LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19800, 27 May 1926, Page 4

LEAGUE FOOTBALL

By Forward.

REPRESENTATIVE MATCHES. The following representative matches will be played by Utago this season: June s.—v. Canterbury, at Dunedin. June 12.—v. \Yest Coast, at Greymouth. August 7.—v. Auckland, at Auckland. August 11.—v. South Auckland, at Hamilton. . Atigust 14.—v. Canterbury, at Cnnstohurch. . LOCAL MATCHES. In view of the weather the decision to postpone all matches on Saturday was the only rational one tnat could be arrived at Players and supporters of the game appreciated the promptness with which the notification was issued, as they were relieved from any uncertainty as early as possible. The matches set down for decision last Saturday will be played this week. Christian Brothers will meet Kaikorai on the Caledonian Ground at 1.30 p.m., and City will play Kaitangata on the same ground at 3 pm. The match between Athletic and Pacific will be decided on the Oval at 6 pm The junior matches—City v. Paoihc and Christian Brothers v. Kaikorai—will be played at Chisholm Park at 1.50 p.m. and 3 p.m respectively. . The promptitude with which Mr Divers acted saved the Kaitangata team the trouble o» making what would have been an unpleasant and unprofitable trip to town on Saturday. After consultation with a member of the executive. Mr Divers got into communication with Kaitangata before 8 a m and found that the local players were aimost leady to start for town the j-onrii-tions there indicating the possibility of the games being played.

notes. Oliver, wing-three-quarter for Kaitangata, will be a top-notcher if he gets plenty of 1 Athletic team read better on paper than they really are. I hey are good individually. but lack the most essential asset team work. . _ Clydesdale (City) plays a good game on the wing. He can play m almost any PO Rogers (Kaitangata forward) is a sohd worker, and has improved on last y<«t *°Leoffler who played full-back for Kaikorai in the last match, figured in the P os ' tl of five-eighths in the programme issued for Saturday Crossan, the captain of the ean , h.t. joined the Pacific Club, and there would be no to to*» i> no pl*S>"« :$9; iSWJr rh rsffi t. to him tST doubdbe strengthened very soon by fresh 1 PS a club that trams successfully and is such a happy family is bound 1 °launders ta ncl* tluit there is a big chance of J Fraser (full-back for Athletic) dropping’ out of the game owing to . < * on J® stl £ reasons. If this happens it will be a great loss to his club and the code generally. If he continues to play Fraser should have a good chance of representing the province this season. At the meeting of the League executive last week the selectors were instructed to select 20 players to go in for strict tram in" in view of the representatives matches next month. Owing to the postponement of the matches last Saturday the selection has been postponed until after this week s "ames are played, ° The Blackball Club placed four teams in the field a few weeks ago, and secured four wins. ~ , , c o On present form it looks as if hl n R e will be one of the fortunate ones told tc pack his bag and label it ‘ England (says the Auckland Rugby League Gazette). , . At a meeting of the Management Committee of the Wellington Rugby League last week it was decided to tender for a ground at Miramar. The match between Canterbury- and Auckland will be played at Auckland on August 21. The Canterbury 1 Centre will receive 50 per cent, of the gate. The executive of the Canterbury League has granted permission to 'he Junior Advisory Board to arrange for a West Coast school hoys’ -team to visit Christchurch in August. New Zealand is weak in inside backs (says the Grey River Argus). The selectors are on the look-out for promising material that can be knocked into shape for the English tour. The Greymouth thirds continued on their winning way (says the Argus of the 19th inst.), not having had a point scored against them yet, but they- will have to make use of the training shed for the next week or so in view of the games with Marist and Blackball. Gregory, Marist's (Auckland) fullback, first came into prominence as a five-eighth in the Auckland Rugby Union team that defeated the formidable Hawke’s Bay side in 1923 at Auckland. Since he turned over to League he has represented Auckland and New Zealand. As it has no suitable playing area available this year, the Management Committee of the Wellington Rugby League has decided to write and ask the New Zealand League Council to have the trial match South Auckland v. Wellington played at Hamilton on June 26, instead of at Wellington. New South Wales players of the League code have adopted the rule that where a defending side seeks refuge by forcing, the kick out is taken from the goal line. A suggestion by the Junior Advisory Board that t(ie Canterbury League should send Second and Third Grade representative teams to the West Coast this season has been held over in the meantime. The centre will shortly consdier the question of sending the First Grade representatives to the Coast. The question of insurance of players is not such an easy matter as might he supposed. Even when rules which appear to cover all reasonable requirements are adopted cases occur from time to time which demand special consideration. Three such cases were dealt with by the League Executive this week. The .Insurance Committee decided that it must adhere rigidly to its rules in order to prevent a state of chaos from being reached later on, and this view was endorsed by the executive. The discussion, however, showed that there were factors which entitled the players concerned to special treatment, and a small vote was made from the general fund to the insurance fund to make provision for the claims. In order to allow the fund to he administered properly it is essential that clubs generally, and players individually, should make sure that the provisions regarding insurance are complied with in all cases before a player goes on the field. So far as the season has progressed in Auckland, Poison is a long way the best half-back seen out. Public opinion will see that this little warrior receives a fair hearing this year, and that he is not penalised because he plays for a weak team that does not come under the selectors’ eve on No. 1 ground (says the Auckland Rugby League Gazette). _ Hornby have the finest pack ot forwards in the competition (says the Christchurch Star). They must have averaged about 15 stone per man on Saturday week perhaps two stone heavier than Waimairi. They were a mobile force, good at both attack and defence. Of the latter they did not have to do much. Their hack line worked like a machine, and some of the cogs toiled at top speed. One of the biggest surprises brought off in the League competitions in Auckland for some time occurred when Newton, generally assessed ns the weakest of the’ senior teams, downed Richmond in great style, and never looked like being beaten, ultimately running out winners by 43 to 25. . To walk something like 25 miles in order to plav football stamps such a man as an enthusiast. That is what N. Mouatt does often. Mouatt lives at Blackball, and trudges in to Greymouth, a journey taking about five hours. So little does he think of the walk that a week or two ago he strolled over the distance just to attend a blackooevd lecture given by Mr K Mair. Ernie Mair stated at Greymouth that, providing two men had fairly equal claims to consideration, the selection would go to the man who was the best low tackier.

