THE LEAGUE CODE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21789, 2 May 1934, Page 16

THE LEAGUE CODE

FORM ON OPENING DAY CITY'S STRONG FORWARD LINE FINE DISPLAY BY SEAGAR Considering it was the opening of the season the standard displayed in the Auckland Rugby League's senior matches last Saturday was good. Only one team, Marist, failed to make an impression, but there is little doubt this team will be a much harder proposition as the season progresses.

Taking -a. line on Saturday's form, City' and Richmond should prove hard to dispose of, hut Devonport, Poosonby and Newton are all capable of upsetting calculations. Ponsortby. with a young team, played fine football against Marist. A better idea of the team's capabilities will be gained, however, after its matches with some stronger sides.

City has a very speedy and capable three-quarter line in White, Wayne and Turei, and with reasonable opportunities they will prove a thorn in the side of any team. Wayne'played a particularly fine game against Devonport, making some clever openings on attack and always parting with the ball at the right moment. He was also conspicuous for good defence and covered Cranch's mistakes on several occasions. White is a typo of wing likely to gain the highest honours. Ho is clever on attack and sound on defence. Turei, too, is always in the picture as an attacking player. Wiberg, a Rugby Union recruit,- adapted himself well to the new code and should improve. He was a very useful link iu the i-earguard chain on Saturday, and, providing ho can get the ball quicker from the scrum the City attack will be greatly improved. Axeman who was prominent for some good play held on too much. - McLaughlin Outstanding

The City forwards should be difficult to shadow this season. They are an even set, fast, good tacklers and keep together well, nr.; all-important factor for successful team play. McLaughlin is playing better than over, and is a handy all-round exponent. Several times against Devonport he came into back attacks to advantage. City was not well served by Cranch, at fullback, who seemed upset by the occasion. With more confidence he should fill the position with credit.

Seagar, who turned out once more for his old club, gave a fine exhibition, and saved his side repeatedly, besides making nice openings on attack. O'Donnell was also well in the picture, and on "three occasions cut the defence to ribbonß. Hall, the young wing-three-quarter, showed promise of developing into ouo of the best players in this position in Auckland. Laing, fullback, spoiled his game by weak tackling, a fault which was noticeable in his play threie seasons ago, but which he remedied later a good deal. Devonport also has a good set of forwards. Although beaten in the first match the side is by no means out of the championship. / Canterbury Suggestion

} To make the Rugby League game in Canterbury faster, W. S. E. Moyle, president of the Canterbury Rugby League, in a letter to the Referees' Association, asks members to give a stricter interpretation of the rules than has been the practice id the past. He makes special reference to the "play the ball" rule, and offers suggestions I as to when to penalise. He suggests that more- attention should be given to tho manner in which the ball is placed in the scrum. To encourage referees to co-operate a competition for referees is proposed, in which medals would be given to the two men who give the best demonstration of their duties during the season, with the speed of play as the principal feature of the competition. A special medal would be given to the referee who gives the best servicefe to the boys' matches. One of the pioneers of Rugby League football in Canterbury and a stalwart of the Riccarton Club, J. J. Stevens, is again taking up the whistle after a rest of four years. Stevens represented Canterbury as a player for several seasons and then spent 14 years as a referee. His son, F. J. Stevens, fullback for Riccarton last year, has, with that club's withdrawal from first grade football, transferred to Lin wood, and will probably occupy the same position with that club. The success of Ponsonby over Marist was a pleasing feature of the opening day. The winners fielded many juniors who were playing their first game of iienior football. Perhaps with Littlewood excepted the remainder could bo called colts. Team work was in evidence throughout the second half, when the Ponsonby rear- division showed splendid combination. Promising Halfback T. Halloran played a fine game behind the Ponsonby pack. He was responsible for at least three of the tries scored. Halloran, who played for Northcpte juniors last year at fullback, in a natural scrum half. His passes were well directed and lie frequently joined the threequarter.s in passing bouts. Kay, at centre, also played a nice game. His unorthodox methods placed Ponsonby •in good attacking positions. R. Jones gave a high-class display of goal kicking. In this department Jones will be an acquisition to Ponsonby. Two brothers, W. and J. Stockley, both juniors last year, played fine,games at five-eighths and forward respectively. The former is likely to develop into a splendid attacking player. Newton gave a disappointing display against Richmond which was not oxtended to win comfortably. The failure of the Newton backs to combine effectively was the result of weak handling by the. five-eighths. Passes were dropped frequently, and rarely did. a back at- ! tempt to thrust his way through the defence. Most of Newton's movements went straight across the ground. Newton will need to show improvement to win matches.: A. E. Cooke's appearance at fullback for Richmond, caused considerable interest. That he*is far from a back-num-ber was soon proved, and his splendid line-kicks were, a feature of the game. Ho only ran with the ball on one occasion biit it was a brilliant effort which almost resulted in a. try. E. Mincham made a welcome reappearance at Carlaw Park after an absence of three years in Wellington, where he phived Rugby Union football. Mincham was easily the best back for Richmond. The splendid form of club wing-three-quarters was noticeable in Saturday s matches. In past seasons.the standard in this department has been poor, and few really high-class players have been seen in action. Besides White and Turei (Citv), Hall (Devonport), McNeill (Richmond') and Stephens (Newton) played good games. McNeill is likely to be a prolific scorer this season. Stephens has a lot of pace and runs with good judgment. The drop-out from touch after a force-down will come into operation next Saturday in all club matches. To recommence the game, the kick off will ibe-taken- from between- the <goal-<poste.^