THE LEAGUE CODE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21837, 27 June 1934, Page 16

THE LEAGUE CODE

REPRESENTATIVE FIXTURE AUCKLAND AND TARANAKI RICHMOND OUTCLASSES CITY The first Rugby League reprcsenta- j tive match of the season will be played at Carlaw Park next Saturday, when : Auckland j'ill meet Taranaki. The local team is strong all round and its longer experience and knowledge of tho finer points, together with team play, will place it at an advantage. However, the Taranaki team showed promise of developing well last year and it will be interesting to see how much the > code has improved in this centre since j that time. / ' The omission of Kay, the promising ; young Ponsonby centre, created a great i surprise. There is little doubt that his form in club football fully justified his being given a trial, especially outside experienced players like Prentice and Cooke. On his form, Cooke, although playing fullback in club games, was the obvious choice for second fiveeighths. Wayne, City, evidently caught the selectors' eye for his fine game lastSaturday and has found a place on tho wing. Stephens, Newton, will have to show more determination in his running than that against Ponsonby last Saturday. It was surprising to see Stephens kicking so much after his fine form in other matches this season. Mincham would probably prove more valuable as a wing, but he is the type of player who can adapt himself to the inside positions. There could have been no doubt about Powell, the Richmond half, being selected. This season he is a greatly improved all-round player and in tho last two club matches has filled tho position of second five-eighths with credit. As the last line of defence, Campbell, Marist, is playing very soun',l football. < The inclusion of Lawless, Richmond, in the forwards, has caused surprise, as he has been inclined to "wing" too much in club games. However, he is likely to be well on his mettle next Saturday. Delgrosso as Coach Prior to the representative fixture with Auckland last season the Taranaki team was coached by the now wellknown referee Mr. M. Wetherill. On this occasion another former international, F. Delgrosso, has the side under his care and no doubt will improve the players in team work. Delgrosso at present coaches the young Ponsonby team in Auckland club football; When at the start of 'the season conditions were fast the side did quite well, but as the grounds became heavier the weight of the opposing teams told its tale. Nevertheless, in a couple of seasons Ponsonby will be a thirteen difficult to beat for championship honours. The team to represent Auckland is as follows: —Fullback, Cr.mpbell (Marist); threequarters, Wayne (City), Mincham (Richmond), Stephens (Newton); five-eighths, Cooke (Richmond). Prentice (Richmond); halfback, Powell (Richmond); forwards, Clarke (City), Stevens (Devonport), Telford (Richmond), Satherley (Richmond), Lawless (Richmond), Hutt. (Ponsonby). Reserves: Backs, McNeil (Richmond), Kay (Ponsonby), Axeman (City); forwards, Leatherbarrow (Devonport). Blacklaws (Newton). The Taranaki team will be selected from the following players: —Backs: Prior, Thomas, Hunt, Moorhead, McLaggan, Arnold, Cowley, Muschamp. Forwards: Coles, Patterson, McDonald, McLeod, L. Lewis, Francis, Murfitt, Eraser. 4 City Lacks Backs Richmond, the unbeaten team in the Auckland Rugby League's senior championship, has increased its lead further owing to its easy win over City last Saturday and the defeat of Ponsonby at the hands of New-ton. Richmond scored 32 points in the first spell and this had a detrimental effect on tjie play, each side scoring 11 points in the second spell. It was obvious the Richmond players took matters rather easily in the second spell. The great trouble with the City team at the present time is its lack of good all-round players in the rearguard. When .a forward has to show the fiveeights how to penetrate from their position there is something vitally wrong with the back formation. In the principal match, Newton can be accounted lucky in defeating Ponsonby by a one-point margin. Both sides had good scoring chances, which were not placed to advantage through poor passing at a critical stage. In the 'curtain-raiser Marist made a good showing against Devonport. The latter was hustled out of its usual team "work through the fine play of the Marist~~forwards. In the Marist vanguard Laird played another splendid game and it is still more difficult to understand why he is omitted from the representative team.' Thero is no forward at present playing the code in Auckland who can shadow Laird" much in all-round play. Tho Newton Rugby League officials gave R. Hardgrfive, who returned home from England on Monday, a hearty welcome. Hardgrave has been absent from New Zealand for four years, during which time he played under contract for St. Helens, a powerful Lancashire club. He retained splendid form throughout each season of hard football. During his stay in England Hardgrave was selected to play for the All Nations representative team against the chosen team of England. The New Zealander was a prolific scorer and in 1932-33 seaeon was fourth on the list in the Northern Union challenge matches. Discussing the New Zealand players at home, Hardgrave said L. Mason, a forward, was showing exceptionally good form as a centre three-quarter with Wigan. Hardgrave expects to play with Newton next Saturday week.