LEAGUE NOTES

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8734, 16 May 1914, Page 13

LEAGUE NOTES

(By “Five-Eighths.”) One of the proposals made at the annual meeting of the New Zealand League recently was to abolish the rule debarring players from holding office on the league, but the suggestion was defeated. Blathey, who has played five-eighths for Newton and Auckland, has definitely decided to retire from the game. Blakey was a first-class mam and was. in an Auckland writer’s opinion, worthy of much more consideration than he received at the hands of the New Zealaned selectors last year.. A. Carlane. who toured Australia, with the last representative team, has, it is stated, decided to retire from the field. _ » On Saturday Fred Strickland, the speedy Newtown three-quarter, was suffering from boils on the neck, and for the first half of tho game ho played full-back. He took his old posi- 1 tion on tho field in tho second half, and got in some good work. His kicking and tackling were particularly good. “Billy” Wilson (Athletic) has not lost any of histoid dash since lasti season, and was in the fight through? l out. He was about the most deadly' tackier seen out on Saturday, and the 1 try he scored for the “blue and blacks” was a very lino effort.

Some of the players at Newtown Park were inclined to play a biti roughly, and several spectators com-' plained about it, but with a firm maul controlling the game, the evil oouldl easily he remedied. Mr C. Tucker, one of tho most promising of Auckland’s young referees,, left that city last week, and is now residing in'Wellington, where he. should bo a valuable .addition to tberanks of referees.

The old trouble of collaring, a man; round the neck, which prevailed throughout last season, still continues,' and on Saturday it was the means of several tries being scored. Until players get it into their heads that they l should go “low,” it seems impossible to' expect to witness a good match. A player in Auckland, who is expected to distinguish himself this year,i is McClaymont. He learned much) last year through his association with' city and provincial teams, and gavo' promise of developing into a top-! notcher. . , Already Auckland has received three challenges for the Northern Union! Cup—from Taranaki, Hawke’s Bay,, and Wellington. Each of these pro-i viuces showed good form last season. In Ut iku, the Athletic team could not have a better man behind the! pack, for he is a great toiler, and as game as a fighting cock. He is also sound in his defence. Bradley, Athletic’s skipper, is another hard grafter, and ft was a treat to witness his tackling on Saturday. Ho got in some excellent all-round work, and no matter where the ball was, “Brad” was there too. The evergreen Spencer was always in the scramble, and when he crossed the line he received a great ovation.' Murdoch, the popular Newtown player, who was laid aside last year owing to a broken collar-bone, is apparently right back tb his best form, and played good football on Saturday. He scored two tries and converted one. Rugby, under League rules, does hot attract a very largo audience at present. The game is not old enough in New Zealand to produce enthusiastic “bankers,” who, by their recital of valiant deeds in the days gone by, enlist the interest of the younger generation, and so bring the game into more prominence. , League is a good fast game; there are many points about it that are an improvement on staid old “Rugger,” but then again there are others that make the game less interesting, less the teams are in the pink of condition and trained to a hair. It has been said that the game is no good to junior players, and in fact it has been stated that the clubs do not want them. This remains to be seen—-at all events, as far as this Dominion is concerned —as junior teams have been formed by each club in Wellington, and a contest is to be commenced this afternoon.

In the match last Saturday, at Petone, the local men did not have much of a look in during the second •half of the game. Petone has good players, but they lack combination and form. Tho individual efforts were meritorious. “Ranji” - Findlayson, for Petone. played the best back game on the ground, and with a little more support the result of the match might have been different. The scores were equal at half-time, but Petone could not keep the pace up during the remainder of the game. Form and combination won in the end.

Russell, for Suburbs, was in most of the advanced play, while Campbell, Manning, and Donaldson proved a tower of strength. The latter played a great game. Barber, on the Petone side, shone out on many occasions, but his dashes were not well supported. Ashton was in fair form, as were also Arnold and Whitley. With a little more practice, Petone will give a good account of themselves, and there is room for improvement. Much interest is centred in the Subuxhs-Newtown match, which is to be played on the Petone recreation ground this afternoon. Neither team has been defeated, and both are confident of winning on this occasion, so a fast and interesting game should result. Suburbs will have the services of Donaldson, the St. James forward, who played his first League game last Saturday. Owing to Newtown Park being engaged for military drill no matches will be played there. The Petone-Athletic game will ho played at the Hutt Park, and will he evenly contested. Patrons should note that the admission to the Recreation ground is by the Gas Works gate, and the admission fee is sixpence. Admission to the Hutt Park is free.