THE LEAGUE CODE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23094, 20 July 1938, Page 22

THE LEAGUE CODE

SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP alteration made in draw CLUB TEAMS STRENGTHENED Tho Auckland Rugby League at its last meeting altered the draw for tho remaining five games in the senior coinpetition, which has now reached a most interesting stage. With the return of the New Zealand players, future games are sure to bo keenly followed. At ! present Mount • Albert is equal with Mnrist with 1(3 championship points, although the latter club has played a game less. Mount Albert has shown vastly improved form in recent matches, and the return of Herring, forward, and McNeill, threequarter, will strengthen tho team in the matches to lollow. Mnrist has been very consistent and deserves its success. Good play by the backs lias been a feature of its last two games. The Marist forwards will ho strengthened by the inclusion of Anderson, whose goal-kicking alone will be an acquisition. The backs will also have the services of Grotte and Midglev, whose experience gained in Australia will he invaluable. Richmond and Manukau have played one game less than Newton, and all three teams are equal for second place, only two points behind the leaders. .Richmond will prove a difficult team to beat under last ground conditions. With Tittleton back in tho five-eighths position and the forwards strengthened by McLeod and Tetley, it will take a good side to beat Richmond. Manukau was the most weakened team by the Australian visit, but from its present position the Maori side can be expected to play a prominent part in the championship. Heini alone will be a great asset, and his goal-kicking may decide many matches. R. Chase is a greatly improved player, and, with Brodrick and Gault in the forwards and W. P. Brimble at five-eighths, manv look to Manukau to beat both Marist and Mount Albert. The games next Saturday should prove a big attraction. Mount Albert will play Richmond in tho principal fixture. OVERSEAS TEAMS REGULAR VISITS DESIRED A plea for moro regular visits to and from Australia was made by the managers of the New Zealand team, Messrs. J. A. Redwood and W. O. Carlaw, during tho recent tour. From reports received from Sydney, it is likely that each year an Australian team will be seen sit Carlaw Park. The New Zealand team made a great impression in Australia, and its football was always crood to watch. The gate receipts from Fhe tour were a little disappointing, although about £4OO profit is expected. The visit did much toward bringing the officials of Australia more closely in touch with New Zealand affairs. It will occasion no surprise if the New Zealand Rugby League receives an invitation to visit England next year or the following season. It is tho intention of the New Zealand League to press its claims for recognition in England. Unofficial information received last week in Auckland was to the effect that tho English Rugby League favours the visit, and ISew Zealand may get preference to Australia, even in 1942, when the latter country's team is due to tour England again. * The New South Wales Rugby League recently introduced a series of matches played 15 minutes each way in the first grade competition, and they proved a big success. Four senior teams took part as a preliminary to the inter-State game against Queensland, and bright, open play delighted the big crowd at the Sydney Cricket Ground. The innovation could be well tried in Auckland as a curtain-raiser to the Canterbury-Auckland representative match. HIGH STANDARD NEW ZEALAND'S DEFEAT The success of tho Auckland team against New Zealand on Saturday showed that the standard locally is high and still improving. Even allowing for tho New Zealand players letting up a little after their Australian tour, they were well beaten by a better side on tho day.

The Auckland player-coach, 11. Banhnm, was seen at his best in the match, and his tactics and tho fine positional play of the Auckland team paved the way to victory. It was a wise move to bring T. Chase closer to the scrum in the second spell. Chase's nippiness and speed off the mark gave tho back line penetration which was lacking in the first half. Much of Chase's good play, however, was duo to the splendid work of Banham. It could be seen from the play of tho New Zealand side in the first spell that some of the backs bad improved from the experience gained on the Australian tour. In tlio second half, however, the definite superiority of the Auckland forwards threw a lot more work on the rearguard, and it gradually crumpled under fast and clever raiding.