FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18223, 17 October 1922, Page 5

FOOTBALL.

UNDER. league rules

NOTES AND COMMENTS The challenge shield match on Saturday between City and Tongariro was a highly interesting and exciting contest till within 10 or 15 minutes of the call of time. The Maori team showed a fine knowledge of the League cods, and always attempted f.o throw the ball about. The visitors also were careful not to kick the ball to their opponents, and their tackling was very sound until they tired toward the end of the game. In the early stages of the second spell it seemed as thongh the- King Country champions had taken the measure of their oijponente. and only the extra pane of the City backs prevented a fairly high scare being resistered by the visitors. Considering that the Tongariro players ■were without thr* services of two of their besit forwards, they did extremely well. With their full strength in the field it would be no iiurprise to see them defeat the best of the Auckland club teams. The hacks all showed good form, though the bulky and good humoured Takirau at fullback was obviously out of condition. Morehu. who took his place in the second spell, played rery well. indeed. The forwards also played a dashing: game. Springall and Ham catching the ey»i frequently in the open. They got a fair shire of the ball in the scrums in the first. spell, but were beaten foT possession consistently in the second spell, and this was largely responsible for their defeat. For City. Crowther at fullback played a sound game. In the threequarter line G. Davidson was just beginning to show his best fcirm when he sustained a nasty knock and had to retire. B. Davidson gave a dashing display at centre, and his tackling was a. feature of his same. He is developing high-class form, and has sufficient pace to be always dangerous. Wilson and Weth< erall at five-eighths gave good exhibitions, the latter in particular being brilliant both in attack and defence. Hig individual dashes when he turned defence into attack and raced through the opposition practicallj turned tho, tide of the game in City'!" favour. Mitchell worked hard behind the scrum., and gave, the ball to his supporti in good style. He was always in the thici of the game both, in attack and defence. The forwards were hard put to it times to withstand the onslaughts of their opponents, but stuck gamely to their task. MaoJsie played a fine game, and combined well with the backs. Hawkes, Town send and Verrafl were also noticeable for much good work. Thure is a likelihood of the City team visting Taumarunui on Saturday and playing a return game with Tongariro. In the event of the match being arranged City will require to place the best possible sids in the field to repeat last Saturday's vieTh« president of the New Zealand Leaguo, Mr. D. W. McLean, who travelled South nr far iij» Dunedin with the object of arranging matters relating to the- tour of the Australian League team, states that a largf number of people in CHago are desirous ot getting tho game. started in the far south. He had been cordially welcomed in Dunedin. though considerable disappointment was felt owing to tho cancellation oi iha .Sfladebsz* toov fltf tJbu& A t hi*tpiHwi—

Referring to, the abrupt ending; of the Australian!!' tour, Mr. McLean said that no doubt the visitors would blame the New Zealand League for the cancellation of the Southern fixtursp. but no other course was open to the Dominion League authorities. The tour had been an unsatisfactory one. largely owing to the attitude adopted by the visitors regarding the itinerary. Nothing was to be gained, however, from discussion of that phase of the <|uestion. The matter no doubt would. be further dealt with by correspondence with the New South Wales League.

THE RUGBY GAME.

ROWING CLUB'S TROPHY.

The Auckland Hawing Club's football team to meet the representatives of the West End Rowing Club will be chosen from the following:—Cordon, Barker (2), Wright, Brodie, Cullen, Collins, O'Kelly. McMillan, Bishop, Stevenson (3), Lawrence, Hall, Fleming; Sboriand, Telfer, and Lanigan. The final selection will be made at the weekend. The match is for the Rowing Clubs' football trophy, ar.d will be played on the Richmond footnall grounds on Monday (Labour Day), at 11.30 a.m