FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18495, 4 September 1923, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

THE RUGBY GAME.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

The following representative matches will be played by the Auckland team during the remainder of the season:— ; :

September &—New South Wales, v. Thames Valley, at Paeroa. V Sctitemlwr 15— Wellington. L „ September 22—Hawkc's Bay, for the Banfurly Shield. '-'•';

.TEST MATCHES. September 12—Against New South Wales, at Wellington.:

| All conceit, if . any existed, must have been taken out of the Auckland team at Eden Park, on Saturday, 'when they fought a side their superiors in the pack, who dominated the play throughout a strenuous first spell to 6° under at the finish to sheer speed and complete combination of the Auckland backii. "A great game; a: i very groat game," were the expressions of appreciation of tho spectators as they thronged out of Eden Park, delighted with the exhibition of the Otago forwards, and pleased with the pace and dash of the local backs. All the (spectacular play and the froth and bubble of a division playing behind a winning pack, was crippled and mini, bled by the rugged onslaught of the Southern forwards, who played close up to their opponents, nipping the passing rushes in tho bud, and tackling like tigers in the tight and in the open. For once fa a way Auckland was up against a powerful pack, and . for the first time really tested. _ . In connection with the Ranfurly Shield match against HawEe'a Bay it is interesting to know that unless the solo selector is sure of getting away tho best and strongest attacking side he does not propose to risk Auckland's well-won reputation. In the Otago-Auckland representative mateh on Saturday the rival captains: K. Ifwersen (Auckland) and P. McDouga 1 (Otago) were tho only players in the late great game who took part in another great game at Potter's paddock in. the season of 1912, when Otago and Auckland fought out a draw, five points each. Added interest is created by the fact that "Paddy" Sheehan, now one of the ardent supporters of North Shore, captained the Otago team in that memorable match 11 years ago. McDoupall, who plays for the Alhambra Club, in Dunedm, is something of a veteran in the game, though still comparatively young in years. The many friends and admirers of Lis Badeley, the Grammar Old Boys fiveeighths, will rejoice to hear that he has made a good recovery from a recent operation to his leg, the result of an old injury which ho sustained a season or two ago, and again revived in a tackle in a match, at Whangarei early this season. „ ■_:. The first appearance of the New South Wales touring team at Auckland is being anticipated by Rugby enthusiasts. The match, arranged by the New Zealand Rocrhy Union, will be against an Auckland provincial team, to be played at Eden Park on Saturday. . The players from New South Wales are due to arrive at Auckland on Friday morning. The visitors will be met and welcomed by an official of the New Zealand Rugby Union, who has been appointed to look after the team in Auckland, and by members on the Auckland Rugby Union. The match, despite the repeated defeats of the Australians in the two tests and provincial contests, is creating keen , interest", and a record attendance is anticipated. As the home side plays a similar game to the visitors an attractive and spectacular match should be wTthessed.' Mr. W. J. Meredith, the well-known Auckland referee, will be referee for the match between New South Wales and tne Waikato, Bay of Plenty, and Thames Vallev representatives, to be played at Hamilton on September 12. ,-"•- The two Otago players, Harty and Munro, who were injured in the gruelling game against Auckland, will not be available for further matches on tho Southern tour. Harty sustained a serious injury to a cartilage of his left knee, and Munro a severe concussion of his right shoulder in a hard tackle. Both players were able to depart with the other members of the Otago team for Wanganui by the Main Trunk on Sunday evening. It is not the intention of the joint managers, Messrs. W. Wilson and H. McDonald, to/Send for reinforcements for the Wanganui and Wellington engagements, but it is hoped to secure the services of Owens, an Otago University forward, at present at Martinborough, on vacation, for the team against Wanganui and Wellington.

