LEAGUE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3773, 6 July 1926, Page 51

LEAGUE.

SATURDAY’S MATCHES. Three First Grade Rugby League matches were played on Saturday afternoon. under favourable weather conditions. With a team greatly strengthened Pacific showed up well against City, which was a weakened side owing to the absence of some of their players in Auckland. The garao was played on the Caledonian Ground. Pacific had City on the defensive for some time in the second half. City’s trouble appeared to be with the inside backs, who showed an inclination to kick too much. The standard of play in the match between Christian Brothers and Kaitangata, taken all round, was poor. Christian Brothers gave occasional flashes of their true form. P. Prescott (Kaitangata’s star performer) made a reappearance for the miners, and played a sound game'at fullback. Athletic experienced no difficulty in defeating Kaikorai on the Oval. «. The games resulted aa follows: City ,J 15 Pacific 7 Christian Bros 8 Kaitangata ... 3 Athletio 20 Kaikorai 2 POSITIONS OF TEAMS. The following table shows the positions of the teams engaged in the senior competition : Point!

CHRISTIAN BROTHERS v. KAITANGATA. Kaitangata kicked off, and Christian Brothers immediately set up a strong attack, carrying play to the visitors’ line. The Green backs were then seen in some fine passing bouts, which looked dangerous. The defence, however, was solid, and Kaitangata worked their way back to neutral territory. Kaitangata were awarded several free-kicks at this stage for scrum infringements by their opponents. Kaitangata carried play to Christian Brothers' twenty-five, where Boj ’an secured and made a dash for the line, but was thrown out near the corner. The visitors were awarded a free-kick immediately afterwards, and Prescott made a good, but unsuccessful, attempt to goal. From a free-kick to Kaitangata the ball came out to Cusack about the twenty-five, and he made a smart uash down the line and scored near the corner. Cusack took the kick and sent the hall nicely over the bar. A few minutes later Christian Brothers broke away again, the ball being handled smartly by the backs. It was 9ent on to Woodhouse, who was brought down almost on the line. . T. O’Connor then picked the ball up quickly and pushed his way over to score. Cusack failed to convert. Kaitangata had the best of the game during the next few minutes and carried play to Christian Brothers’ line, where the Red backs made sl.enuous efforts to score, but the defence could not be pierced. When half-time was called Kaitangata were attacking in their opponents’ twenty-five. Christian Brothers 8 points, Kaitangata nil. After resuming Kaitangata shifted play to Christian Brothers’ twenty-five, where the Greens were kept busily defending for some time. After some loose play in midfield, T. Crook kicked the ball and beat one of the Christian Brothers’ backs in the race for the line, the Kaitangata man scoring. Prescott took the kick, the ball going outside the post. Kaitangata continued to attack strongly. Biid play hovered in Christian Brothers twenty-five for several minutes. The Green full-back secured, and eluding a number of opponents, wo.led his way to Kaitangata’s territory. The resulting play was uninteresting, both sides fumbling the ball badly. Kaitangata worked their way to Christian Brothers’ line, where T. O’Connor secured and raced away. The ball was bandied by several Green backs, and one got over the line, but a scrum was ordered for an infringement. Kaitangata again worked their way down field, due mostly by short kicks by the forwards. From a free-kick Pree cott attempted to goal from a difficult angle, but the ball failed to rise. Kaitangata kept up a strong attack, and two force-downs resulted. A bright bit of passing by Christian Brothers looked promising, but Bennetts, on the wing, failed to take a pass, and the Greens lost a certain score. A passing movement by the Christian Brothers’ backs broke down near Kaitangata’s line through a forward pass. When the final whistle sounded a minute or two later Christian Brothers were pressing home a strong attack. Final scores:— Christian Brothers 8 points. Kaitangata 3 points. Mr C. Snow was referee. CITY vTpACIFIC. Pacifio set the ball in motion, and worked their way to City’s twenty-five, where play hovered for several minutes. Pacific were awarded a free kick for an infringement, aud L. Davis sent the ball over the bar. City were now seen in a strong attacking movement. The ball was passed out to Hunt, who sprinted for the line, but he was brought down within a yard or two of his objective. Almost immediately afterwards City were awarded a free kick for an infringement, and Jaoobs sent the ball over the bar. Keen made a good run down the line, and was responsible for taking play to City’s twenty-five. City again worked their way to Pacific territory, where Jacobs kicked another splendid goal from a free kick awarded for t an infringement. The suebsequent play was not very interesting, both sides relying too much on kicking instead of passing the bail. The City backs were then 6een in a good passing bout, which almost ended in Hunt scoring at the comer. Pacific cleared, G. Davies making a spectacular run down the line. Play hovered about midfield f or some time. City then worked theeir way to the Pacific twenty-five The ball came out to Robertson, who was tackled lust outside the line, but he pushed his wav over. Jacobs failed to add to the score. City now had their opponents hard pressed. The ball, after being handled by several of the City backs, came out to Robertson, who-—ran out of bounds near the corner. Another rush by City resulted in M‘Cabe being grassed almost on the line. A penalty kick enable Pacific to clear. Halftime score: City 7 points; Pacific, 2 points. Pacifio set up a strong attack on resuming, and play centred in City’s twentyfive for several minutes. Several scrums were formed near City’s line, and Maxwell was almost over. A penalty kick to City enabled Clydesdale to clear his side City had Pacific hard pressed for some time, when Timlin kicked the ball down the field, and the ensuing rush was only stopped in the nick of time, Almost immediately afterwards L. Connolly made a strong run down the line and got over at the corner. Tait, with a splendid kick, sent the ball over the bar. Pacific worked their way to City’s twenty-five, and Maxwell, taking a pass smartly, potted a neat goal for Pacific. Timlin made the opening for Maxwell. City worked their way to Pacific’s line, and the ball came out smartly to M*Cabe. who fed his supports, and Watt scored near the posts. Jacobs failed to convert. The ball again travelled quickly down field, and Pacific forced matters. Keen secured near the line, passed out to Hair, who nushed his way over to score. Keen took the kick at goal, but the ball struck one of the posts. Again Pacifio came away with a rush, and had their opponents defending desperately for several minutesIt looked as though Pacifio would increase their score, but the backs did not handle tho ball very cleanly, and City succeeded in withstanding the repeated onslaughts until the final whistle. The game ended: City 15 points. Pacific 7 points. Mr G. Childs controlled the game. ATHLETIC v. KAIKORAI. The meeting between Athletic and Kaikorai resulted in a decisive win for the former by 20 points to two points. Owing to the slippery condition of the Oval the foothold was very uncertain for running. There was little or no passing, and speculative kicks were ieeely engaged

