses, are but one point behind Blackball, and they are in a very strong position at the moment. Marist, with two losses also, have played a game less, so they too hold a strong say in the championship. Runanga, with two losses and a draw, are also still well in the running, so any of these four teams can have their name inscribed on the Championship Cup. The matches to be played in the next three weeks should be most interesting, chief among them being: To-morrow (Sunday): Ngahere v. Marist; July 6: Blackball v. Marist; July 13: Blackball v. Ngahere; Runanga v. Marist. The Marist team is being put to a strong test to-morrow, as a defeat by Ngahere would nullify their chances of taking the major honours and they will be all out to defeat the improving country team. On the other hand, should Ngahere be defeated to-morrow, their prospects of being 1947 champions would practically disappear, so Greymouth patrons can look forward to a thrilling struggle to-morrow. THE STONE CUP Prior to his departure from the district, Mr Charles Stone, Taylorville, donated to the West Coast Rugby League a handsome cup for competition, and it is to be awarded for the club championship of the West Coast. Mr Stone, in making the conditions under which the cup is competed for, has again stressed the need for greater club spirit, and there is little doubt that his trophy will achieve something in this respect. The cup will always remain the property of the’ League, and can never be won outright. The holders of the club championship will be decided by the number of points won for a club by its grade teams. For each win by a team, three points will be awarded, and li points for a draw. Thus it will be an incentive for clubs to enter as many teams as possible, as, by having a team in each grade, a club will have more chance of attaining championship honours. The Stone Cup will always keep fresh in the minds of all sportsmen on the West Coast the line sterling and generous sporting qualities of the donor, and Mr Stone will carry away with him the best wishes of the Rugby League fraternity. PROSPECTIVE KIWIS The West Coast will be represented at the final Rugby League trials, to be played at Auckland on July 5, by 10 of its leading players: R. Nuttall, J. Forrest, C. Mcßride, R. Aynsley, K. Mountford, J. Newton, J. Curnow, J. Softer, J. Mundy, and A. Gillman. The first six mentioned will take the field with the South Island team in the match against the North, and the other four v,*ill take part in an A and B trial prior to the Island match. However, all will have the opportunity of gaining New Zealand honours and making the tour to England and France. Just how many of the West Coasters will attain this high honour is hard to say, but on form shown this season, Nuttall, McBride, Gillman, Aynsley and Mundy seem the best prospects, although Newton would only have to give of his best to put him in the front rank of prospects. Forrest, Soster, Curnow and Mountford must all be accorded every chance, and when the final 26 players are announced it is hoped that West Coast will receive tleir fair share of the places in the party. One thing that can be reason-

ably certain is that the representation in 1947 will exceed that of 1939, when no West Coast player was included in the Kiwis. Mention is often made as to the reason why the New Zealand Rugby League team is called “Kiwis”, and it is well to mention that N.Z. Rugby League representative teams have always been called “Kiwis”. The first time that name has been used in Rugby Union circles was when the N.Z. Army team was l called “Kiwis”. The touring team to England and France this year will be called the “1947 Rugby League Kiwis”. SCHOOLBOY LEAGUE Points up to Saturday. June 14, 1947:—.

Cobden team to play Blackball.— Curtis, Marley, Scalmer, Dyeming, Muir, Mather, Innis, Green, Richardson, Walker, McNair, Harding, Longley, Reid Frazer Gracie.

P. W. L. D. Pts. Marist A 7 5 1 1 11 Runanga 7 5 1 1 11 Blackball 7 5 2 10 Kumara 7 1 6 — 2 Brunner 7 3 4 — 6 Cobden 4 1 3 — 2 Marist B. 2 — 2 — — The points in the Senior Colts 7st. 71b. grade are as follows: — P. W. L. D. Pts. Koninoor 6 5 1 — 10 Marist 6 4 2 — 8 Blackball 6 2 4 4