THE LEAGUE CODE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22714, 28 April 1937, Page 18

THE LEAGUE CODE

SENIOR - CHAMPIONSHIP

FIRST SERIES OF GAMES

SUCCESSFUL TRIAL MATCHES

The senior championship of the Auckland Rugby League will be commenced at Carl aw Park next Saturday, and judging 011 the form shown in the two preliminary series the competition will he most interesting and keenly fought. The Auckland Rugby League lias reason to feel well satisfied with its new policy of giving the clubs an opportunity to try out players and develop combination and team work. Clubs took full advantage of the opportunity and the innovation this season is likely to be carried on in future years. Although it is yet early to gain an idea of the full strength of the various teams, championship prospects at present appear to lie between Richmond and Manukau, last*season's championship winners. In the practice games both clubs have fielded strong thirteens, which should provide thrilling football as the season progresses. All the other clubs have shown promising form and when settled down any side in the competition should give a good account of itself.

OUTSTANDING PLAYER FAST THItEEQU ARTER LINE A player who caught the eye for North Shore against Marist in the principal attraction last Saturday was J. Smith, the centre-threcquarter. He showed ability above the average, making clever openings and running his supports into good positions. Smith is also a fine place-kick. With a speeding up on attack by the five-eighths, the North Shore threequarter line will be a dangerous scoring combination. The North Shore wings are L. and V. Scott. L. Scott retains his speed and once showed a clean pair of heels to the opposition after J. Smith had made a brilliant opening. V. Scott is a promising allround cricketer who is a prominent member of tho Y.M.C.A. A senior eleven. He shows promise of developing into a fine threequarter. A newcomer to the forwards. Barnctt, played an outstanding game in the first half. He is fast, handles well and can make clever openings. Marist did not appeal as a combination, but should improve. Fitzgerald, with limited opportunities, showed promise at centre, but the backs as a line did not combine well. The Marist vanguard should develop into a strong line. MOUNT ALBERT UNLUOKY TWO BACKS INJURED Mount Albert has again started unluckily and two of its best backs. Dunne and B. Schultz, are now laid aside with injuries. Dunne received a broken jaw in the opening preliminary matches, and on Saturday, Schultz suffered a broken leg. Hassan was also unlucky to injure his shoulder in the same match as Dunne and he will not be available for a few weeks. At one stage of the competition last season Mount Albert had six senior players on the line with injuries. The Ponsonbv forwards will be strengthened by the inclusion next week of Morgan, who played outstanding football at the latter end of last season. Morgan has a lot of speed, and is a splendid handler. With Peterson, late of Mount Albert, and Keane, formerly of Marist, the Ponsonbv pack promises to develop into a good set. The backs have only to settle down and pay more attention to accurate handling to be of valuable assistance to the forwards. City has shown good form in the preliminary matches and gave its best display by playing a drawn game with Mount Albert. City scored seven points in the second half, while Mount Albert failed to improve on its first half total. City, however, is by no means strong in the forwards and the pack will have to be strengthened. The backs showed flashes of good combination and at times thrust on attack. Much is expected of J. Hapi, a three-quarter with speed and a clever sidestep. He was prominent on many occasions with McLaughlin, and Rata, and the trio showed a lot of speed. With a few more games together City may prove equal to beating some of the stronger teams. PROGRESS OP GAME ENGLISH TEAM'S VISIT The annual meeting of the New Zealand Rugby League will bo held in Auckland to-morrow evening, when it is expected that delegates from all affiliated leagues will be present. The visit last season of the English team is a feature of the annual report, and while the visitors proved too good J'or New Zealand, close matches were played in Auckland. The report states that it was unfortunate for the code in many districts that the time at the disposal of the Englishmen made it impossible to visit ail centres. Only two test matches were played, and England retained the Courtney Goodwill Trophy. The financial statement shows a healthy position. In Auckland for the three matches against England the gate takings amounted to £4640 lis 9d. It is satisfactory, says the report, that the New Zealand Rugby League had a cash balance of £702 14s /id, and the value of assets over liabilities amounted to £1328 17s. The sum of over £.'}";() was advanced to affiiliated leagues lor ground improvements