LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18713, 20 May 1924, Page 4

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

THIS WEEK'S ATTRACTION.

CHPv*rSTCHUK<3H TEAM'S VISIT.

Owing to the weather ' conditions, the League was bound to cancel all matches last Saturday. The League can ill afford to lose a, playing Saturday, and it is to be hoped better weather will prevail so that the very ambitious programme entered into for the present season may be carried out.'. ■ ■/'. -.

The weather is responsible for the stoppage of the work in connection with the tarring 'of the terraces at . Carlaw Park. It is to be hoped that the coming week's weather will permit of this necessary work being carried out. as the terraces are not in a state just now to accommodate the great crowd expected to be present at the match next Saturday, when the City team will oppose the new Marist League team, of Christchurch. >* '._— The Parnell Club, although not yet playing a senior team, has its own ground at Campbell's Point, and preparations are complete for the building of a training shed with all conveniences. Medals for the different grades have been donated by Messrs. F. Hunter, Churchill. G. Souter. and P. Bell; a set of jerseys presented to the 6th B grade, by Mr. B. Cutler, and a football by Mr. H. Ruston. With the services of Mr. R. Turner, supported by many keen enthusiasts, : this club is destined to take its place among the leading clubs.

Now Recruit for Devonport. The Devonport Club has a new recruit, in R. H. Coulter, late of the Oriental Club. Wellington, and a former Wellington representative. He is 13 stone, and will probably play five-eighths., with B. .bains. With Webb again taking the field, the shore team will be considerably strengthened. The Ponsonby Club has paid cash for a section of ground, 85ft. by 120 ft.. within five minutes from the tram line, and efforts are being made to raise funds to build an up-to-date training shed. The committee will probably: decide upon holding a series of socials throughout the coming season for that purpose. B. Davidson, the crack City back, has not recovered from the knock he received in the game against" Devonport on . May 10. This is unfortunate, as Davidson is among the first flight of Auckland backs, and he will be missed if unable to take the field against the Christchurch Marists next Saturday. It would occasion little surprise if his brother. W. Davidson, were to take the field. He has captained his team for several seasons. Although he definitely decided to retire from playing, and at present sits as his club's delegate on the League—an office ho may be obliged to vacate should he play —it is probable that in the circumstances ho would follow in the footsteps of the veteran, Jim Rukutai, and forsake the meeting room for the playing field. Christchurcli Marists v. City. The topic of the hour in League circleß is the match next' Saturday between the new Marist League Club, of Christchurch, and the local champions. City. The latter club is leaving nothing to chance, and is to train at Carlaw Park daily. All the best talent is in training, preparing for any emergencies. Jack. Keenan, the club's half of past years, is in constant training, and will take the field in .the event of Mitchell being unable to fill his customary place.

The Marist team was to make its final selection on Saturday last. / Advice from Christchurch is that Marists realise the full value' of the local champions, and the club intends to send its best thirteen. Last Saturday the Christchurch Marists scored their fourth successive win since entering the League code. A very fine programme has been --arranged for the visitors. They arrive on Friday, and will be entertained by the League Glee Club in the evening. On Saturday night they will be the guests of the Auckland League at a smoke concert, and on Sunday the guests of the local Marist Club. The team will depart by the express on Sunday evening for Hamilton.

English Team in Australia. The English League team at present in Australia will play the first match of its tour isi Melbourne on Saturday, when it will meet a. Victorian side. A feature of the,day's sport will be a goal kicking competition, in . which members of the English and Australian League sides will take part. It is likely that the same competitions will bo held. in each centre throughout the tour. Kicking is a feature of the code.

- The Referees' Association. The Rugby League Referees' Association of Auckland is a live body, with a full realisation of the fact that, to a large 'extent, the future progress of the - code deponds upon its activities. In order to draw the right type of men into its swelling ranks, the association resolved to make its weekly meetings as enjoyable as possible, and decided to hold musical evenings after the meetings at frequent intervals. The first was held last week.' when several members of the Special Service Squadron were present. Members of the League Glee Club rendered musical items, which were much enjoyed. The association is willing to receive suggestions for the advancement of the game ' . 'HAMILTON COMPETITION. At Hamilton on Saturday Frankton defaulted to Athletics. ALL BLACK RUGBY TRIAL.

C. BADELEY TO PLAY.

POSSIBLES V. PROBABLES.

Auckland Rugby enthusiasts will bo pleased to know that C. Badeley. the Grammar and Auckland five-eighths, who was chosen as an' emergency in the selection of the teams for the North Island Possibles v. Probables All Black trial match at Wellington to-morrow, has now been included, and so will have another chance of gaining All Black hdnours. . Badeley received a telegram from the selectors yesterday statins that he had been selected for the match. It is understood he will replace Paewai (Hawke'a Bay), in the Probables five-eighths line, as it is, reported that Paewai will not be able to play owing to an injury to his hand. Badeley will therefore be playing against the other Auckland backs. Badeley was originally selected as emergency for the Possibles team, but owing to an error in transmission the name telegraphed from Wellington was Baddeley. The latter is a Wanganui player. . The nine Auckland players selected for the trial match to-morrow, Lucas, Kirwan, Cooko, Wright, C. Badeley Lomas. McLean, Knight, and Eighton left by the Main Trunk express for Wellington last. evening. The North Island All Black trial match, to ITS. played at Wellington to-morrow afternoon, will be preceded by the. trial match between the combined Nelson, Marlborough, and Golden Bay team and the West Coast combined team. - The South Island Possibles v. .Probables match will be held on May 28, and on the following Saturday the North Island v. South Island match will be played at Wellington. The. final Possibles v. Probables match will bo played at Wellington on June 3.

A FINE BACK'S RETIREMENT. V. Badeley, the great Grammar Old Boys' centre threec.uarter. who wan injured in the trial match at Auckland oh May 10, is still in hospital, but is pr-greasing favourably and will probably be able* to leave the institution about the end of the week. It is stated that this brilliant player's football career has closed. Badeley has a record of which he may well be proud. He was a great cenire-threeQuarter, and a clever polished back. He was invaluable in the Grammar back division, and _ proved his ability in many / representative matches. Batty, the Grammar forward, who has not yet been able to play this season owing to injury to his foot, will be fit to play again shortly, and will probably be seen out as rover. - College Rifles have lost the services of M. Grierson,- who has severed his connection with a local legal firm and commenced the practice of his profession at Pukekohe. He will in future play under that sub-union.

REFEREES' ASSOCIATION. - The Auckland Rugby Referees' Association met last evening. Mr. H. Cliffe presiding over an attendance of 80 members. • With reference to representation at the annual conference of the New Zealand Rugby Referees' Association, it was decided _to suggest that, the conference be hold in conjunction with the annual general meeting of the New Zealand Rugby Referees' Association. Mr. W. J. Thompson intimated that the jockeys' room at Avondole would always be at the disposal of officiating referees. A phort lecture on "The Tackle and Playing the Ball" was delivered by Mr. B. W. Hayson. ... . Several questions of interpretations of rules were discussed.

MATAMATA RESULTS. The . Matamata Rugby. Union's senior championship is in an interesting . position. On Saturday Patetere defeated Wairere by 10 points to 9. and Matamata and Walton drew, 3 ail. Patetere now lead Matamata and Walton by one point. Wairere, last year's v champions, have not yet won a match. In the junior competition. Walton defeated Te Poi by 5 points to nil, and Wairere defaulted to Wardville.