LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20174, 11 August 1927, Page 4

LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Bs Fobwabd. THE JUNIOR COMPETITION. The following table shows the positions of the teams engaged in the junior competition:— Pts. Shield

SATURDAY'S MATCHES. The outstanding feature of the matches o>' Saturday was the fine stand made by Cuy against Athletic, which, for the first time this year, left the field without having recorded a win. On the general run of the play the competition leaders were rather lucky to escape without a defeat. City have shown a remarkable improvement during the last few weeks, and are now as strong as any other team in the senior competition. There w r as not much difference between the two sides on Saturday, but I think that what advantage there was certainly lay with City. The secret of the success of the Black and Whites was due to their superiority in gettin, the ball from the scrums, in which department of play they have shown a marked improvement since Townsend came to Dunedin. This'success enabled them not only to give their own backs numerous chances, but it also deprived the speedy and resourceful backs on the other side of the opportunity of indulging in the passing bouts which gave them victories in the earlier games. The ball was thrown about with commendable freedom, both sides making the game open, with the result that the play was fast and interesting from start to finish. The Athletic backs did as well as could be expected under the circumstances, but they found it a difficult proposition to make headway when they were not getting the ball out. The game was undoubtedly one of the best seen in the League code in Dunedin this season. The keenness displayed by Pacific in the early part of the season seems to have vanished during the last few weeks, and it was a much weakened side that took the field against Christian Brothers. The latter, however, were not in their best form, and for quite a long time Pacific held their own surprisingly well. During the whole of the first spell they kept their opponents in check and it was only in the second spell that the Greens _ were able to score. There were some bright flashes of play, and on the whole the game was quite interesting, some fine combined movements as well as good individual efforts being seen. PLAYERS FORM A UNION. In Sydney a union of the League players has been formed with the object of conserving their interests. It is contended that if the English duos can afford to take the cream of the Australian players and pay them high salaries and find it a profitable transaction there is no reason why a sport-loving community like Australia could do not likewise. One writer suggests that outstanding players such as A. Kelly, B ; Wearing, and E. Lapham should be paid the highest rates, and the lesser lights a salary commensurate with their abilities, just as actors, actresses, and other public entertainers are rewarded. He adds that under the present antiquated scale of payments, “Dally” Messenger—the Victor Trumpcr of the football field, whoso defection from the Rugby Union in 1007 made the Rugby League possible—received a rate equal to that enjoyed by the emergency on the touchline, notwithstanding the immortal Daily’s allround brilliance and magnetising influence on football gatherings. At present the Australian players are entitled to £5 for a representative match, and when the gates approximate £BOOO for two matches, as they did recently, they feel that the time for financial revision has come. In Sydney there is a system of giving the clubs a percentage of the finances so as to encourage a spirit of selfreliance. This season the leading clubs have already received amounts running into four figures. NOTES. Alexander was in action again on Saturday, and showed plenty of dash. Pnn;- is a battler for the Athletic, and is always there when a vacancy has to bo filled. Clarke and M'Cabe combined well on Saturday, and indulged in some good passing bouts. The Canterbury representative Rugby League team will leave for the West Coast tour to-day. Hunt is a good half-back, but on many occasions he is inclined to run too much from the scrum. Mr W. S. Clarke has presented to the West Coast Centro a cup for the Fifth Grade competition, and Mr W. Brown a shield for the Third Grade. On Saturday Clydesdale played his best game this season. He is improving as regards tackling. Cusack was again in action behind the Christian Brothers’ scrum on Saturday, and expects to be able to play for the rest of the season. Watt played his best game this season on Saturday, and generally headed the rushes by the City forwards. Denniston is a solid player, both on attack and defence. He has played fine football this season. Hickey is a hard working forward, but he will appear to better advantage when he indulges in handling the ball more. T. O’Connor and /E. O’Connor were not available for Christian Brothers on Saturday, but both will probably turn out against Athletic this week. Hunter was one of City’s best forwards, and his handling and tackling were noticeably good. At a meeting of the West Coast Centro last week a letter was received from the Otago Centro inquiring if it was the intention of tho West Coast to include Buffer player's in tho Coast team. It was decided to reply that purely a West Coast team would bo travelling. On Saturday Townsend played his best game since he has come to Dunedin. Ho knows all the fine points, especially in regard to tho rako position. Oliver did not get many opportunities on Saturday, as the City backs were giving no chances away. Ho is a player who will score tries if he is fed right. Jacob, who has been playing consistently this season, gave one of his best displays to date on Saturday. Ho got the ball away smartly to his five-eighths. D. Sullivan played his usual game on Saturday, both on attack and defence, and is one of’tho best full-backs playing League football in New Zealand. Addington and Waimairi created surprises by defeating Sydenham and Hornby respectively in the third series of matches for tho Thacker Shield on Saturday (says tho Lyttelton Times). The Shield poims are now as follows: —Addington 5, Sydenham 4, Marist 4, Waimairi 3, Hornby 2, Woolston nil. The play-lhe-ball rule was not adopted very effectively on Saturday, If it is played properly it will bo a big advantage to the game,' but the referees will have to take a linn stand with the teams and not lot thorn play it in their own style. The Auckland League has written to the West Coast League stating that it was now making arrangements for a tour of tho south, and that September 4 was the dato proposed for the West Coast match. It was resolved to telegraph to Auckland that September 4 was a Sunday, and to suggest September 3 as the date for tho match. Vonath and Webber did not play their usual games on Saturday. /They would probably have done better if they Had varied their play at times, Five-eights can frequently turn defence into attack by altering their methods. Athletic have a good all round pack, and although they did not get as much of the ball as City on Saturday they showed to better advantage in the loose work, i'hoy should try t 0 do more handling and food their hacks from loose forward movements. Eckhoff played in the City forwards on Saturday, and'participated in all the passing bouts as a wedge forward should do. lie was responsible for both (he City’s trios, and is a determined player. Thomas plays on tho right linos, but ho does not get the support from bis fellow forwards in regard to League tactics, lie always tries to onon up the game, but (f the oilier forwards are playing light his tactics cannot bo successful. The result of tho Test games played (Ins season between Now South Wales and Queensland have proved that the standard o'f the game has improved in Sydney, whore of late there has been a general desire r 0 give the voungcr players a chance in big football, fill the other hand, it is felt that Queensland football has fallen off n bit compared with previous seasons, when they wore indisputably tho leading team. Next year an English team will bo out in Australia, where some new players will have 1(1 be found to take the places of the stars who have been tempted by offers from ilie English clubs, and are no longer available. i

P. W. L. D. F. A. Pte. City .. .. 6 5 0 1 60 25 11 Athletic 6 5 1 0 46 36 10 Pacific 7 4 3 0 88 46 8 Christian Bros. 7 I 6 0 43 71 2 Kaikorai 6 0 5 1 3 62 1