LEAGUE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3772, 29 June 1926, Page 52

LEAGUE.

By

FORWARD.

REPRESENTATIVE MATCHES. The following representative matches will be played by Otago this season : August 7. —v. Auckland, at Auckland. August 11.—v. South Auckland, at Hamilton. . August 14.—v. Canterbury, at Christchurch. NOTES. At a meeting of the Junior Advisory Board of the Canterbury L 'ague last week Mr H. W. Lawrence reported that the West Coast League had decided ta send a schoolboys’ representative team to Christchurch in August. Inquiries were being made by the League in Dunedin with a view to extending the tour to that city. Delegates favoured the sending of a junior representative team to the West Coast. The Chairman 'Mr Tilleyshort) said the board should take action, independently of the League, which was considering the sending of a senior team on a tour of the West Coast and Inangahua districts. The Council of the New Zealand Rugby League has received a letter from Messrs Thomas Cook and Son, statiug that the sailing date of the Tainui from Wellington has been altered from July 27 to August 7, and that the New Zealand team to tour England will not be able to leave until the latter date. The council has decided to communicate with the English League, also to ascertain whether it will be possible to alter the route. The Otago Rugby League has advised the Grey centre that it is prepared to receive a visit from a West Coast school boys’ team provided the weights of the players are suitable. Mr M‘Gregor intends to coach the local boys. Tho Otago players have performed very creditably so far in the trial matches, and it is pleasing to note that four players from this province have been selected to take part in the inter-island match on July 3. The selected players—Eckhoff, Hickoy, Vorrath and Thomas, will leave Dunedin on Tuesday. In the course of a letter to Mr H. Divers (secretary of the Otago Rugby League) Mr R. J. Stirling (one of the selectors of tho New Zealand team) says: “I cannot speak too highly of the team while they were under my charge. They are a fine lot of fellows and a credit to Otago.”

‘The game ou Saturday,” writes Mr Stirling referring to the match Otago and West Coast v. Canterbury and South Canterbury, was a splendid one. The play was of a very high standard, and towards tho finish the Otago and West Coast players completely outclassed the Canterbury representatives. Cameron played a fine game in the loose, and was very unlucky to miss selection. His size was against him in the scrum with tho other forwards selected, but had the Otago selectors placed him breakaway forward in the Otago team I feel sure lie would have made good in that position.” INTER-ISLAND MATCH. The following have been selected to represent the South Island in the Rugby League match against the North Island at Auckland on July 3 for selection of the New Zealand representatives:— Backs. —A. Eckhoff (Otago), Pat O’Connor (Sydenham), G. Brittenden (Marist), P. Hickey (Otago), J. Sanders (Addington), W. Vorrath (Otago), A. Mundy (Hornby), Wilson-F 1 (Hornby). Forwards. —F. Henry (Hornby),'J. Tallentire (West Coast), L. Mason (Hornby). L. Petersen (Marist), J. Wright (West Coast), N. Mouat (West Coast), and 11. Thomas (Otago). Two or three more men from the South Island will be required for the last trial match at Auckland. SOUTH AUCKLAND DEFEATS WELLINGTON. WELLINGTON, June 23. Fast, open, and interesting may be said of the Rugby League match between Wellington and South Auckland. The visitors won by 16 points to 12, but should have registered more points. Many infringements in the opening stages placed South Auckland on the defensive. In the first spell M‘Donald scored a try for South Auckland, and Sherlock goaled. In the second spell J. Carroll and Desmond scored for Wellington, while Jackson, after fine solo work, transferred to Hooper, who scored for South Auckland. Sherlock’s kick was successful. Desmond then scored again for the home team, making the scores 10—9 in the visitors’ favour. A try by Johnson brought South Auckland’s score to 13 points. Shortly after Ryan kicked a penalty goal for Wellington, making the tally 13 to 12 in South Auckland’s favour. Green put the result beyond doubt by scoring another try for South Auckland. The game ended: South Auckland, 16; Wellington, 12. SATURDAY’S MATCHES. FIRST-GRADE COMPETITION. The second round of the first grade League football matches was commenced on Saturday afternoon. The weather was fine, but the Caledonian Ground, on which two of the matches were played, was heavy and sticky. There was a fair attendance. A fast and interesting game was provided by City and Christian Brothers, and both clubs placed their strongest teams in the field. The games resulted as followsCity 9 Christian Bros. ... 8 Kaikorai 5 Pacific ... ... ... 2 Athletic 25 Kaitangata ... 10 POSITIONS OF TEAMS. The following table shows the positions of the teams eugaged in the senior competition : Points P W L D F AFP

