THE LEAGUE CODE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23052, 1 June 1938, Page 23

THE LEAGUE CODE

TOUE OF AUSTRALIA DOMINION TEAM LEAVING NEW UNIFORM FOR PLAYERS The New Zealand Rugby League team, which leaves on its Australian tour by the Niagara this afternoon, will carry with it the best wishes of all enthusiasts of the code in the Dominion. The success of the touring team in Australia will benefit the code considerably in the future. It is the first New Zealand Rugby League combination to cross the Tasman since 1930. For tho first time in the history of the code the team will wear new colours. The Now Zealand Rugby League decided by a special resolution that instead of the traditional All Black jersey familiar to nil Dominion athletes the team will wear a striking black and white jersey ajid white shorts. The stockings will have black and white hoops. The team will plav seven matches in Australia. The itinerary is as follows: — June 11. —New South Wales, at Sydney. June 13.—New South Wales, at Sydney. June 15.—Country Centre. June 18. —Queensland, at Brisbane. June 29.—Country Centre. July 2.—Newcastle, at Newcastle. July 6. Metropolis (New South Wales) or Australia, at Sydney. STRENGTH OF CLUBS TEAMS WEAKENED As 18 Aueklanders are on tour with the New Zealand team some of the clubs will be considerably weakened and their championship prospects will not be enhanced as a result. The greatest sufferer is Manukau, with five players, Hcmi, Brodrick, Gault, Walter Brimble and R. Chase. Richmond's ranks are depleted by four players, McLeod, Tetley, Satherley and W. Tittleton. Next on the list is Marist, with three, Midgley, Grotte and Anderson. Mount Albert loses two. Herring and McNeil, and the same applies to Newton, with Wilfred Brimble and McNeight. North Shore and Ponsonby lose one each, Smith and Kay respectively. MANUKAU LEADS RICHMOND'S POSITION Manukau is at present leading in the championship and. under the circumstances, will find difficulty in maintaining its position. The club which appears to have the best prospects of strengthening its ranks is Richmond, judging on the form of its reserves in the match against Mount Albert last Saturday. Richmond and Newton are lying second in the championship, two points behind Manukau. Then follow Mount Albert, North Shore, Marist and Ponsonby, two points further in arrears. It will therefore be seen that the championship is still most interesting and close results should be the order in the next few matches. REPRESENTATIVE MATCH AUCKLAND AND MAORIS A strong Auckland team can be selected to play against the Maoris at Carlaw Park on the King's Birthday. June 6. This match last year provided patrons of the code with a fine exhi-

bition and was won by the Maoris. The Auckland backs represent the best available, and include several players who were unlucky to miss the trip to Australia. The threequarters, Riley, V. Scott and Duncan, should get plenty of opportunities from Banham, the playercoach, who has been selected as one of the five-eighths. Powell, Richmond, is unlucky to miss a place as the other five-eighths, and he would be preferred to Stockley, who is a little slow in this position. The Auckland forwards should fully test the Maori pack, which has a well-balanced scrum. The Maori team includes some good players in T. Chase, Bickerton, Rata and E. Brimble. It will be interesting to watch the form of T. Chase, who was regarded as onp of the strongest contenders for a place in the New Zealand team