The members of the Otago touring team were delighted at their trip to Auckland, the majority of whom were paying their first visit. They speak highly of their treatment by the. Auckland Rugby Union, particularly' of the personal services and attentions received from Meuam. G. Nicholson and R. Webster, who were indefatigable in their efforts to make the players thoroughly enjoy themselves. The hospitality shown locally is in some measure a return of the treatment received by the Auckland touring team By the Otago Rugby Union officials at Dunedin las? season. ■ ','.,' Two members of the Otago team, McDougall. captain, who played five-eighths, and Watson, the fullback, are veterans of the game, having plaved for Otago many seasons ago. The Otago captain is the well-known Alhambra five-eighths, white Waton is one of the oldest of the Zirigari players in action to-day. Watson was suffering from a severe shoulder concussion, sustained in the match against Taranaki, prior to the Auckland engagement. He was therefore not fit for" a hard game, and an wiually hard tackle, which explains why- he stood off tackling i 1 °V\J he fin ? l " ta « es of *»' match when the Manst threequarter dashed over the Id d line ° score th ° last try for Auckland. ~ v PUKEKOHE V. • MANUKAtL f I [BIT TELEGBAPH.--OWN CORRESPONDENT.] • PtJKEEOHE. Monday. Pukekohe representatives played a match against the Manukau representatives on Saturday, defeating them by 6 to 3. For the winners Blake scored a try which Reynolds converted. Alexander scored for Manukau.

COMBINED ENGLISH TOUR.

REJECTION OF PROPOSAL.

[by. TELEGRAPH.— association.) ( WELLINGTON. Monday.

At a conference between members of the New ■ Zealand and New South Wales Rugby Unions. matters of importance to both countries were discussed.

. A proposal to include Australian players in the team to play in England next year was , definitely rejected, on the ground that it is desirable that - both should retain distinct identity in touring combinations. • .

Another subject -was terms to govern tours of New South ales and New Zealand teams, and an arrangement : was come to which, however, will not be published until New South Wales formally accepts it. * New South Wales' difficulties in fight* ing the League game were gone into, and the help afforded by New Zealand was fully recognised. An understanding was reached that, ' while New South Wales should paddle its own canoe, it will »have fullest sympathy and support from the New Zealand Rugby Union. The disparity of referee ; rulings wan discussed. It appears that where free kicks are awarded in ' New South Wales scrums only are in some cases awarded in New Zealand. It was decided to devise a plan to bring about uniformity in both countries.

. SECONDARY SCHOOLS' TEAM. The following players have been selected to- represent the secondary schools against the representatives ':■ under 20 years of ago, on ''fe Saturday y— Fullback, Mathieson (Grammar); tnreequarters, Olsen (Grammar), McLaren ; (Grammar), McKenzie (King's) j five-eighths, Tepe :;(King's), Mitchell (King's); halfback, Wright (Sacred Heart); Rover, Heard (King's). Forwards: Back row, Cochran (Mt. Albert Grammar), Stone (Sacred Heart); second row, Gardner (Mt. Albert Grammar), David (Sacred Heart), Colgan (Grammar) ; iront row, Stewart (King's),; Macmonagle (Sacred Heart). Emergencies: Backs, Jenkin (Mt." Albert Grammar), Freeman (Mt.. Albert Grammar) forwards. Kirkpatrick (Mt. Albert Grammar), Kelly (Grammar). The team is to meet for training in the Domain at 4 o'clock this evening and Thursday evening. .

UNDER LEAGUE RULES.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

ROOPE ROOSTER COMPETITION.

The opening round of the Roope Rooster competition provided games that were notable for open play and heavy scoring. The points scored in the three matches totalled 161, the winning teams registering 107 and the losers 54. The defeat of Athletic by Dovonport on Saturday came as a mild surprise, but. the win was well deserved. The Devonport men threw the ball about in fine style, and showed a great deal of pace their attacks. It was a peculiar game. There was little to choose between the; teams in the early part, and with only a : point difference in the scores at half time a good finish was anticipated. Devonport became temporarily disorganised at the beginning of the second spell, and Athletic ran up 10 points very quickly. Judging {from the closeness of the play in the first spell that should have been: a winning lead. Devonport, however, stuck grimly to their task and gradually added the points that reversed the positions. For the winners Webb, Godick,. and Harper played well. Laing was patchy. Generally he hung on to the ball too long. Garrett did well at halfback, but was not well served with the ball from the scrum. The forwards showed fine - dash and opened out well in the passing rushesDouglas, Wheeler, O'Brien, and Scott were frequently prominent. For Athletic A. Yardley, at full-back, was very sound. McGregor shaped well at three-quarter, and so also did Monteith, who replaced Lonegan when the latter retired injured. Dufty again played a hard game at centre three-quarter, and his kicking was a feature of the game. G. Yardley played a very sound game at five-eighths, and repeatedly saved his side. Nicholson was not as good as usual behind the scrum, though he served his supports very well. The forwards were an even lot. Millar played a sterling game, and Avery gave one of his best displays in the open. Prospects for the Final. Much interest will be manifested in the draw for next Saturday's matches in the Roope Rooster competition. The four teams lelft in are Marist Old Boys, City, Devonport, and Ponsonby. These side* should provide a great semi-final, howover they are drawn. Marist Old Boys are developing a very fine team. It will be no surprise to see them contesting the final, of the Roope Rooster. Their chance of winning is second to none. .