CITY v. CHRISTIAN BROTHERS. A very interesting game was provided by City and Christian Brothers on the Caledonian Ground on Saturday afternoon. The attendance had increased considerably when the teams went on to the field, and the spectators were provided with plenty of thrills. The ground was in very bad order and when the game commenced the area looked as though a set of harrows had been run over it, as the turf was badly cut up. The Christian Brothers forwards almost dominated the play in the last 20 minutes, and had they been favoured with any luck they would have come off the victors. Their rushes, however, which were of an overwhelming nature, were of short, duration, and City were able to maintain their slight advantage to the final whistle. Both teams gave some splendid exhibitions of passing. The tackling was deadly, and there was not a dull moment throughout the game. City had the best of the game in the early stages, Christian Brothers being on the defence for the first 10 minutes. Both sides were seen in some fine passing bouts. The Jball travelled quickly from one end of the field to the other, the Christian Brothers’ forwards being hot in pursuit. M’Kowen secured, and gained some ground, but was brought down when he had almost a clear run. Christian Brothers were awarded a free kick for an infringement in City’s twenty-five, and Cusack’s shot at goal fell short. City were penalised for playing the man and Bennetts kicked a goal from a handy position. Christian Brothers continued to press their opponents who were kept busily defending. The ball came out to Hickey, who made a good run and then passed to M'Cabe. Hickev again secured, and ho dashed over, but M'Cabe had gone into touch near the line, and a scrum was ordered. Christian Brothers then shifted play to neutral territory Eckhoff broke away about midfield and after making a splendid run to Christian Brothers’ twenty-five, put in a short punt. Connolly followed up fast, got possession of the ball, and scored near the posts. Eckhoff failed to convert. Both sides again participated in some fine passing bouts. M'Cabe gathered in the ball, had a" clear run, and scored wide out,. Eckhoff failed tq increase the score. Christian Brothers then made a determined attack and Walsh mado a strong run to near tho City lino, but was collared a few yards out. The first spoil ended with the scorp reading: City 6, Christian Brothers 2. Shortly after resuming, Christian Brothers sot up a very strong attack. Fitzgerald broke away, and there was a rush for the ball between two players from each side. The ball was earned over the line, where Hunt fell on it. A few minutes later Eckhoff had a shot at goal from near half-way, but the ball fell a little short. City then set up a determined attack, and Christian Brothers were kept busily defend-

