THE LEAGUE CODE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23064, 15 June 1938, Page 24

THE LEAGUE CODE

KEEN CHAMPIONSHIP CONCLUSION OF FIRST ROUND »■ ■ ■ ■« / .H: - FIVE TEAMS EQUAL IN ; LEAD , «i The defeat of .-the two leading teams last Saturday has made the Auckland Rugby League's senior championship most interesting, and five teams are equal in the lead at tliO of the first round. The second round, which will bo commenced next Saturshould be'well contested. Both Newton and Manukau: held the lead throughout the first round, butV, improving teams have altered somewhat, and at present i the honours are evenly- distributed. j, ■ " V V Richmond* is equal with four other teams, but-has played, ono game less. It will • be.i remembered that Richmond beat North Shore by 20-points to 19, but the latter won a protest, and the game will -be replayed. ~ j • 1 , The following table ishows the present positions, of the teams.* — '

•Marist and Ponsonby have both shown good form of Jato, and !Were successful' in matches v on Saturday against Newton and Manukau respect-, ively. The Marist rearguard 'has deinto a good combination, the play of the inside backs on. Saturday showing improvement, although ' pnly two' 'tries 'were registered.; Newton missed many opportunities itt\ the second half* l Twice \th© ball was passed smartly from the scrum, and on each occasion -it could have gone to Duncan in the orthodox way. However, Dempsey from the fullback made tho extra man, • but instead of letting Duncan have - the final pass, he held on, and was tackled a few yards from the Marist line. Duncan could have scored on both these occasions. A feature of tho gamo was the splendid play of Murdock, at five-eighths for Marist, and of Woods in the forwards. Murdock made several nice openings and often beat the .defence with a deceptive swerve.' Murdock has only to maintain this forni to go higher in the game. Woods.gave one of the best forward displays seen at Carlaw Park for some time, and was in every movement.. His handling was faultless, and many times he the backs with good judgment.' Marist" deserved its success, and is likely to play a prominent part' in ' the championship..

SUCCESS OF PONSONBY JUNIORS IMPRESS Ponsonby gave . a good display against deprived the latter team of the lead in tho championship. The Ponsouby backs handled the greasy ball well, and good passing bouts were a feature of tho gamo. Tho loss of Stockley and Halloran ivas compensated by the good play of Carr, a reserve grade five-eighths, and llush, a junior halfback. There was not too much kicking by tho Ponsonby backs, and this played a prominent part in tho team's success, On the other hand, the Manukau backs kicked when a pass would have given better scoring chances. I'onsonby's forwards played well, and Brown won the ball from a majority of the scrums. NEW ZEALAND TEAM FORM IN AUSTRALIA The good form shown by the New Zealand team in Australia is particularly pleasing to Auckland enthusiasts. The high praise bestowed upon the team for its type of play and clean tactics will do the code a great deal of good and the'results' of future matches will be eagerly -awaited. New Zealand was most unfortunate to lose the services of Kay in the opening match shortly after the second spell commenced. This left the tourists, who were then in the lead, one - man short, and a strong opposition took full advantage of its opportunities after wearing the visitors down. It was a different story, however, in the return match, when New South -Wales was overwhelmed on Monday by 37 points to 18. New South Wales won the Saturday game by 25 points to 12. The New South Wales side for Monday's match had only two changes from the team which played on Saturday. Kerr replaced Anderson at five-eighths and Kilham took Pearce's place in the forwards. McNeil replaced Kay in the New Zealand side and Walter Brimble went to five-eighths, Brown . being dropped and Smith finding a place on the wing instead of fullback. Heini went to fullback. In the forwards Cootes and McLeod replaced Herring and Gault. S - * ' ' ' The changes in the rearguard worked out well. It is very likely that the combination and speed of the Brimble brothers in the inside positions mado a vast difference to the team's penetration. '

DEBT TO DOMINION POSITION IN AUSTRALIA Seven years havo passed since tho last New Zealand Rugby League team was seen in Australia, states "The Cynic" in tho Sydney Referee. The interval is far too 'lengthy if tho right sort of spirit between tho two . cpuntries in their sport is to be uppermost. It is at '.times forgotten, in Australia that 13-a-si'de Rugby owes a .tremendous, debt 'to tho New Zealanders. \ ! In early days the-New Zealanders by; their, play and. enterprise, achieved: very little less than the great amateur All Blacks had done all along the years to keep up the Rugby Union standards in Australia. 1 ;' ■ ;.

P. W. L. D: F. A., Pts. Manukan .. 8 5 3 — 130 119', 10 | Richmond .. 7 6 2 — 110 71 10 i Newton 8 6 3 — 129 94 10 \ Mt. Albert . 8 6 3 — 144 118 10( Marisfc 8 5 3 — 123 . 84; 10 \ Ponsonby 8 4 4 — 110 107' 8 : North Shore« * 7 3 4 — 104 118 6 ! City 8 2 6 •— 117 202! 4 ' Papakura 8 1 7 —. 103 100 2 (