THE LEAGUE CODE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22127, 5 June 1935, Page 16

THE LEAGUE CODE

FINE FORM OF NEWTON A PROMISING HALFBACK TWO TRIES TO L. BROWN The defeat of Marist at the hands of Newton last Saturday and the success of Richmond gives the last-named team a lead of three points in the championship. Richmond was a little fortunate to escape defeat by City, but the team will prove hard to dislodge from its leading position. The best football of the season to date was provided by Newton, which outclassed Marist in all departments. Newton plays a typo of football very popular with the spectators, and many of its movements would have done credit to a representative side. On this form Newton will be hard to beat.

Ono of the most promising halfbacks seen at Carlaw Park for a long time is W. Brimble, who played such a clever game against Marist last Saturday. Getting the ball away smartly and changing his tactics cleverly, his attacking ability was brilliant on occasions, while he is also a very good defensive player. The fine combination between him and his brother, E. Brimble, at first five-eighths, was an outstanding feature of the game. Quick off tho mark, with always an eye to an opening, the pair set an example which could well be followed by other inside backs in Auckland. Kerr, the former North • Auckland and North Island Rugby fullback, gave an impressive display in this position. In spite of the fact that ho had a lot of latitude, ho was not afraid to run up and set his backs in motion and he proved hard to bring down when he attempted to go through alone.

The curtain-raiser between Mount Albert and Ponsonby did not provide the spectacular standard set in the chief game. There whs a good deal of unnecessary kicking, which often lost attacking chances. The game was marred on three occasions through some players losing their tempers, and referees need to take a firm stand in such instances. City Improves

If Citv can repeat its performance against Richmond it should have little difficulty in gaining a more prominent position in the'championship. The inside backs played improved football and gave Watene and Brown plenty to do. The weakness lay with the wings, who were often out of position, and Nathan has not enough pace to be of assistance to Brown. The two tries scored by L. Brown for City were full of merit and the result of brilliant solo play. Many times Brown burst through and had he received better support from tho wings City would have been comfortable winners.

The bad eye injury received by J. Laird against Newton is likely to keep the Marist captain out of the game for a week. Several stitches were necessary to close the wound.

R. King, the ex-Canterbury Rugby Union representative, has been playing impressive football with Warrington. Just recently King scored two tries against Salford. King visited Australia with the All Blacks last season. Two of the Western Suburbs players, Ridley and Robinson, who played at Carlaw Park last season, stood out prominently in a recent game between City and Country played in Sydney. Ridley scored four tries and is considered to have a good chance of being selected in the Australian team to visit New Zealand. P. Fairall, who hooked last season with Western Suburbs, gained a place in the New South Wales team to play Queensland. Fairall has been to Auckland with two club teams. England is already making preparations for its tour of Australia and New Zealand next season. A recent English paper states that Mr. J. Wilson, secretary to the English League, may be one of the managers. Mr. Wilson is well known in Auckland. Interest in Ohristchurch

h One of the penalties attaching to the growing interest in league football in Christcnurch is that spectators have been crowding over touch-lines, particularly at suburban grounds, and interfering with play. It was reported to a meeting of the Canterbury Rugby League that at a recent match at New Brighton the crowd gave its partisanship too much scope and there were a number of unseemly incidents which had nearly ended the game in a " Donnybrook." A delegate said that several clubs did not wish to play on the New Brighton ground and would sooner default than do so.

An undertaking was given on behalf of the New Brighton Club that stricter control would be exercised in the future. At the same time it was made clear that the fault lay with the crowd and not with the club. The Addington teapi, which has built up a fine reputation "this season, continued its winning way by defeating Hornby last Saturday by 18 points to 2. The game was watched by the largest crowd this season at Sydenham Park. The score was two all at halftime, but Addington was on top most of the second half.