LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18994, 16 April 1925, Page 11

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

SEASON'S BRIGHT PROSPECTS. OPENING ON SATURDAY. TWO SENIOR GRADES. The Rugby Lcnguo football competitions will open in Auckland on Saturday with every prospect of a successful season. 'lho League game has progressed .steadily during recent years and the standard of play has improved with the expansion of the code. Lust season for the first time in the history of tho gamo in the Dominion tho Now Zealand League representatives succeeded in winning tho " ashes " from.tho visiting English team with the result that tin All Black League team has been invited to visit. England next year. Tho form displayed by the players of tho codo in tho various centres this season no doubt -will itifiuenc.e the felccors in their choice of tho All Black side and aspirants for tho tour iire sure to bo keen on getting and keeping fit for tho various competitions.

It is significant that the Auckland League this season has been obliged to malto provision for 11 senior teams. Two divisions have been created in tho grade and patrons of Carlaw Park will be provided with two " A Grade and two "B" grade senior games each Saturday the " B " grade matches being played as curtain-raisers to the " A " grade games. / Interest in the competitions is sure to bo stimulated to an immonso degree as a 'result and enthusiasts iu the game will bo keenly alert to discover promising material among the younger players in view of the necessity of developing tho beat possible side for (lie English tour.

The Value ol Team Work. The senior grade clubs that contested last year's competition, it ia stated, will again be at full strength. One or two of the older players may drop out but thero iB, .extremely hoalthy competition between promising juniors for inclusion in senior ranks. In many instances the juniors evince a very sound knowledge of the principles of tho game and rely on combination and team work to defeat individual effort 110 ratter how brilliant tho individual may uo. Is tho fundamental essential of the. game. A brilliant individual player may win an odd game for his side but he will not go 011 winning them against combined team work. Tho ideal, of course, is to have brilliant players in all posiiions who will always combine to the best advantage but the match winning essential is team work. The Auck land clubs developed this feature last season to a coinmendablo degree and should be stirred to greater efforts in that direction this season. Only by concentrating on team work can a great side bo developed and the team that will visit England next year should have combination developed to tho highest possible extent. Marist Old Boys Match. Coincident with the opening of tho ceason in Auckland an important match- will he played in Christchurch. The Marist Old Boy's Club which won the senior grade competition in Auckland last season left last evening for. the South to meet the Christchurch Marist Old Boys team 011 Saturday. Tho Southern team is a good side and came to Auckland at the beginning of last season to play tho City team, winners of the .tuctrland senior grade championship. City gained the victory but the visitors who wore new to tho code showed excellent form and this season should prove formidable opponents to the Auckland League champions. The result of the match will bo awaited with interest.

MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

THE DOMINION CONFERENCE Tho management committee of the Auckland Rugby Football League met last evening. .Mr. E. l'helan presiding. A motion, of which notice had been given by the City Club's delegate. Mr. \V. Davidson, in favour of postponing the opening of the season till May '2. was discussed. It was decided to open the season on Saturday as originally arranged. Tho chairman reported that the conferonce of tho Now Zealand League, at Wellington during Easter was most successful. Delegates were present from Auckland. South Auckland, Wellington. Uawke's Bay, Canterbury, Otago and West Coast. Reports relating to the progress of tho game in Christchurch and Otago particularly were extremely _ gratifying and the prospects of the code in the South Island wero just as bright as those of Auckland. The "gamo was also being promoted on good lines iri tho Manawatu district. There would be six senior teams in tho competition this season, as well us a number of jtuiior teams.

The chairman of iliq Auckland League, Mr. W. J. Ha mm ill, was addressing a meeting :it. Fox ton that evening with a riow to assisting _ tho organisation of tho sarao in the district. An alteration had been made in tho apnointmcrit of a selection committee for !ho New Zealand League. It had been decided to appoint one selector for tho North Island, one for tho South Island and ono from the New Zealand Loaguo Council. Transfers were granted as follows:—K. Graham, Athletic Clui>_ to Kinprsland: J. Carroll. City Club to Newton. A number of applications for transfer in which the papers were incomplete were granted subject to the necessary papers being in order before Saturday.

FIXTURES FOR SATURDAY

The following matches have been arranged by tho Auckland Rugby Football League for Saturday:— Senior Grade.—City v. - Ponsonby, Carlaw Park No. 1, 3 p.m., Mr. L. Bull; Athletic v. Newton, Carlaw Park No. '2. 3 p.m., Mr. Mincham; Richmond v. Devonport. Dovonport, 3 p.m.; Mr. Saunders; Ellerslie v. Margere, Carlaw Park. No. ]. 1.45 p.m.. All. McCowatt: Ivingsland v. Northcote, Carlaw Park No. 2, 1.15 p.m., Mr. Lupton.