FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18483, 21 August 1923, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

; UNDER LEAGUE RULES. NOTES AND COMMENTS. , POSITION OF SENIOR TEAMS. > ; The following table shows the position V of the teams in ..the Auckland Rugby Football ' League's senior grade championship competition:— , v V . P. W. L D. ?ts. ; Athletic .. 12 10 ! _ 1 Kpo°rr° y8 12 6 6 = 12 Ponsonby •• | 11 _ 4 Newton. . . . • 12 2 10 - ...J Richmond' .. 12 1 The' table shows that the struggle be- ■ tween the three leading tea™ 3 nß !Lf*t* particularly keen. Athletic s two defeats ; have both been administered by City. The latter succumbed to Marist Old Boys in the first round and to Devon port in the second. The playoff'for •• championship honours between Athletic and City should provide another stirring contest. The spßctatora at Carlaw Park on Saturday were treated to some fina displays of the League code. With a dry ball and a. fast ground the games were played at racing "pace," and excitement was kept at ' :fever heat as the play swung from end to end of the field City's Win Against Athletic. Chief Interest on Saturday centred in the meeting between, City and . Athletic. ; Play was fast from the kick off, with the City backs endeavouring to break through the 'opposition : with combined passing bouts. The tackling and pace of their opponents, proved equal to all demands for. a time, and it was a piece of clever work on the part of W. Davidson that baffled the opposition and enabled City, to notch the first try. The City supporters were jubilant, as the backs again swept up the field with the ~ ball, 0Davidson dashing over at the corner. The line umpire's flag went np to indicate that the touch-line had been crossed, and the try } was disallowed. 'B. Davidson distinguished himself by scoring » clever try. He drew the opposition out to the wing, and -when , the Athletic backs were anticipating a pass to G. Davidson, Ben cut through and scored behind the post. Then just when City seemed to have a firm grip on the gam® they weakened. Play had been of the robust order, and ' men on both sides had received severe knocks. Interest was added to the game when Athletic scored and converted. An opening smartly, sized bv Hall gave Avery a chance .to cross the City's line. It was good football. The standard of play in the second spell was much below that of the first, half. A try to each side fairly ' indicated the merits of the game. , ; . Form of Individual Players - Of tho individual players Crewther, at fullback for. City,, did some good work, but he is hardly up to the standard of tho other backs on the side. The threequarters all played well, B. Davidson, at centre doing fine all-round work. G. Davidson played good football, but unfortunately received a hard knock in the second spell that rendered him unconscious. He recovered before the game ended. Wilson was responsible for much good work, both in attack and defence, The inside : backs. W. Davidson, Wetherall and Mitchell, all handled the ball well. The firstmentioned played verv soupdly, and scored two pood tries. Wetherall ..ad very bad luck in sustaining a broken nose early • "i the game, but pluckily continued, and did excellent work. _ Among the Athlctic backs J. McGregor, .at fullback, played his usual sound game. Uufty Rave one of his best exhibitions, particularly in defence. His kick w M as good as usual, and he saved his side repeatedly: /Hall and Yardley . both played sowid games. - v 3 The : forwards on both sides played hard : strenuous football. • but breaches in scrum work were • all too frequent. A), times they _ threatened to spoil the game, McDonald, a recent City recruit, showed fine lorm in the onen and should be of ere.it ■ assistance to his side. Thomas, .Hawkes, Mackie, an Townsend were also respon- • - <• '? * reat deal of good work. The - Athletic forwards fought : hard to avert „ defeat ' • Avery proved his value in the open by scoring both tries for his side. J. Marist and Devonport. > The fine exhibition of the League code given by'the Marist Old Boys ana: Devonport as -a curtain-raiser at Cartaw Park on Saturday : was greatly 'appreciated by f the Spectators. The Devon port backs, led by B. Laing, jemned quickly into their Etnde and threw the ball about in great j it. Manst were °- B0 in a passing mood ; and the game went . with a swing from start to finish. For Manst.' Ghent. Stevens linsbaae, Foss and Stormont played very finely. . For Devonport Godick and Harper m . tie threeqtiarter line showed great , dash.v.. The' inside backs Laing, Webb and Garrett,; operated well together. P'Hisonby had a field day against Rich- \ n ? on j The backs on the winning side showed. excellent combination and kept the Richmond players busy defending. The : scores points to s—show the run- of :.'V the,game.. ■ . ■-... V : v ■ ■ The Auckland League has always taken a firm stand against rough < play and it » to be presumed that certain incidents in the game between City and Athletic on Saturday will not be allowed to pass without. inquiry. Aocidents are always liable • to occur in a strenuous game, bet the injuries sustained by at least one player were certainly not accidental. . _: ; Representative Fixtures.

The first representative "'--game'-' of the ;]•, Season in Auckland, which will be played at : Carlaw Park to-morrow between Wellington and Auckland League represents ' tives,' is being looked forward to with in-" .■/* terest by League supporters. .Wellington •were defeated :on Saturday ,by South Auckland* for the Northern Union Challenge Shiold. It is doubtful if Auckland will be at full strength to-morrow. Wetherall and G. Davidson are both feeling the. effects of knocks received on Satur. day, and may find it advisable to rest for ■"■' a few, days. ' r . -. '■ The "result of the South-Auckland--• Wellington match on Saturday, indicates that a stirring contest will;, be waged for the Northern, Union v Challenge Shield, . '.;■'. ■when South-Auckland and Auckland meet this season;. If both Leagues field their ':/ strongest sides, the game should be worth going a long way to witness. The South Sydney club will send a team to. Auckland next month. An endeavour was made to arrange for a visit from the North Sydeny e'ub, bat. the negotiations failed at the last moment. The games with South Svdney should produce some sparkling football. They should also furnish a line as to the standard of the local players.. • " '"•'■• r '• English Team Coming. The clinching of arangementa for a visit of the "English League representatives to the Dominion next season will be heartily welcomed by League supporters throughout the Dominion, Previous visits by the English players of. the code have' left nothing but. pleasant recollections. The men - from .- England are fine players and good sportsmen, and their arrival will be looked for with pleasurable anticipation. Just as a sporting forecast, the opinion is - offered that they will not win all their games' in Auckland. The impending visit of the English League representatives should afford an excellent opportunity for the New Zealand League authorities to arrange for a visit of the Dominion League representatives to England. We have the players capable of fighting for the " Ashes " notwithfitanding the results of recent games against both England and Australia. Auckland defeated \ England in a memorable game the last time they met. and against the famous- Kangaroos last season had the game in hand until the last fifteen min.V..! utes. The standard of play locally has not gone back in the meantime, and in '■':..'.' other districts; has improved' A carefully • selected side, wisely coached, particularly L; among the.forwards, would be capable of! iji:;;,•;'■ meeting the; 5 world's best. In addition,! ... the inducement to League players of a c'' visit to England would give"a fillip to the i£■■■•■■.', game that would be invaluable. .'•.-.' : '\ -