LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19469, 27 October 1926, Page 18

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

SUCCESSFUL SEASON ENDS. RECORD PUBLIC PATRONAGE. HIGH STANDARD OF PLAY. Tlio Auckland Rugby League concluded its 1926 .season on Saturday by playing i the Stormcmt Memorial Shield game, when ' Ponsonby, by defeating Richmond, earned the title of champion of champions, having previously won the club championship. The local League has reason to rejoice over the successful season just completed. Never before in the history has the code enjoyed such popularity. With 12 Aucklanders away with the. New Zealand team, it was thought that the standard of play would depreciate, but, on the contrary, it has still maintained its former excellence. Recruits from the sister code have been plentiful. Fourteen seniors have made their appearance in this season's competitions. The Auckland representative team can, without the services of the absent ones, still boast a strong combination, and it ( proved this by outclassing the Dominion team, besides winning provincial matches against Canterbury, Otago and South Auckland. There is a wealth of promising young senior grade players, who will in no small measure continue to keep the League game prominent. The Club Championship. The club championship, which was won by Ponsonby, proved easily the best competition seen for some years. The result was always in doubt and, strong a team as City has been, the former champions had to be content with second place. It was, indeed, pleasing to notice the improvement made by Richmond, Marist and Devonport ; all of whom were unlucky in the run of matches played. Watching the games played during the season, the writer has been impressed with the general improvement shown by the back divisions. The method of attack, which was at one time of the unvarying orthodox style, from the half to the wing threequarter, has developed into totally different movements. Many times in a match one sees the scissors and reverse pass used. The centre threequarters in most of the clubs have learned that tries can be scored by shooting round behind the five-eighths and passing to the forwards who support them. Splendid backing up of the players in possession of the ball has been a feature of the club matches, which have been well attended this season. Record Gate Takings. While not officially known, it is safe to assnmo that record gate takings for the season will be announced. It was known that last season's figures were passed five weeks ago, and it will occasion no surprse to seo last year's total increased by nearly £IOOO. Improvements to Carlaw Park are at present engaging the attention of the Management Committee, and extensive and costly building proposals are under review. Several schemes have already been submitted to a firm of architects. The site for a grandstand has caused considerable discussion by the Executive Committee. Some favour the roofing of the terraces, with seating accommodation provided, whilo an alternative plan put forward provides for a stand on the present site. The former suggestion is estimated, when completed, to cost the Auckland League approximately £IB,OOO, and the other wonld be eventually more costly, running into close on £23,000. Of course it is not the League's intention to build at once. The trustees have had the matter in hand for some time, and the stand, whichever scheme is decided upon, will be built, in sections, according to the amount of money available. Catering for Patrons. Carlaw Park is a splendid football ground, but it lacks the dressing room appointments demanded by the players. Ever since the ground was opened in 1921 the present accommodation has been utilised. The players during that period have shown a fine spirit, and although the appointments are not of the best, particularly on wet days, when six teams are engaged, the promise of something better in the near future has been given. An up-to-date building is the third scheme to be reviewed. The plans provide for hot and cold showers and a speci-ally-constructed plunge bath. Large dressing rooms, with lockers provided, and a meeting room and offices for the League are included in this much-needed budding. This progressive policy of the Auckland League will, no doubt, meet with the general approval of all patrons of the sport, whose comfort has in the past been generously considered. Within the next few weeks official announcement of the League's intention should be made.

LEAGUE TEAM'S TOUR. DEFEATED BY OLDHAM. SILENCE OF THE MANAGERS. Tho New Zealand League team met its fourth defeat on the English tour on Saturday, when the powerful Oldham Club beat the visitors by 15 points to 10. Tho cabled report credits the New Zealand team wit!) a fair showing, and attributes its loss to the failure of tho forwards to secure the ball from the scrams. Just what is wrong with the visiting forwards must be giving the Dominion authorities some concern. For the second time on tho tour backs have been placed in tho front division. Against Hull, Gardiner played in the forwards. Against Oldham both he and Duffy played in the forwards. No information has come to hand from the team's managers, who appear to have failed in their duty toward tho New Zealand Council in not keeping that body better- informed of tho movements of the players. Therefore, any comment as to why the selected forwards have not been given an opportunity to make good is at present futile. Tho New Zealand team will play Leeds to-day. THE BOXING- RING. TOURNAMENT THIS EVENING. Whether the Northern Boxing Association's new policy of matching featherweight boxers who are showing promise is to result in better exhibitions will be proved this evening at the Town Hall, when T. Griffiths, of Dunedin, ■will meet Cyril McCarthy, of Auckland, and Roy Ovexend, of Napier, wil] oppose P. ">!.'iok, of Wellington. The three southern boxers are newcomers to the Auckland ring, whilo McCarthy is more or less in the same category, as he has had only occasional chances of professional tests. He is a clever fighter and a plucky one. In Griffiths he is meeting a boxer who has won much favour in Dunedin, so tho match should be well worth seeing. Overend and Black, who wfll provide the second professional contest, are also said to be very promising feather-weights who may be expected to make the pace willing. Four amateur bouts have been arranged, the majority of the contestants being finalists in the recent championships of the Auckland Military Sports Association,