LEAGUE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3768, 1 June 1926, Page 54

LEAGUE.

By

FORWARD.

REPRESENTATIVE MATCHES. The following representative matches will be played by Otago this season: June s.—v. Canterbury, at Dunedin. June 12.—v. West Coast, at Greymouth. August 7. —v. Auckland, at Auckland. August 11.—v. South Auckland, at Hamilton. August 14.—v. Canterbury, at Christchurch.

NOTES. Oliver, wing-three-quarter for Kaitangata, will be a top-notcher if he gets plenty of the ball. The Athletic team read better on paper than they really are. r J hey are good individually, but lack the most essential asset —team work. Clydesdale (City) plays a good game on the wing. He can play in almost eny position. Rogers (Kaitangata forward) is a solid worker, and has improved on last year’s form A number of new players have joined the Pacific Club, and there would be no difficulty in putting a sixth team in the second grade competition but for the fact that on the Saturdays when Kaitangata come to town there is no playing area available. Crossan (Kaikorai) has done remarkably well with his team, and all credit is due to him for the keenness shown by him and his men. The club will, no doubt, be strengthened very soon by fresh material, as a club that trains successfully and is such a happy family is bound to secure members. I understand that there is a big chance of J. Fraser (full-back for Athletic) dropping out of the game owing to domestic reasons. If this happens it will be a great loss to his club and the League code generally. If he continues to play Fraser should have a good chance of representing the province this season. The Blackball Club placed four teams in the field a few weeks ago, and secured four wins. On present form it looks as if Singe will be one of the fortunate ones told to 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 Centre will receive 50 per cent, of the gate. The executive of the Canterbury League has granted permission to lie Junior Advisory Board to arrange for a West Coast school boys’ 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. 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 lias represented Auckland ar.d 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 gpal line. A suggestion by the Junior Advisory Board that the Canterbury League should send Second and Third Grade representative teams to the West Coast this season has been held over in the meantime. Jhe 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 be 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 tff 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 be administered, properly it is essential that clubs generally, and players individually, should make sure ;hat 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’ eye on No. 1 ground (says the Auckland Rugby League Gazette). One of the biggest surprises brought off in the League competitions in Auckland for some time occurred when Newton, generally assessed as 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 play 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 blackboard lecture given by Mr E. 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 downwards. 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 gjves 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. LEAGUE PLAYERS WANTED. It i 3 evident from cabled reports that some of the English Rugby League clubs are attempting to strengthen their teams bv 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 are 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 exnressed 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 shed? at the Caledonian Ground there are numerous hot and cold water shower?, 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 improvement? i? in progress. On the West Coast-of the South Island. Mr Mair said, there were many sign? of healthy progress in the League game. The form of some of thp Canterbury men impressed Mr Mair, who ventured the opinion that Canterbury players would be conspicuous when the time came to make the final selection for the English tour- Arrangement? for the coming series of important maMie? are well in hand, and everywhere Mr Mair found keen interest aroused. AN AUCKLAND AGREEMENT AUCKLAND, May 28. The Council of the New Zealand Rugby League, after vigorous objection, signed an agreement for the use of Carlaw Park in trial matches, the licensee being held responsible for any damage done to the ground. Mr Pollock stated that communications from Canada indicated the possibility of tlie New Zealand team playing exhibition games there, when returning from England. Matches might be arranged with a Rugby team. SENIOR COMPETITION. The Rugby League competition was advanced a stage further on Saturday under favourable conditions Two matches were placed on the Caledonian Ground, and the spectators were treated to some excellent football, especially in the game between Christian Brothers and Kaikorai. Christian Brothers have improved very much since the beginning of the season, and on their play on Saturday must be regarded as one of the best teams playing the League game. The match between City and Kaitangata produced some bright play, but the former team did not reach the high standard for which they have hitherto been noted. On the Oval, which was _in a sodden state, Athletic had a comfortable win against Pacific after a game that was as fast as could be expected under the conditions. The game? resulted as follows : Christian 8r05... 29 Kaikorai 2 City 24 Kaitangata ... 0 Athletic 17 Pacific 3 POSITION OF THE TEAMS. The following table shows the position of the teams engaged in the senior compe-

IN OTHER CENTRES. AUCKLAND COMPETITION. AUCKLAND. I ay 29. The following are the results of Saturday’s Rugby League football matches:— Kingsland 21, Parnell 8. City 33, Grafton 10. Ponsonby 10, Richmond 3. Marists 12, Nc ’ton 9. CHRISTCHURCH MATCHES. CHRISTCHURCH, May 29. Marists A 32, Sydenham 3. Waimairi 8, Marists B 0. Addington 60, Woolston 15. OTAGO v. CANTERBURY. p The following team has been selected to represent Otago against Canterbury at the Caledonian Ground on Saturday:— Full-back, E. Watson (City); threequarters—L. Connelly (City), D. M'Kay (Athletic). P. Hickey (City); five-eighths —J. M'Cabe (City), B. Eckhoft (City ; half, R. Cusack (Christian Brothers); forwards—D. Fitzgerald (Christian Brothers), P. Blackledgc (Christian Brothers), F. Rogers (Kaitangata), T. O’Connor (Christian Brothers), M. Cameron (City), H. Thomas (Athletic). Emergency backs —R. Oliver (Kaitangata), B. Jacobs (City); emergency for-

wards —D. MRae (Athletic), M. Quinn (Christian Brothers).

tition:— P. W. L. D. Points F. A. F.P City 4 4 0 0 137 12 8 Athletic 4 3 0 1 78 18 7 Christian Bros... 4 2 1 1 62 66 5 Kaitangata 4 1 3 0 25 66 2 Kaikorai 4 1 3 0 19 96 2 Pacific 4 0 4 0 18 91 0