Many games in Australia were lost by the would-be tacklers going for the waist and upwards instead of the knees and wards.

Frank Burge, who has returned to the game, is famous as the greatest scoring forward to play Rugby, either League or Union, but, there appears on the horizon one who looks like running him close, in Sydney games at any rate (says the Sydney Sportsman). “Jockey” Kelly, the sterling St. George forward, has notched at least one try in each of his games this season, and has reached the total of five, which gives him fifth place in the scoring list. Kelly has been consistently sound in the past two years, and he is considered as a worthy rival for Latta for a place in the representative teams this year. In an interview with a representative of the Greymouth Star, Sir Mair stated : "To tackle England on her own ground is certainly a much harder proposition than meeting an English team in New Zealand, but I feel confident that the New Zealanders will come back with a very satisfactory record. New Zealand’s chief difficulty to-day is her inside backs, but 1 am sure that the trial matches will find the right men. The South Island is blessed with wonderful forwards, and, in fact. New Zealand has the best forwards in the world.”

A correspondent writes as follows: —“I consider that the Rugby League should have had its representatives selected before this date, so as to give them some chance of getting together. When choosing the teams the selectors should consider only this season’s play and not last year's Fitzgerald (Christian Brothers) is one of the finest forwards in the League, and should just about get a trip to England How Hunt (City) can be left out of the team is hard ( to say. His form this season is first-rate, although he is playing out of his place.. He is a slashing fast forward, and I consider that as a three-quarter he has few superiors. A man who can play in any position, such as he can. would be a great asset to atiy touring team. I would like the League to see that the first match starts on time, as latterly the 3 o’clock match has been played in semi-darkness. The selection of players was delayed vthe bad weather last Saturday.

LEAGUE PLAYERS WANTED. It is evident from cabled reports that some of the English Rugby League clubs are attempting to strengthen their teams by securing the services of New Zealand players. The-Wigan Club has already called a meeting of all other clubs to test their feelings on a resolution favouring the removal of the ban on overseas playersAt present colonials have to reside in England for two years before they tre able to play. Tempting offers have been held out to New Zealanders to go Home. If the present agreement regarding residential qualification is altered, a breach might easily be caused among New South Wales, Queensland, and New Zealand governing bodies. The controlling authorities here have previously expressed themselves on the subject, and with a New Zealand team going Home it is certain the Dominion will oppose the ban being lifted. TOUR OF MR E. H. MAIR. From his tour of the'Dominion, extending over two weeks, Mr E. H. Mair, who will manage the New Zealand Rugby League team on its English tour, returned to Auckland last week. The centres he visited were Rotorua, Wellington, Dunedin Greymouth, and Christchurch. Mr Mair was impressed with the manner in which players are catered for in Dunedin. In the dressing sheds at the Caledonian Ground there are numerous hot and cold water showers, while at half-time in each game cups of steaming hot beef tea await the players The ground is also being greatly improved, and an extensive scheme of building improvements is in progress. On the We't Coast of the South Island. Mr Mair said, there were manv signs of healthy preereaq (n the League game.

The form of =ome of the Canterbury men impressed Mr Mair, who ventured the opinion that Canterburv players would he conspicuous when the time rune to make the final selection for the EnglisH tour. Arran"emonts for the coming, series of imnortnnt mafehps are well in hand, and everywhere Mr Mair found keen interest aroused.