LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17291, 15 October 1919, Page 10

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

AN EVENTFUL SEASON, RESULTS OF COMPETITIONS. RECORD GATE RECEIPTS. The past season has been both,a strenuous and an eventful one as far us League footballers and officials are concerned. In addition to the usual club competitions in sis grades, a New Zealand represents tive League team, comprised chiefly of Auckland players, toured New %uth Wales and Queensland, ;md toward the end of the season an Australian representative team toured New Zealand, placing two test matches and a frame against, the Auckland representatives at An land. Club Competitions. « For the club competitions La all grades 49 entries were received, eight teams taking part in the first-grade competition, which was won for the third year in succession by the Ponsonby team. A comparatively young club in Maritime secured second place. The second grada winners were Sunnyside ; third grade, Manukau; fourth grade, City; fifth grade, City; and sixth grade, Ponsonby. Tha Roope Rooster competition, which is played on the " knock-out " system, each team sustaining a- loss dropping out, was won by Newton, with Maritime again occupying the position of runners-up. The standard of club football was not up to that of previous years, owing to the fact that for a considerable porti. :i of the season 19 of the best club players were with the New Zealand '"am in Australia. Notwithstanding ti.. . the games were keenly contested, and great interest wa3 manifested in them by the spectators, of whom large numbers attended every senior game. Excellent form was displayed by some of the junior players, but, on the whole, there is room for considerable improvement in the standard of play in all -g- ' The players were gfven some very foruioii lessons by the Australians, -nd a comparison between the methods, successfully adopted by the vie iters and the local system of play should reveal weaknesses in the tactics" of the home players that require remedying. later-provincial Challenges. An inter-provincial match again it Hawke's Bay was played during the season, the visitors challenging for the Northern Union Challenge Cup, at present, held by Auckland. The local representatives won after a fairly good game. Wellington and Canterbury also issued challenges for the cup. out, ov. '>,•- to the numerous engagements the local players had to fulfil, it was impossible to arrange suitable dates for gajnes against either province. A similar position arose in respect to a challenge received by Ponsonby from the Sydenham Club, Christchurch, to -play for the Thacker Shield, held by the Ponsonby Club. The Auckland junior representatives paid a visit to Napier, and defeated the local teams. Match Against Australia. The match played ~by the Auckland League representatives against the Australians was practically a repetition of the two previous tests, Australia against New Zealand at Auckland, the visitors winning by 32 points to 8. Prior to the same, hopes were entertained that tha local team would improve on the performances of the New Zealanders in the two previous games against the redoubtable visitors, but- the combination of the. Australians proved to be much better* than that of the local men. Work of the Officials. The Auckland League, in common with other athletic bodies, was compelled, during the war period, to hold in abeyance manv progressive schemes, and devoted the bulk of its revenue tp patriotic and charitable objects. During the past season the annual charity match for the benefit of local charities, nominated by the Mayor, resulted in the sum of £75 being obtained for distribution, and the League also provided, a match in aid of the St. John. Ambulance Brigade. The gate takings at the club competitions and the representative matches considerably exceeded the takings during any previous season, and it is anticipated that over £1000 will be available this season to establish a fund for obtaining a playing ground. The season has been a heavy one for the officials, as in addition to the ordinary work of the_ organisation the visit of the Australians involved much extra responsibility on the part of the local league. J6ar!y in the season the league acouired a training shed for the clubs, and established a social clubroom, which also serves as the office and meeting place for the league end its _ subsidiary bodies, the referees" association and the junior advisors- board. The last-mentioned body deals with matters affecting the junior players, and next season ia to be given extended powers for the sole control of all junior League football. The League's insurance scheme, established with the object of assisting injured players, shows a considerable loss on tha year's working, the League having to subsidise the revenue derived from pre. miums to meet the claims received^