THE LEAGUE CODE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22115, 22 May 1935, Page 17

THE LEAGUE CODE

BETTER STANDARD SHOWN RICHMOND WELL BALANCED SOME PROMISING HALFBACKS The better standard of play in last Saturday's matches was pleasing to a good crowd of spectators at Carlaw Park, and some fast and keen contests can bo expected as the championship progresses. By defeating Ponsonby, Richmond, last year's champion team, maintains its unbeaten record, and at this stage looks the winning championship team again. Richmond is a well-balanced combination, being equally good on attack and defence, the latter being a department in which some of the other sides aro not over strong. Only the excellent defence and support of a player in trouble saved the Richmond lino on many occasions against Ponsonby. Tho leaders, however, are very fortunate in having a player of the calibre of A. E. Cooke as the last line of defence. His uncanny kicking repeatedly saves a fine pack of forwards, with the result that the vanguard is nevor run to a standstill and finishes the game full of vigour. Cooke, too, often runs up and sets his backs in motion. The great try scored by Cooke from fullback last Saturday, in which he beat the wholo opposition will ever bo remembered by those fortunate enough to witness it. Fielding tlio ball syds. inside in his own half-way, he threaded his way past the Ponsonby defenders with clever swerving, pace and change of direction, to touch down by the posts. Probably no footballer has received such an ovation on the ground as that accorded to Cooke as he walked back.

Hutt in. Good Form By its display, Ponsonby showed that it will provide sitrong opposition for other teams! during the season. The rearguard stood up well to a gruelling afternoon's tackiiing, while the vanguard also came through with great credit against a superior forward line. Hutt, the captain, is in his best form and was in everything throughout the game. Richmond has a promising young player in Bickerton, who has taken Prentice's place at first five-eighths. At present he has a tendency to pass badly at times, but he should be able to rectify this easily. Mincham and Bright, the respective centre-threequarters, had a great duel and honours: were about even. The former proved more sound on defence, but Bright was always dangerous with the slightest opportunity on attack. Fletcher, second five-eighths, is fulfilling the promise he showed last season, and is a tower of strength to the team on defence, besides being good on attack. Powell, at half, showed form more in keeping with that of last season. The match between Devonport and Newton was marred at times by incidents of rough play, and two players were ordered off in the second spell. Newton was easily the better team on the day, being we'll served in gaining possession from ibhe scrums, and this gave the Devonport rearguard few opportunities. Seagar again turned out for his old club, but spent most tf the day in defending.

Promising Halfback Devonport has a . very promising halfback in Cowan, Ho showed cleverness on attack oia Saturday, while his defence was also Bound. At present there seems to be plenty of talent offering for the position, of halfback for the representative team. Halloran, Ponsonby, and W. Brimble, Newton, aro both playing; well. McGreal, the reserve grade fiveeighths, played a sound game for . Marist, and is likely to retain his place in the senior team;. McGreal has size and a good burst of speed. C. Satherley i«i easily leading the points list as the result of consistent goal kicking. He added five to his total last Saturday, and has now kicked 20 goals. D. Herring, the promising Mount Albert forward, who was injured in the opening match, has now fully recovered. He may be playing again next Saturday. City continues to play inconsistent football, and the inside backs are below the standard required. Against Marist, the five-e:ig!riths kept the game close, and many tunes the three-quar-ters were starved. Late in the second half, a re-organised team threw the ball about in good style and scored three tries. Tho five-eighths need strengthening for City to win games. Another attempt is to b9 made to foster the code in Wellington. Last Saturday, four teamsi took part in a preliminary round. It is said that support has been promised by several wellknown business men.

CRICKETER'S TRIBUTE LOYAL NEW ZEALANDERS A splendid tribute to Now Zealand and its people is paid by the famous English cricketer. Herbert Sutcliffe, in a recently published book. Sutcliffe, who visited tho Dominion with the English test side two years ago, writes: —A wonderful little country is New Zealand, with its hot lakes, spouting geysers, iits West Coast fjords in the South Island which rival those of Norway in their enchanting beauty, its magnificent snow-capped mountain ridges, and, above everything else, its glorious loyalty to the Motherland. You cannot find a better British subject than the Briton who is a New Zealander. I found tho country something of a paradise.

RUGBY OPINIONS GAME FOR GAME'S SAKE Discussing Rugby in an address to the Canterbury College Graduates' Association, Dr. W. Bryden, who has plaved both nt Home and in New Zealand, said that in the Dominion it was not so much tho game as the result that mattered. In Great Britain the game was played for the game's sake. This remark lias caused a good deal of comment, critical and otherwise, m Rugby circles in Christchurch. Dr. W. S. Seed, president of the Canterbury Rugby Union, agrees that the competitive spirit is over-emphasised in New Zealand and that tho tendency has become disquieting, because players lost some of the enjoyment and recreation. _ _

On the other hand,, Mr. F. T. Evans, a former president of tho Canterbury and New Zealand Unions, said that while it was a fact that New Zealanders took their sport perhaps too seriously, he could contradict the suggestion that British teams played without regard to the result. "J have seen every British team which lias visited New Zealand," lie said. "I saw the last team in many of its matches. Judging by what everyone could see of those games, no team was ever keener to go off the field victorious. In my opinion, Now Zealanders get their fun out of sport. They play to win, certainly, but winning is not by any means everything with most of them."