The Ponsonby team, as holders of the " Rooster," must be expected to put up a strenuous struggle to retain the trophy. The team has been strengthened as a scoring combination by the inclusion of Littlewood, who has returned from Waikato. McClymont also has again donned the jersey, and the team's back combination, should, be greatly strengthened as a result. Evidently the Ponsonby men mean business. '. ..,/ , Devonport's showing last Saturday places them prominently in the limelight. With the confidence born of success they will attack their next engagement with great heart. City had tho luck to draw a bye in the " Roope Rooster," and were thus assured of a place in the semi-final. The spell last Saturday probably would be a welcome relief for several of • the players. They have had some extremely hard matches of late. . The Suggested Tour of England. It is to be hoped tho New Zealand League will succeed in arranging for a New Zealand representative team to visit England in 1925. Such a tour would do more than anything else to dovelop the game in the Dominion on the best lines. The game is flourishing extremely well in certain centres,' and! with the incentive of a prospective British tour players would be encouraged to prepare themselves thoroughly and cultivate the highest standard of play. There is a scarcity of representative fixtures in the Dominion, and tho organising of a tour to Britain would do much to compensate for this i lack. Incidentally it would hasten the [development of annual representative fix- , ture3 and increase interest in the game [ throughout the 'Dominion ; enormously. r The suggestion has been mado that durj ing the forthcoming tour.; of , the South I Sydney team a} match should be arranged | between the visitors and the City team, winners of the Auckland League's club championship this ueason. Such a match should provide a great line as to the standard of the game in Auckland, compared with that of Sydney. South Sydney is one of the leading teams in the Sydney League's championship competitions. ■ , ; ; ; Stevens Benefit Match. The Stevens vbenefit match, which will bo played at Carlaw Park to-morrow, between the Wednesday ' representativs and the Newton senior grade team, should prove an. interesting contest. The Wednesday representative!! will placo a good side in the field,' and the Newton team should be thoroughly tested. . A gratifying indication of the strengthening oif the League game in the suburbs is afforded by the application of the Manukau and Mangere players, to place a senior grade team in the club competitions next season.. The Manukau district was previously represented by a senior team, but during the war period could only provide junior players. Hie Manukau and Mangere Clubs, this season have both done well, and were prepared to amalgamate and enter a team for the Roope Rooster competitions, but the proposition could not :be entertained by the League. It is to be hoped a place will be found for Manukau in the senior ranks next season.

THE ASSOCIATION GAME.

NOTES ANID COMMENTS.

By their decisive defeat of North Shore on Saturday, Ponsonby gave ample demonstration of their right to hold the Falcon Cup for another year, and it undoubtedly is a matter for regret that they are not the team to represent Auckland in, the Chatham Cup competition to decide the premier club eleven of the Dominion. When it became necessary to decide who would be Auckland's : representatives in the Chatham competition, the ■ local management resolved that the honour would go to the team .winning most points in the second round of the senior championship. Northcote won every match, and will be our representatives, but subsequently they were beaten by Ponsonby by 6 goals to. 2 in the Falcon Cup knock-out competition. That Ponsonby as now constituted is the beat club eleven' in Auckland nobody can deny, and perhaps in future years it may be worth »/hile for the local management to decide ■. to enter for the Chatham Cup the team which wins the Falcon Cup. '• r: ; r

Weakness hi' Goal-kicking. Last Saturday's final was well worth watching, and - the large number of spectators was well pleased with the play, but throughout there.was striking evidence of the one great weakness of local Association • football—poor shooting. It

