THE LEAGUE CODE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22097, 1 May 1935, Page 17

THE LEAGUE CODE

OPENING OF CHAMPIONSHIP GOOD FORM DISPLAYED NEWTON EXTENDS RICHMOND The form shown by the various teams in the opening matches of the Auckland Bugby League's senior championship last Saturday was surprisingly high, and augurs well for another successful season. Several new players were seen in action, some having thoir first game in the League code, and all showed promise of developing well with better knowledge. There were many exciting incidents in the chief match between Richmond, last season's triple champion sido, and Newton. There was little to choose between the teams until the last nine minutes when Newton gained a onepoint advantage. The former All Black, A. E. Cooke, who had been playing fullback up to this stage, then wept to second live-eighths, 'and his clover play in this position changed the whole complexion of the game. During this period Richmond scored three tries and Cooke had a hand in them all, scoring tho third one himself.

Cooke, who had played a sound game at fullback, was really brilliant in the five-eighths lino, and showed by his speed and heady play that he has lost little of the form that made him such an outstanding player when in his prime.

Much interest centred in the form of L. Brown, who made his reappearance for City after playing some seasons in England. He gave a clever exhibition, but much of his good play was wasted on account of lack of support. Frequently Brown looked for a plaver to come up inside to carry on a movement, but he was always left to his own resources. Backs at Fault Judging by the form shown in Saturday's games Richmond will again prove hard to defeat, especially with a few more games together, It is a well balanced combination and the forwards are as strong as in previous seasons. Lawless and Satlierley were well to the fore and they received good support from Tetley, Broadhead and Telford. A fault with the Richmond backs was a tendency to get out of position and this enabled Newton to penetrate deeply on several occasions and to score on others. With this fault remedied Richmond appears to hare just as strong a team as that which was so successful last season. Newton proved by its display that it is a force to bo reckoned with in the competition. A speeding up in the threequarter line would greatly improvo the attack. Outstanding games were played by the Briinble brothers, at halfback and five-eighths, and Johiv ston, a recruit in the vanguard, shows much promise. At one stage in the game between Marist and Dcvonport it seemed that the former had the measure of the opposition, but the young Devonport side rallied well to make the points even. Marist will have a strong team when settled down. On Saturday Laird, Keane and Woods, formerly of Queensland, were outstanding among the forwards, while Campbell played his usual sound game at fullback. The rearguard needs better combination before becoming a dangerous attacking force. v Devonport has the material to develop into a good side. R. Smith made a reappearance in the rearguard and other well-known players in the forwards were Donald, Simpson, Sowter and Hunt. The new Mount Albert Club made an auspicious start by defeating City. The game was full of interest, and although the latter won there was little to choose between the teams. The City hacks missed many opportunities in the second half, owing to the failure of the five-eighths to co-operate with the threequarters. Bad handling was responsible for one try being missed. Mount Albert made a good impression. Its forwards played well in the loose and overshadowed the City vanguard. Several of the forwards were playing League football for • the first time, and it was only to he expected mistakes would be made. The pack will be a good set with experience. Mount Albert lost the services of its best forward, I). Herring, who suffered a broken collarbone in the first half. Herring had previously scored two tries and generally gave a fine display. Amendments to Rules The latest amendments to the rules of the game, recently received from England, were introduced for the first time last Saturday. The play-the-ball rule seemed to give players most concern, and it was only to bo expected that penalties would result. The rule provides that players playing the ball must keep both feet on the ground until the ball has been placed thereon and the players acting as respective halfbacks must stand one yard behind the player playing the ball. All other players must not approach within three yards and be behind the acting halfbacks. The latter clause undoubtedly helped to speed up tho game and did away with barging by forwards. The offside rule of five yards radius within which players are olFsido is now increased to 10 yards. When there is a drop out from touch the attacking player must stand five yards away from the goal line, and when the game is restarted tho ball must be kicked from behind the goal posts, and must reach this five yards murk. Formerly the attacking player stood on the goal lino. In the senior matches on Saturday the referees gave good rulings, particularly with regard to tho play-the-ball rule, to which players should pay close attention, otherwise over-anxious for* wards are sure to get thoir teams into trouble.