THE LEAGUE CODE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20357, 11 September 1929, Page 15

THE LEAGUE CODE.

NORTH VANGUARD FAILS.

NEED FOR THIRD-ROW FORWARD

ROOPE ROOSTER SEMI-FINAL. Tho improved form of tho South Island team was a pleasing feature of Saturday's inter-island match. Tho selectors of tho North team were confident in choosing the country forwards who had splendid reputations as good scrum men. This claim, however, was not completely uphold, as tho South Island vanguard completely overshadowed tho North side. Tho forward team to tour Australia next season will in all probability bo composed mostly of South Island players. Many followers of tho code in Auckland could not. agreo Francis was tho only Auckland forward capable of gaining a place in the North Island thirteen. While the standard of forward play in Auckland is not high, thero arc several forwards who must bo considered unlucky in not gaining places in tho team. Payne, Ponsonby, and O'Brien, Mariajt, had strong claims for consideration. A third-row forward with " football brains " is badly wanted in Lcnguo football. There seems littlo hopo of unearthing a forward of the right typo, capable of opening up tho play lor tho backs, bosides assisting the forwards in scrum work. The position lends itself to unbounded opportunities to score tries. No player in a League team gets so many chances oi making good in the code. Ho must, however, be a good handler, with pace, and, above all, have a sound deIn the trial matches to bo played next season tho selectors would bo justified in trying a back to fill the position. Amos, of Canterbury, is a player with all tho credentials of making a fine forward. Ho has more weight than most backs and is a great tacklor. Delgrosso and Meyer mast have reason to remember his hard tackling. Amos, owing to weight, is just losing tho snap of a brilliant five-eighths, but as he is still young there seems every possibility of him taking tho place of Bass and Avery, whose equals as third-row forwards have not been seen for several years.

Tho action of tho selectors in moving Meyer from five-eighths to wing-threo-quarter, to mako room for Seagar, in Saturday's match, was tho subject of much comment. It is difficult to understand tho change, as Meyer was playing wjth great confidence. 110 made some beautiful openings early in the game and was wasted when moved to tho v.'ing. It would have been a wiser move to havo played Delgrosso on tho wing, a position he has often filled successfully. Tho Auckland Rugby League's attempt to reorganise the referees' appointments board received a cheek last week when tho Referees' Association demanded tho withdrawal of remarks made by delegates. That both bodies have totally different views on the subject is well-known, and careful consideration is now necessary to avoid serious complications. In the debate which has been arranged for this evening, it is to be hoped both sides will consider tho best interests of the codo, and a satisfactory settlement will be made. Tho English football season was opened on Saturday last, and Aucklandcrs will bo interested to follow the form of New Zealanders with English clubs. Advice received last week states Hardgrave, Hall and Hutt are in good form, and are. expected to be included in the opening matches. Brown has returned to Wigan from his trip to New Zealand. Davidson and Mason spent their leave at Norfolk Downs.

AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

PROMISING YOUNG RUNNER

CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP.

.Under excellent conditions the Auckland Amateur Athletic Club conducted a successful harrier meeting at the Domain last Saturday, big fields competing in all events. The 75yds. sprint drew a field of 22, two heats being run. A. Warren and J. Crurn were tho respective winners, Crum returning 8s to 8 2-5s recorded by Warren. In tho final tho field broke twice, with tho resjilt that Warrpn and Barker Koth went back a yard. However, at the third attempt tho field got away beautifully and a close race resulted. At the 50yds. mark Crum was leading and looked a winner, but in the final dash to tho tape E. Horan displayed great determination, and just snatched the verdict by inches from Crum, with Barker a foot further back third. Neither Savidan, Whitten nor Andrews started in tho three-miles' steeplechase. Two recruits in H. Ball and G. Fish finished first and second respectively. The limit men, Ball, R. Whitten and \allancc, led over the hill the first time, closely followed by Clark, McNeil and Nilson. The positions of the loaders did not change much during the first threo laps, but at the rear Cooper and Kells were running together arid picking up the field nicely. Starting on tho last half-mile Ball definitely assumed charge from Fish and Eyre, who in turn were just ahead of a group comprising Browno, Clark, McNeil and Wilson. Ball held his advantage over the concluding stages and scored a comfortable win by about ten yards from Fish and Eyre, while Brown was about five yards behind in fourth place. Kells and Cooper were the next to finish, tho latter gaining fastest time. Saturday's events concluded the customary weekly meetings and next Saturday the Auckland cross-country championship on the Ellerslio racecourse will bring the 1929 harrier season to a close. Although a championship event tho race will be run under the usual handicap system, with a trophy for the first to finish and tho championship gold medal for fastest time winner. In addition, the usual sprint and field events will bo held, while there is a possibility of tho Manukati Cycie Clnb also conducting a race. 11. D. Ball, winner of last, Saturday's steeplechase, shows promise of developing into a fine distance runner. He is still a senior pupil at tho Mount Albert Grammar School, but ho is well buiit for his age, and appears to possess the determination so necessary in distance running.