LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20706, 2 May 1929, Page 4

LEAGUE FOOTBALL

By Forward.

.SATURDAY’S MATCHES. The outstanding feature of the match between Christian Brothers A and Athletic was the ‘ undoubted strength’ of the former, who have retained the services of most of last Reason's best players and have secured outstanding men to take the places of those who are out of action tor .one reason or another. The .Greens were a; strong combination last season, but indications point to them, being seven better this year. They -. possess the great advantage of having.- an' evenly-balanced side, both the forward and back divisions, being very strong. 'Two new wing threequarters—Pearce and Rich—turned out for the team on Saturday;;and both fully upheld the reputations .that had preceded them - of being exceptionally fast and at the same time clever • and resourceful. Both. players gave several exhibitions of their speed-by outpacing their opponents, aud they 1 showed themselves to be quite expert in handling the ball. In-the; early stages of the game Pearce gave a - fine exhibition of goal- kicking,, his efforts recalling those of Montague at bis best last season. Later on, however, be was not so successful. The other backs on the f^ r °thers’' side all. played well, M Kewen,-who played brilliantly .throughout, and- J. : Q’Connbr being, probably the best. , The Greens’ forwards, who had all the best of -the scrum work, played ■ well together, and infused plenty of dash into their work, . A pleasing feature of-the game was the freedom, with which the Greens threw the ball about; The stereotyped method of passing along the chain, arid finishing up on the side line was abandoned- iir favour; of long passes, which gave the men chances to do something before they were hemmed, in, and made the game fast and open. Whatever chance Athletic might have-,. had ■of making a decent showing was’spoiled-by .'the deplorable weakness of their tackling.. ■ Time and again three or four men in‘succession made efforts to check an opponent- by catching him round the neck. with, of course, disastrous results to their own prospects of success! As the Greens .were getting the -ball;'in the. scrums, .it. was essential that Athletic -■ should tackle effectively. Webber, Fraser, and Clark were the most prominent players.on the Athletic side, but the inability. ’of the forwards to hook the ball prevented .themfrom getting many chances. The match between City and Kaikorai was’very one-sided.' It was seen from the outset that the Kaikorai boys, who were much lighter than . their opponents, were, not in Torm..'and tba .pace set. by City .soon told its tale. City, fielded,'a good all-round Team, every ' man ' showing the effects of good training. While Kaikorai’s exhibition of the code, was tame, the' City baejes-gave a sparkling'display. A player who stood out prominently was Jack, a new addition, to City’s back lirie. He, comes from Christchurch with a. reputation, and he • certainly lived up to, that reputation on Saturday. Jack is a tall, hlmb’e young .man. He. has speed, .knows the finer points of the game,'arid is very elusive. He has strengthened the s Cfty tearii to a marked, degree.' Clydesdale is as fit as ever.,- His ■ fine showing stamped him as one of’the best men on the ground and-one. of the-best all-round men in the City team. • . Townsend, the City .front-, ranker, was;as tireless'as ever, and played l a solid game. . Eckhoff. was In good foriri,! but he was watched very closely, arid was generally smothered- when trying' to fend off his opponents. The play of the Ka'ikorai- lads, was ' somewhat ragged ■ all through, although, they showed ,up prominently at various, stages. ' The. side was saved < time -and again ,by Fraser; who prove,! one: of the best .men ip the hill team. Mackey led his boys in several sweeping rushes, but these were generally broken up by the City forwards. Langley, Skelton, and .-Kennedy were among Kaikorai’s best 1 playersl City- would have secured more 'tries if' the wing, threequarters, both ol Whom are: good scoring players; -had received the ball more ’ frequently. ' • v . ' . . ■ J The -game between Pacific' and,-Chris-tian Brothers B, . bn'. Chisholm Park, was responsible , for a willing' exhibition ’by, men, all. too.' obviriusly out of training. Mattingly, and Blazey, - both -of whom represented Pacific, ■ were the - most •;conspicuous throughout, and in running .and passing .they played some ; really good foot-, nail. ' WallSi --'tWlio played - on' - the , wing for Pacific; Will be in boteer;fofin' wltoi fribre trhining; v -Amongst, the. Brothers, O’Malley and Deehan gave, evidence’ of- a thorough' knowledge' of, trie, game and ability to, use their, beads. While. Holloway, Who scored' the first try- for the' Greens, - is also a promising irian.V The play - throughout . was "clean ; and ' fairly open, and some clever passing .rushes Were made by- both sides,blit 1 ’notably by Pacific-, ■ whose-..combined phjy Was much superior'to. that.of. their opponents.’-' ; ANNUAL COUNCIL .MEETING,.’, '. At the annual meeting of the Council of the New Zealand Rugy Football League the president (Mr. Snedden) '.referred- to the continued progress -of the code. . ■ . The ’ annual report stated that ..new teains had been ‘ admitted: to- the code, .and it-. Was-predicted That -this season' would also show. ■an increase in . teams : arid players, including, school boys,' The Auckland League was congratulated upon its fine showing. .' The South .Auckland League suffered' from. lack q£, finance: arid, depended on the , assistance'; of . outside leagues’ to replenish, the exchequer.‘Headway was held up in Wellington owing to lack of grourids. Canterbury-,also'had its financial .Troubles, but, nevertheless, Monica Park was a fine asset, and its availability, had been the means of contributing to a high standard of; play. The Otago League was in a handsome position - financially, .and the coubcil acknowledged help from that league; The West Coast League continued to make progress, arid was completing the purchase of its Mturo ground, near Groymouth. 1 The financial position revealed a cash balance in hand-of ■ £749 15s; a. large increase on last year’s credit.- It was’hoped that the visit of a New Zealand team To Australia "this year would- strengthen the councils .position to-enable the carrying on of useful propaganda arid other, administrative work. The council hqped Eo be in a position to give greater assistance generally. .The councils greatest liabilitywas a loan frorri the Otagb League, The payment of principal and interest of which’had been generously deferred; ~ ' -AttacbedTo The.report was a complete statement, of audited receipts and expenditure. also covering all business in connection with the visit' of the English team. The total gate money, at all matches amounted To £6454 12& Bd. of which the Englishmen received £3372 15s. A proposal by the Auckland League that in the case of visitirig te'ariis any' one centre shall' not be penalised ijior.o than two playing Saturdays in the one ■season fpr'such teams to .play iu their, town, was defeated.' Two further Auckland remits i one urging- That New .Zealand Rugby, league selectors shall .be made irrespective of representations by The league, or council, and the other urging Tbe council to give ' more, assistance to, • provincial League propaganda), were withdrawn. ■/ : ; notes'. -. . >/ Crawford; (City) handled the ball well on Saturday, and is showing improvement on last year's form. .. Fraser played a solid .game as full-back for Kaikorai. ■ - According, to the Christchurch Sun,'-Ad-dington- has a side which justifies ‘ high hopes of winning the senior couipetitipn in Canterbury this season. . - .Eckhoff has lost none of the dash which characterised, lira play in previous seasons, and on Saturday his handling of: the ball was very good. -- , . • Kennedy and Mackey have turned out for Kaikorai. again, and, as. usual, gave a good display of tbe attacking game, though their- efforts were not crowned with success. City are fortunate in having a forward like Townsferid. ■ who is a postmaster in the art of hooking. He played up to his best ■ form on' Saturday.. Hicks'is an improved player,-and put in a lot of useful work for Kaikorai oh Saturday.' . If is a noteworthy fact that although the senior .game . between Christian Brothers A arid Athletic’ was played ‘at a fast .pace, for the .greater part - of’The tjriie. there was not a single stoppage ok account of mishaps. - ' Ip Rosenbrock' and Clark City have two' promising young players. The’ halfback (O’Driscoll) gets the ball ’ away nicely, and is a Very solid.player. Lang ley is likely to make a good type of. forward, and Osmond, is .a promising hooker, who plays., a nice repen game. H. Werges, a forward, made his first appearance for City. on . Saturday.’ He put in a lot of hard work, and .is proceeding on' the; right lines -in-;regard’ to' hanfi-

