LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19959, 30 May 1928, Page 16

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

DEVONPORT'S STRONG HOLD. NEXT SATURDAY'S ATTRACTION. VITAL POINTS IN THE GAME. With two more matches to be played to complete the first round of the senior competition, it does not appear likely Devonport can be dislodged from first position. Trie match between Devonport and Ponsonby next Saturday should prove a great contest, as on the form shown by Ponsonby last week against Richmond, Devonport will be hard put to it to win. Devonport's last match in the first round is against Ellerslie, and it appears certain tli9 championship leaders will have little difficulty in notching a win. The absence of Dufty and Herewini from the Newton ranks on Saturday gave Wilson and Butterworth an opportunity to show their worth against City. The former played fullback and the latter centre. Both players shaped well, Wilson being very sound on defence. Taylor, the Richmond centre, gave a most disappointing exhibition against Ponsonby on Saturday. Let it bo given in he was 'well marked by Delgrosso and was thrown passes when it was impossible for him to do anything, still he mulled several easy transfers. His penalty kick, when his side was on defence, resulting in Delgrosso's try, was a bad error of judgment. Several senior players would do well to learn two vital points in the game: (1) When their own side is in possession of the ball the opposition cannot score; therefore do not give possession away unless absolutely forced to do so. (2) The player in possession should never pass the ball to a confrere who is in a worse position than himself. A Fine Hooker. The fine hooking of Somers was a feature of the game between Newton and City on Saturday. Newton obtained the ball regularly from the scrums, but its backs threw the advantage away on several occasions by aimless kicking. Somers. without doubt, is the finest hooker playing the code in Auckland. Ponsonby has shown remarkable improvement in its last two games, both back and forward. The fine play of Delgrosso has worked wonders in the rearguard division, while spurred on by support from the backs, the forwards seem to have taken a new lease of life. Hutt is playing at the top of his form at present and was prominent in several strong solo dashes on Saturday. Ponsonby will bo a solid proposition for any team from now on. »• As has already been stated, when the Marist team settled down properly it would be a strong side. Evidence of this was given on Saturday when the team romped over Ellerslie to the tune of 26 points to 6. Marist has not yet completed its back division, as on Saturday ! Moisley played wing-threequarter. The big forward showed his liking for the position by scoring four tries, but the work of the inside backs made the openings for him. However, Moisley showed he could finish off the good work much better than several backs at present playing the code. Moisley is a great asset to the Marist team, as he has showm he can ndapt himself practically to any position on the field. Northern Union Cup* Alterations to the rules governing the Northern Union Interprovincial Challenge Cup were discussed at last week's meeting of thb New Zealand Rugby League and several amendments were made, principal among which were as follows All challenges must be lodged with the secretary of the New Zealand Council on or before the 30th day of June of each year, after which date the council shall arrange the sequence of matches and dates and places thereof; no challenge shall be accepted by the council after the 30th day of .Tune, unless the consent of the holders be first obtained; the New Zealand Rugby League will in future receive 10 per cent, of the gross takings, not 2 per cent, as at present, .the balance to be divided equally between the two competing leagues. There were several incidents of rough play in the Marist-Ellerslie match last Saturday, and one prominent Marist back was indeed fortunate to escape the notice of the referee. It is certainly annoying to be held after having parted with the ball, but there is no excuse for a display of temper on the field. Selectors' Difficulty.

Alter watching the form in the opening matches, it is evident that the selectors are to experience considerable difficulty in selecting the type of front row forward to combat the strength of the visiting English pack. Forwards of the big, hard, solid type usually make good front rank men, but in Auckland at present there are undoubtedly few, if any, with the necessary qualifications. It will be absolutely essential in choosing the team to consider first the necessity of winning the ball from the scrum, and the outside front row men will play an important part in gaining possession. Last season with O'Brien (Marist) and O'Brien (Devonport), Auckland had two of the best front row forwards seen for years. The pair were masters in scrum work and deadly tacklers in the loose. At present Moislev, of Marist. stands out as a forward most likely to be a success in the position but it is difficult to decide the second forward. Since he came over to the League code, •T. Iverson has played some pood games, but, against Newton on Saturday his football was a treat to watch. Each time he handled the ball a try looked likely, so easily did he beat the opposing five-eighths, iris work on defence was also excellent and the ex-Parnell junior is one of (he most promising players seen out fin's season. Match Next Monday. The Auckland Rugby League intends following its policy of last season to play a senior competition match on the King's Birthday. The match set down for decision will be between Richmond and Ellerslic and will commence at 10 o'clock. It should prove a good holiday attraction. In a letter to a friend in Auckland, B. Davidson, the ex-New Zealand representative who plays for Wigan, speaks highly of the football capabilities of Fairclough and Ellerby, who will tour the Dominion with the English team. Davidson particularly draws attention to the clever short punt of Fairclough, which enables Ellerby to use his great speed. "I have seen the pair win several games in the last minute by this method of attack," says Davidson. The ex-Aucklander also states that G. Sullivan, his team captain, is looking forward to a duel with Dufty at fullback. Sullivan has a high opinion of Dufty's capbilities and he considers the Newton man among the best fullbacks in the world.

The English League team will plav the opening match of its tour aginst Coofcimundra to-dav. The team left from Melbourne and the remainder of the tourists went on to Sydney to go into training for the match against New South >Vales on Saturday*