ing their line. Hunt made a fast but short run, and was grassed only within a yard of tho line. The City backs were then seep in a very fine passing bout, the ball being sent out smartly to Connolly, who raced over at the corner. Eckhoff failed to convert. Christian Brothers set up another strong attack and carried play to City's line, but the ball was forced. Almost immediately afterwards Cusack secured and pushed his way over at the corner. Fitzgerald’s shot at goal was unsuccessful. A few minutes later Christian Brothers returned to the attack, and a fast passing bout ended in Cusack dashing over at the same corner. The kick at goal went wide. Christian Brothers again came away with a rush. A City back fumbled the ball, and the Greens were again almost over, but a force down resulted. The ball travelled from one end of the field to the other. Both sides were now fighting every inch of ground, and the play was fast and strenuous. Christian Brothers were too anxious and were overrunning the ball. Christian Brothers came away in another fierce rush but again spoilt a splendid chance of scoring through being foo anxious. Play was even when time was called the final scores being: City 9 points Christian Brothers 8 points Mr S. Devereux controlled tho game. KAIKORAI v. PACIFIC. Kaikorai and Pacific met on the Caledonian Ground at 1.30 p.m. Both teams gave a poor exhibition, the play throughout being very ragged and uninteresting. The backs cn both sides never at any stage gave anything like an exhibition of passing expected from First Grade teams. The movements were mulled time and again, and the backs, when they secured the ball, did not know what to do with it. Kaikorai had the best of the game in the first spell, while Pacific showed some improvement in the second half. Kaikorai kicked off, and earned play to Pacific’s twenty-five, where some loose and uninteresting play followed. Pacific then cleared, and soon had their opponents on the defensive. The Kaikorai backs made the first genuine attempt at passing, but the movement broke down. Another spell of ragged play followed, and Kaikorai were awarded a free kick, at which Loeffler made a good but unsuccessful attempt. Pacific showed to the best advantage in the subsequent stages, Kaikorai being on the defensive for some time. For offside play Kaikorai w,ere awarded two free kicks in quick succession. and Loeffler, in his second attempt, sent flie ball over the bar. When the spell ended Kaikorai had Pacific busily defending. Kaikorai, 2; Pacific, nil. On resuming, Pacific attacked strongly and Kaikorai were kept defending their line for some time. A long kick by a Kaikorai forward carried play to Pacific’s line. The Red-and-Blacks cleared the danger zone, and play hovered in midfield for several minutes. Keen picked ■up, and, after making a fine run, potted a goal. A rush by Kaikorai carried play quickly to Pacific’s line, and in the ensuing scramble McDonald beat several opponents and scored wide out. M'Donald made a poor attempt with the kick at goal. After some loose play, Pacific backs came away in the best passing bout of the game, lmt the movement was not completed. The final whistle then sounded, the scores reading:— Kaikorai 5 Pacific 2 Mr C. Underwood was referee. ATHLETIC v. KAITANGATA. The match between Athletic and Kaitangata was played on a very heavy ground before a large attendance, and was the best game witnessed in Kaitangata for some time. Athletic owed their victory to superior handling of the greasy ball, and extra speed all round. In the loose play. Kaitangata more than held their own, but their passing movements always broke down, principally by holding on too long. Athlete kicked off, and the game had not been long in -progress when Kaitangata attacked and swept down to Athletic’s Ijno. A try seemed certain, but Forrester failed to hold the ball. From a scrum the ball was forced. Give and take play followed. Athletic secured from a scrum in midfield, and after a passing rush had taken place between the backs, Denniston scored. Sullivan’s kick was successful. Athletic 5, Kaitangata nil. Shortly afterwards Kaitangata were penalised for not playing the ball, and Sullivan made no mistake with the kick. Then one of the brightest parks of the game occurred. Oliver secured the ball from half-way, and racing down the touch line, eluded Thomas and Sullivan with sheer pace to ground the ball under bar. J. Orook goaled. Athletic 7 Kaitangata 5. Kaitangata livened up, and some fine play was witnessed on both sides, but failure to play the ball correctly lost Kaitangata two more points, Sullivan placing a fine goal from well out from a penalty kick. The spell ended 9 points to 5 in Athletic’s favour. The second spell opened very briskly, and Kaitangata were unlucky in not adding to their total, over-eagerness costing them another certain try. From this onwards Athletic had all the best of the game, their handling of the ball being very good. Webber secured in the loose, and passed to MTlroy, who transferred to. Thomas, the latter bustling his way over. Sullivan failed with the kick. Athletic 12, Kaitangata 5. Almost from the kick off M‘hae scored from a forward rush and Sullivan goaled. Kaitangata still held on gamely, but Athletic were playing a fine game, and after several promising movements, \l‘Kay secured and faced for the corner register Sullivan failed with the kick. Athletic 20 Kaitangata 5. Play then shifted to the other end of the field, where from a high kick Oliver secured for Kaitangata, and, heating one or two men, raced down the field to score again between the posts. He converted his own try. Athletio 20, Kaitangata 10. Kaitangata came back with renewed vigour, and play was of a fairly even nature from this onwards. Athletio managed to add to their total before the final whistle sounded. From a fine passing bout, the ball passod through the hands of all tho backs, Denniston being the last to receive to go over in a good position. Sullivan converted, and the game ended : Athletio ... 25 points Kaitangata 10 points Mr J. Leggett wus the referee.

SECOND GRADE. Pacific A 16, Pacific B nil. Christian Brothers 8, Athletic 4. City 15, Kaikorai 3. AUCKLAND v. SOUTH AUCKLAND, AUCKLAND, June 27. The League football trial match. Auck* land v. South Auckland, was something it| the nature of a fiasco, as Auckland led by 35 points to three at half-time. The Aucklanders strengthened the southern tear* in the second spell, which ended, Auck* land 49, South Auckland 15. Other League results were: Tramways 3, Ponsonby nil. Northcote 4, North Shore 3. NORTH ISLAND REPRESENTATIVES, AUCKLAND. June 27. The North Island League team to play the South Island is as follows:—Full-back, Duftv ; three-quarters—Littlewood, Desmond (Wellington), Davidson; five-eighths, M, NVetherall, 11. Cole; half-back. T. Peckham; forwards —E. Herring, Townsend, Singe, Hutt, Clarke, Avery. CHRISTCHURCH GAMES. CHRISTCHURCH, June 27. Hornby 35, Marists 14. Wnimairi 24, Sydenham 8. Addington 28, Woolston 7.

Athletio 6 5 0 1 117 32 11 City 6 5 1 0 149 34 10 Christian Bros. 6 3 2 1 82 73 7 Kaitangata 6 2 4 0 44 99 4 Kaikorai 6 2 4 0 32 107 4 Pacific 6 0 6 0 28 108 0