ling the ball. O’Driscoll, Fitzgerald, and wrot 'ycrp-a hard-working ;trio. Reid played a solid game for' Kaikorai. apd was plways looking for .something to . 'A meeting of the newly-organised Ncwtown Club ■ was held in -Wellington last week, when onice-bearers-apd,several new players were elected. A ; favourable report was received in .connection with a playing ground in the- city. A, welcome was extended to /Mr H, Lawrence, one of tho. South Island’s bost reforsos, who was • elected ’ chairman. - Goal kicking was not a prominent'feature. of-the Second 'Grade-match between Christian Brothers apd Athletic on Saturday- T “ e Greens ’ score was made up of nye tries, not one of which- was converted, though at least, one .of the .kicks was taken straight in .front of the-posts. Athletic put up 'a much better performance in this department, converting one try but .of three, and also kicking a penalty goal. ■ ( Advice in Auckland recently states that the coldest weather., experieaced in • England for ‘3O -years seriously affected the Northern- Rugby League’s football competition- The, ex-Aucklanders with, the' Wigan-; team -had gone.-through three weeks of >an unpleasant' experience. Football was difficult to play, and under these conditions ■ Wigan ■ was beaten for the first time in 22 matches. Davidson has been successful of late, scoring nine tries, in three games. Brown has -met with a succession , of. injuries. He . badly damaged his shoulder against Warrington. and when fit ■ again liad the misfortune to cut, his knee,- which' required stitching. ■■ Mason has shown splendid form, and is- WiganV best - forward. Wigan haa hopes of taking-part-'in the cup -tie' final - to- be - decided at Wembley. -