THE LEAGUE CODE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21855, 18 July 1934, Page 17

THE LEAGUE CODE

RICHMOND'S SECOND DEFEAT FINE FULLBACK DISPLAY OUTSTANDING THREEQUARTERS Richmond, the leading team in the Auckland Rugby League's senior championship, suffered its second defeat of the season at the hands of Newton last Saturday. The leaders went down to Devonport by a narrow margin the previous Saturday. Newton came with a great burst in the final stages and gained a good and popular win. There was little to choose between the teams and Newton owed its success chiefly to the fine hooking of Quirke, who obtained the. ball from practically every scrum. Quirke also played a fine forward game and notched two tries. His exhibition must have surely brought him under the eye of the Auckland selectors. Weakness by the Newton second fiveeighths and centre robbed the team of many fine opportunities and there is little doubt the winners should have won by a wider margin. The Richmond backs were starved for the ball, but it is safe to assume that if they had had as many opportunities as the Newton rearguard they would have scored more tries. The Richmond' forwards were overshadowed by a superior allround set. Newton's vanguard kept together well, proving good in the tight while fast and clever in the loose. When it. came to hard, tight play Newton was more than a match for the opposition. Hall in Form Hall played a fine game for Newton joining in the back movements well at times, and it is hard to understand why he was omitted from the first Auckland representative team this season. Lawless, Richmond, got right into the' thick of the fray and was Richmond's best forward. He was closely followed by Satherley who, however, attempted too much at times and was penalised on occasions for not playing the ball after a tackle.

Fletcher, a former Manawatu Rugby representative, showed promise as second five-eighths for Richmond and when settled down he should be very prominent. He showad on the few occasions he got the ball on attack that he can seize an opening quickly and run his supports into good positions. He made one bad mistake, however, when he tried to pick the ball up right on the line and lost a certain try.

A great fullback display was given by Cooke for Richmond. His splendid kicking with either foot drove Newton into its own quarters time and again and but for his cleverness Richmond would have been easily beaten. Cooke's accuracy in bounding the ball into touch with long kicks repeatedly gained the applause of the crowd and in this department he was really uncanny.

Newton now has two fine threequarters in Stephens and Hardgrave. The latter on Saturday did not get chances owing to his insido men be in a weak. However, he showed that he has benefited greatly by his experience in England. He still retains his speed and side-stepping ability, while his anticipation on Saturday saved at least three tries. Determined Runner Stephens showed all his old determination in running while his all-round play is improving all the time. Ho proved hard to bring down and his final try at the end of the game was a splendid effort, capping one of the fastest and most exciting games seen at Carlaw Park this season. An extensive tour of the North Island is to be commenced shortly when the Northland League representatives will play Auckland at Carlaw Park on Saturday, August 11. Matches will be played at Taupiri, Napier and New Plymouth. The visitors' team includes several good players. R. and C. White, who played until recently with City and Marist respectively, are both clever footballers. R. Hamilton and Bergham have played for the North Island. Northland has a well-balanced combination and its game against Auckland should be an interesting contest. In pouring rain, on the Sydney Sports Ground, 11,000 spectators witnessed a great game between Western Suburbs, the unbeaten club side, and South Sydney. Western Suburbs, which is likely to visit Auckland in September, won by three penalty goals to nil. JDevonport's loss of form, after playing so well the previous week against Richmond, is difficult to understand. At no stage of the match against City last Saturday was the Devonport team a happy combination. The fault was with the backs, who were very disappointing, and completely overshadowed by City. There was too much kicking by the fiveeighths, and the wings rarely handled the ball in passing bouts. Both Seagar and O'Donnell were noticeable offenders. Possession of the ball and ability to keep it gave City a decided advantage. The City rear division was seen in some nice movements, and its form at present is much improved. Big Day in Ohristchurch

With three West Coast senior teams, as well as a number of lower-grade sides, visiting Cliristchnrch, Saturday was a big day in the League code, and a large crowd watched the fixtures at Monica Park. Greymouth Marist met Addington in a fast, open game, which was full of thrills and incident. The score was even with five minutes to go. Then the Addington backs snapped into action and notched two brilliant tries, and the homo team won by 16 points to 8. Reefton unexpectedly defeated Hornby after hard forward slogging by 13 to 9, and Ahaura drew with Now Brighton, 5 all. Eight thousand spectators watched the Leap;ue representative match at Monica Park on Sunday, when Canterbury beat Inangahua by 31 to 15. The visitors were not at full strength. They lacked finish and could not cope with the speedier and more resourceful Canterbury men, who were brilliantly led by J. Amos in a spectacular exhibition of the League code.