is probably ! a more serious drawback than many surmise, and one only has to watch the matches each Saturday to realise that unit. 3 our. inside ; forwards can improve in front of goal, ■ the game will lose a good deal of its attraction for the aport-loving public. The finest combined moves: ever started are sure to/ become monotonous if the 'finishing touches are not ■ added more often than at present. There ; are only two men in Auckland'who can shoot for goal with anything like precision and sureness. They are Knott,; of Northcote, and C.: Dacre, of North Shore. • ' ■ . It would appear that in Clarke, their new goalkeeper, Ponsonby have discovered a champion. On Saturday, among other things he stopped a penalty shot taken by the redoubtablo C. Dacre, and all ■ through his play was of a very high order. ;. He I has undoubtedly learned his football in a school where a very high standard is expected and attained. The two fallbacks, Kane and -j Braithwaite, performed -well throughout. Braithwaite was a ; shade more certain than his partner, although some of his clearing kicks -were not placed with the best of judgment.. ;; . ; The best back on the ground was Neesham, Ponsonby's centre half. His energy never slackened, while his tackling and placing all through were of a very high order. Ho is a very intelligent footballer, and in the pink of condition. Mitchell was the better of the wing halves, but is inclined to play the man too much. It is not suggested that he is intentionally rough. He is just one of the hard, keen type, whom football should serve to teach control of the limbs and quick thinking. - Of the forwards, : Simm and Innes, on the left and right wings respectively, were easily the pick. They played speedy and accurate football, many of their splendid efforts being wasted by the inside forwards. ::-' :; . '•'■""■, '.'■'.."''•■'.'< ~ The North Shore Players. North Shore's goalkeeper, Thomas, was not up to senior lorm, and should have saved at least two of the shots that beat him. Of the fullbacks, L. Dacre was the better on the day. Craig improved vastly in the second half, after a very mediocre performance in the first spell. As centre half Buchanan gave one of his best • displays this season, being well supported by McGarry on the left. Haycock was. also responsible for some clover work at times. In the front line, C. Dacre worked hard, but he was a marked man, and got few opportunities. There always seemed to bo at least two opponents on hand to attend to him whenever he got possession. Of course, a looker-on sees most of the game, but the manner in which Dacre was watched must have been apparent to the other forwards. Notwithstanding this, they persisted in passing the ball to him in front of, goal instead of taking a firsttime shot themselves. Woolley and Hall were also good : at times. The last senior match of the season is set down for next Saturday, when North Shore meet Northcote in the play for the championship final. North Shore will have to play better all round than they did on Saturday to have a chance.

China v. Australia. Asked for their opinions of the play at the conclusion of the first test matches between China and Australia in Sydney, the rival captains expressed themselves as follows:— , "We had too much weighty for China, and deserved to win, but their skill and style surprised mo. They play a highly scientific game, and showed us some points. —Masters. "Australia were too fast and far too clever for us. They gave us a football lesson for which we are very grateful. I am sure we shall profit by it. —Leung. Junior Championships. The following tables give details of the season's play in the second and third grade championships:— ' SECOND GRADE. Goals. Ch. P. W. L. D. for ttgst. Pts. Watersidora ... 14 10! 1 3 46 23 23 N. Shore A. 14 10 18 85 11 23 Metropolitan .13 8 14 23 8-20 Har.''Board 814 8. 2 4 87 13 20 Y.M.C.A. 8.. 13 6 4 3 25 29 15 Ponsonby ... 12 6 4 " 3 29 22 14 Y.M.C.A. A ... 12. 5 4 3 20 17 13 Thistle ... 11 5 4 2 58 13 12 fhplsf-n. ... 12 4 5 3 31 32 11 Har. Board All 4 5 2 18 17 10 Auckland -Lou doners ... 12 3 8 1 14 23 7 Hollaby's ... 12 1 8 3 10 35 5 Devonpt. Pren. 10 2 7 1 17 27 5 N ■ Shore 812 18 3 13 46 5 Kiwi ... ... 10 0 9 1 9 34 1 Wateraiders and North Shore A to play off for championship. . . THJRD GRADE. Goals. Ch. •'/ P. W. L. D. for agst. Pts. North Shore ... 12 11 0 1 44 10 23 Metropolitan .12 11 10 43 11 22 ; Onehunga ... 12 8 3 1 31 24 17 W.Y.M.I. ... 11 6 2 3 16 14 15 Belmont .. 10 5 3 2 16 9 12 Ponaonby ... 11 4 3 4 28 15 12 College United 11 4 5 2 10 17 10 Moaa ... ... 8 3 4 1 7 • 15 7 Northcote ... 11 3 7 1 8 12 7 Dovonpt. Pres. 10 3 6 1 12 22 7 Grey Lynn ... 9 2 7 0 10 25 4 Y.M.C.A 9 0 8 1 2 26 1 Kiwi. ... ... 8 0 8.0 4 35 0 North Shore win championship.