LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19632, 10 May 1927, Page 14

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

OPENING OF COMPETITION. GOOD FORM REVEALED. KEEN FIGHT FOR HONOURS. Only a -very fit team, trained to the minute, ea» hope to be successful in the Auckland Rugby League s ■ senior competition. That statement, which is almost a fcnuism, was given added emphasis as a result of the opening cornpetition matches on Saturday. Evidence was also given. that the championship ho ours will be very keenly contested. All the winding teams showed excellent form, and at 'least one losing team, Devonport, can be expected to have a decisive j voice in the competition. • I Chief interest centred in the match [ between Devonport and City, and opinion regarding th® merits oi the respective ' teams was divided. Devonport was in | better'form than City, and an early 'start, lat training stood the players m : good 'stead. Although narrowly defeated by ; a thirteen with just a little more finish to its taam-work, Devonport was by no : means disgraced. Under perfect conditions City's back division can give excellent expositions of Ike code, and on Saturday, particularly .in * the second spell, its attack Was full lof enterprise. To give a team as strong as Devonport 11 points start is no ' easy task. The speed of the City backs will always be a problem for opponents to c;jpe with Advent of Jew Players. Devonport and City each tried three new players. With more knowledge oi the game they should be very useful to the team. . For City, E. Brown, at fullback, had plenty oi work to do. and on occasions his play was very erratic. He was uncertain, with . his return kicks,, one of which gave Devonport a simple. try. Wade, on the wing, was patchy, but did not get many opportunities. L. Brown, or.-.the . other hand, saw plenty of the bail,- and gave a polished exhibition Flir> speed off the mark, combined with fine anticipation, was a noticeable feature of his play Davidson, at centre, played a sound game. His strong, straight running:made him a. hard man to stop; G. Perry was | making his first appearance in the City team, and played well at five-eighths. He made several openings by clever sidestepping. However, bo should quickly drop ■ the bad habit of keeping possession of the ball rafter he has run the supports into position. Perry came from the Bugby code, in which he. played as a' junior for Purnoil. Wotherill's Sound Defence. Wetherilt was th. outstanding figure in City's defence; held up the Devonport attack m great styje. , Small in slatDre, Wethoriil is a plucky defender, and on attack, too ? shows remarkable anticipation. ' Ghent played a useful game behind a beaten scrufri, and gate his biitiks every opportunity to use their pp City's forwards had a hard battle against-: the most, powerful pack'ln the competition, and, while they were beaten in the tight., they shone in open play. Be.ss Was, perhaps, the best. Hamilton, a promoted junior, tackled in pood style, fb.dky, a recruit from Rugby, played a good game and showed a fine turn of speed in passing rushes. It was stated eaYlitr >n the season that, owing to injuries rcceivod while in England, S. Webb would play at fullback for Devon; ort. Webb, who usually occupies an inside back position in club football, gave a fr.ult.lcss display at fullback on Saturday, and was one of the outstanding players foj the losers. He showed line initiative in 1 Funning his thrcequarters into position, and his kicks were placed with gopd judgment. Cither Dsvonport Backs. Both: thi: wings, Beattie and Scott, showed they possess pace above the average. Beattie was particularly impressive, and handled -the ball really well, using an effective, side-step when racing' at full sneed. On his play he is undoubtedly a find, and nhould bo a great acquisition to the Devonport team.Hemingway whs the weak link in the Devonport- backs- He frequently held up the attack by keeping the ball too long Seagar made several, clever openings, and his try wii.s a bright effort. Opposed to sweh an experienced' fiveeight ,is Wathenll. Preston stood out .prominently for Devonport. He made some excellent openings; in fact, he was mainly resoonsibie for two tries. Cleaver played well behind the scram, whipping ths bail out with clean, snappy passes. Devmport's forwards presented a formidable obstacle to. the opposition, both in the. loosu and. in the scrums. Rule was perhaps th? b"st of a good even set, and h's pac rrevented an otherwise certain 'try to fit v. Di.xon and O'Brien were tireless workers, and Laing was prominent hi the open. IJufty Changes Glr.bs. .A stir was caused in League circles I when it became known on Saturday that ■ C. Dui'ty had severed his long association with the Athletic Club, and many of those present, at the Domain were anxious to see how Newton would fare with his ser vices. The New Zealand representative '"played a sterling game at five-eighths, and was largely responsible for Newton's ultimate victory. It will riot be to sec Newton 'regain its lost prestige with such a fine footballer in the team. G 'Mormitn -was -th®' /most.prominent of' the. other New; on backs. W. Clarke was Newton's best forward, his clean handling and quick passing boing of material assistance to his team. Richmond was by no means beai'-n by a better team in Newton, and on the ran of the plav was a trifle unlucky. Its for wa&ds are altogether -too light, and more weight in' fche scrum is sorely. needed " Parkes played an excellent game at centre-three-quarter.' : but' his: experience in scrum-work and his general .ability -as a connecting link with the backs would con-, siderably improve the pack. : • Hanion, : at., fullback,' - 'gave' one of- his I best displays, - and saved Richmond on | numerous -occasions.'- Taylor's weakness in ■tackling was. a great disadvantage tc his side. | liitexidsd Retirements./ ! The open ng of the season has in many : cases a strong -fascination for" players who { intend to retire. Such was the intention of J. O'Brien ;:nd J. Stormont, both of j whom were spectators at the Mar'st-Atb : latic gam® last Saturday, • However, - it 1 is' now stated these players, who have represented Auckland, will assist Marist for wards against Devonport next Saturday. The selectors wil3.be faced with a difficult problem in choosing an Auckland representative t#aro this, year. It is-a long since so many players of equal merit have been available, ?a'nd it is safe to assume the best local. > representative side will now have- good prosDefcts. of -winning matches-'- '--against''. any-overseas teams.