THE LEAGUE CODE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23040, 18 May 1938, Page 22

THE LEAGUE CODE

TOUR OP AUSTRALIA INTER-ISLAND CONTEST TRIAL MATCH THIS AFTERNOON The selection of the New Zealand Rugby League team,to tour Australia at the end of the month, is Hearing finality and considerable interest is being taken in the North v. South Island match to bo played at Carlaw Park next Saturday. The New Zealand selectors, will witness the Auckland and Rest of the North Island match this afternoon, and an A and Ji trial game is to bo played as a curtain-raiser to the inter-island fixture on Saturday. No doubt the*trial teams will comprise a majority of Auckland players, who are likely to dominate the selection ol the Dominion team to tour Australia. No replacements are to be permitted in the inter-Island game. • The selection committee's task is perhaps the hardest in the history of the code, for the success of the 1 ( J.'58 combination in Australia will mean ft lot to, the code in New Zealand, 'lhere is no doubt that the standard of plav has greatly improved, particularly "l the forwards, and in -this department the selectors have many outstanding players, whose form compares favourably with the best international standard. The North Island team has not yet been announced, but the personnel ol the South Island team gives added interest to the Dominion selection. With the exception of W. Glvnn (Greymouth). who is well known in Auckland. the forwards are all new to Carlaw Park. Glynn has represented the South Island for five successive games and played for New Zealand against Australia last season. Followers of the code will look forward to the appearance of G. Orman, the former wellknown Rugby Union forward, who was a great success as a hooker in the recent West Coast trial game. H. C. Clarke, of Grevmouth, a recent convert from Rugby, has speed and is a splendid type of scrum forward. Canterbury provides three forwards, and in Price ..the South Island has a forward likely to gain Dominion honours. The threequarters, C. H. Davidson, R Brown and A. Beban, are perhaps the best players yet to represent the South Island. Brown was formerly a Canterbury Rugby representative, and recently returned from England, where he was successful as a League threequarter. Davidson showed splendid form in the New Zealand team last season, and is a wing-threequarter of distinct promise. The North Island forwards will this year put up very stern opposition to the southerners, and it is certain a strong vanguard will be selected. Herring and McLeod look likelv to he the two outside front-row forwards and no second-row forward has better claims than Brodrick. The South Island team is as follows: — „ , . Fullback. —C. Taylor (Canterbury). Threequarters. —C. H. Davidson (Canterburv). R. Brown (Canterburv), A. Beban (Grevmouth). Five-eighths.—N. Kiely (GreymoutM. D. Kirk (Grevmouth). Halfback.—P Scott (Tnangahua). Forwards.—J. Clark (Canterbury), G Orman (Buller). B. Barnard (Canterbury). R. Price (Canterbury). N. C. Clarke (Grevmouth). W. Glynn (Grevmouth) Reserves. —Back, R. Whittley (Canterbury); forward. N. Orsbourn (Inangahua). STRENGTH OF TEAMS LIKELY CHAMPION SIDES SOME OUTSTANDING PLAYERS Exciting football was witnessed at Carlaw Park on Saturday, when the sixth series of matches in the first round of the Auckland Rugby League's senior championship was decided. Now that the teams have settled down, a better idea can he gained of their respective strengths. It would appear at the moment that the final honours will be fought between Manukau, Richmond ancf Newton, with North Shore a distinct possibility providing it wins the replay match with Richmond. Marist and Mount Albert are teams likely to upset calculations in the next round. J. Hetni, Manukau, is in great form at present. Up to last Saturday when G. Nepia made a re-appearance, Hemi played fullback, where his all round work and strong kicking were a great asset to the team. He showed on Saturday at second five-eighths against Richmond that he has improved considerably on defence while his attacking was liriiliaut. A fine utility back, Hemi should have no difficulty in gaining selection for the New .Zealand team which will tour Australia.

Some splendid .exhibitions of fiveeighths play have been given this season by W. Brimble, Manukau. He combines well with Mnhima and his speed off the mark often beats the defence. While not so prominent as usual on attack against /Richmond. Brimble did great defensive work, his keen sense of anticipation enabling him to save some awkward situations. Ganlt, the Manukau forward, is playing particularly well. He is good both in the tight and open work. Ririntii is settling down to the code, and is showing improvement each week. Brodrick is another forward who always shows out. Mount Albert has found a very useful fullback in Pitt. He handles and kicks well, while he is clever in making o|>enings from defensive positions. His deceptive swerve and speed would make hitn a dangerous attacking player in the threequarter line. A former Auckland wicketkeeper, R. Marshall, plays second . five-eighths for Mount Albert, and he made a good impression in his first match. His strong, straight running, and the work of Mclnnarnev at first five-eighths give the Mount Albert back play far more thrust and speed inside. There is no better all-round forward in Auckland at present than D. Herring. Mount Albert. His safe handling and cleverness on attack always make him prominent, while he shirks nothing when it comes to the tight plav. J. McJjeod, Richmond, is another fine forward and he was in his best form against Manukau. He and Herring appear certainties for inclusion in the New Zealand team. W. Tittleton, the Richmond fiveeighths and centre, always plays a solid all round game, some of his work at times being tipped with brilliance. He is another player likely to catch the eyes of the selectors when it comes to the final choice of the New Zealand team.