UNDER LEAGUE RULES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15628, 6 June 1914, Page 5

UNDER LEAGUE RULES.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

The two hew clubs which have made their first appearance in senior football this season, namely, Grafton and Otahuhu, will be matched against each other at the Domain this afternoon. Otahuhu is * team which is improving every Saturday, and Grafton, though hot doing particularly well in club matches, is far from being a weak combination, so that » good gamo should result. Probably chief interest to-day will centre in the meeting of the old rivals, Pon« sonby and City. An it happened last year, Ponsonby is improving each week, while City* although defeated last week, lis undoubted?/ a. very strong combination and one which should be high up on the list at the end of'the season. A close finish may bo'expected. The third rafitch, between Newton and North Shore, should also prove interesting, though each side will probably be playing Well under its beat strength. On present form North Shore should win, but Newton is, and always hag been, a team which is responsible for many surprises. Olson, who until a fortnight ago, was much valued at halfback by :he Marist Brothers Rugby* team, has dispelled all doubts as to bis future plan of action by throwing in his lot with Otahuhu. He played behind the district team's scrum last week, and acquitted himself very welL

Kukutaia's mime appears in ' the City thirteen to mee4 Ponsonby to-day. There has been somo doubt all along as to whether he intends to play again this season, and, last week' his name was on the list of'referees. Austen, the Grafton fullback, is still on the injured list, and is out of the team for to-day. His loss will bo keenly felt. Mitchell also will he a non-player this afternoon, and hi* absence will make a considerable difference to the black and whites' vanguard.

Cooke, the Auckland wing-tbrecquarter, appears to have reached his very best form already, aid is proving a tower of-' strength to Otahuhu. Dr. Thacker, the well-known Christohurch supporter of the league game, left for Sydnev last week to witness the first meeting of New South Wales add. the touring Stilish team, which takes place today. the managers of the British team have communicated with the local league expressing -the" desire that the teams New Zealand tour should be confined to the North Island. This means that Canterbury will not have a match, and Wellington will probably receive a came instead. ! The fame at Otahuhu last Saturday provided a better exhibition of Northern Union football than either of the two previous matcher, played there. Play was open and very fast the ball being freely thrown, about by both sides. Of Newton's rear division Perry, at fullback, was, i perhaps, the beet. He played a very safe game, though his kicking was often somewhat wild. Tobln, at five-eighth, ! played a. Bound defensive game, and was ; also useful In attack. His try, which ho himself converted, was a. good one. Farrant, at halfback, was very useful, and did all that was asked of him. Healy is not playing up to last year's form, but his change of position may account for that. Of the red and whites' weighty vanguard Bennett played much the best game. Brocklise also played well, and his prompt following up certainly saved the mutch for Newton, as his try was the result of fast following. • The others were very even, and worked well together. Otahuhu were lucky In having the services of Olsen, the Mariat Brothers' half, back, as Hardgtave. was absent, OJeen played a brilliant game right through, and will probably be equally as good as his Rugby clubmate, Curran, who threw in his lot with the League- two years ago, Cooke played a fine game, the best he has played this year, and scored all the Joints for Otahuhu. Stockman, at fullback, wis safe and clever while Brennan, at half, was also in good form, though at tlmea no did not put tub ball out as well as usual. The other two backs were very weak. The club would do well to play Harris in the pack, as he "is not a back, but would bo an improvement on at 'least one of their forwards. Shaw was again prpminent amongst the forwards, and h«j and Baskiville War 6 probably the two best forwards m " the' .. field. The Stannawoy br-obherg both played Well, and MoCallion was good in tight/Work, but somewhat Weak' in th& '©pen. ' Browtio's lightness told Y6ry seriously Against him, and ho tig asm *«$ ■