THE LEAGUE CODE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21909, 19 September 1934, Page 17

THE LEAGUE CODE

WESTERN SUBURBS' VISIT STRONG ALL ROUND THIRTEEN ITINERARY IN AUCKLAND The visit of the Western Suburbs team, winners of the New South Wales Rugby League championship, is being eagerly anticipated by followers of the code in Auckland. The team will arrive in Auckland by the Mariposa on Saturday and will meet Marist at Carlaw Park in the afternoon. Next Wednesday the visitors will play Newton, and on Saturday week will meet Richmond, winners of the Auckland Rugby League's championship and the Roope Rooster competition.

Although the Western Suburbs team is a strong one, it is expected that Richmond will make a good showing against it. The Auckland club champions have played consistently good football throughout the season, and, although suffering two defeats, there is no doubt they are tho best-balanced side.

Western Suburbs will be the fifth Australian club team to visit Auckland, University, South Sydney, Eastern Suburbs, and St. George having paid earlier visits. According to reports the visitors are classed very high in League circles, and their standard of play compares favourably with the best seen in Sydney for many years. They are a very sound all-round attacking team, in spite of the fact that two prominent backs and one forward are not available. Prominent Players It is interesting to note, however, that P. Williams, of the South Sydney Club, and the New South Wales representative halfback, replaces Mead. The hooker added to the side is T. Fairalt, who played in Auckland last season with St. George. The team, therefore, is not weakened to any extent. In V. Hey, Western Suburbs is said to have a champion all-rounder at fiveeights, and a side-stepping genius. Hey made a great impression in England last season with the touring Kangaroos. A. Ridley is considered the ablest wing-threequarter in the code in Australia and the biggest man playing football in that position in Sydney. Western Suburbs will probably play a fourth match in Auckland. No games have yet been arranged in the province. A visit to Rotorua is included in the team's itinerary. It was unfortunate that South Auckland was unable to field its best team iagainst Auckland last Saturday as the standard of play suffered as a result. Auckland was not really extended and the poor positional play of South Auckland gave away some simple tries. Although combination for the most part was lacking among the visitors they fielded some good individual players, and if the younger members are kept together and coached South will have a strong side in the near future. The most impressive of the backs were T. Pawson, a clever and heady five-eighths, who should do well in better company, and Pitt, halfback. Of the forwards, Fleming is a fine type of all-round player, and, unlike some of "the other members of the team, is a good handler. J. Allen, on the wing, showed speed in tho few chances he received and is another player likply to shine in better company. No Try Awarded Against weak opposition as a combination tho Auckland backs wero not tested fully, but the line showed good combination. Stephens has probably leai nt a lesson through bouncing tho ball when over the line —tho referee correctly awarding a drop-out at tho twenty-five. Stephens had outpaced the opposition and bounced the ball with one hand when well clear of any opponents.

Two newcomers in the Auckland forwards, Hall and Laird, proved well worthy of their places. The former scored two tries by running from halfway, showing great pace for a forward of his weight. 11. Hazelhurst, the former Canterbury and South Island Rugby representative, who is going to England to have a try-out for the Warrington Club, in the English Rugby League, will leave New Zealand by the first available steamer after September 22. In a close match at Christchurch on Saturday Addington defeated Hornby in its challenge for the Vivian Cup by 14 points to 13. Addington led by 8 points to nil at half-time, and by letting up in the second spell nearly lost the game.