in. Athletic before very long asserted its superiority, and the climax of some solid work was passing between Webber, MTlroy, and (Jallan, which resulted in the last-named getting over. D. Sullivan failed with the kick. Almost immediately afterwards M’Kay scored well out, and Sullivan converted from a difficult angle. Very little time had elapsed when another score was added by Athletic from a bout in which the chief participators were M‘Kay and Callan. Sullivan failed to convert this time. Kaikorai’s forwards by means of a series of rushes got near their opponents’ line, and from a scrum five yards out a Kaikorai player was carried over, but was unable to touch down. Athletic very soon shifted the scene of action to the other end of the playing area, and M‘Kay got through and scored at the corner, the kick by Bullivan failing. At this stage Athletic was 14 and Kaikorai nil. In the second spell play was confined to Kaikor*'i territory, the Athletic backs being particularly active there. M‘Kay scored an easy try, but was not converted. Kaikorai then became aggressive, and from a penalty Mackay sent the ball over the bar. Kaikorai continued to press, and Mackay went near scoring, Callan knocking the ball out at the corner when a try looked certain. Athletic attacked, and from a scrum Webber got across, the try remaining unconverted. No further score resulted, and play ended in midfield with the scores at: Athletic .. 20 points. Kaikorai 2 points. TRIAL GAMES AT AUCKLND. AUCKLAND, July 3. Two trial games in the Rugby League code were played to-day at Carlaw Park with a view to determining the players to be chosen for the forthcoming tour of England. The North Island beat the South Island by 31 points to 22, and the B trial team defeated the A team by 25 points to 16. There was a large attendance, estimated at from 18,000 to 20,000. The chief interest centred in the interisland match, though players in both games were eligible for selection, and obviously some certainties were included in the A and B match. The North Island team consisted of 12 Auckland players, Desmond, Wellington, being inclu *ed in the three-quarter line. The South Island fielded a great team of forwards, but the majority of the backs were not up to the North Island’s standard. The pace and expert handling of the ball brought success to North against formidable opposition. The scores at half-time were 18 to 12 in favour of the North Island, and the totals were subsequently brought to 31 to 12 by clever, fast back play. Cole, the North Island five-eighths, and Peckham, North Island half, retired injured, leaving the North with only 11 men. They were then well tested, and had to work hard to avoid defeat. The South, however, put on Only 10 more points. The A and B trial game provided good football, the final being: B 25, A 16. FURTHER TRIALS. AUCKLAND, July 3. Two more trial matches have yet to be played before the final selection of the team to tour Britain. On Wednesday Auckland will play a team representing the southern leagues, and on Saturday an A and B trial match will be played. In the last-mentioned match the B players whose positions in the touring side are assured will not be included in either team. The southern team for Wednesday’s match will include Eckoff, Hickey, Vorrath, and Thomas from Otago. GAMES IN CHRISTCHURCH. CHRISTCHURCH, July 3. Hornby 37, Addington 12. Sydenham 18, Marists B 6. Marist A 37, Waimairi 8. QUEENSLAND DEFEATS NEW SOUTH WALES. BRISBANE, July 4. Queensland defeated New South Wales by 3S points to nil. NEW ZEALAND COUNCIL MEETING. AUCKLAND, July 1. A letter from the Auckland Rugby League dealing with the proposed alterations to the rules caused considerable discussion at the meeting of the New Zealand Rugby League Council to-night. The chairman read an extract from the constitution, which stated that after the termination of the first round of a competition no alterations to the rules could be made unless all the clubs concerned were agreeable. He himself supported and pro posed amendments to the play-the-ball rule and the touch-down rule. Mr E. Stallworth, Auckland, said his league was keen to keep-pace with pro gress, and in view* of the success of the game in Sydney he moved that the council should give the request every consideration. Mr E. H. Mair, who said he was greatly impressed with the new rules, pointed out that the English League had rejected amendments as played by the New South Wales League. Several delegates supported the suggestion, and it was decided to grant the request, the rules to come into operation after the trial games. A long discussion arose over the trial game to be played next Wednesday between Auckland and a combined team. The chairman wanted to know which players would constitute the combined thirteen. Mr R. J. Stirling said it was proposed to select the combined team from tho New Zealand team. He suggested several other players should be brought from Canterbury. Mr Stallwortliy said the council was in duty bound to .give the Auckland players another game as a team. Two of the selectors agreed that Auckland should play New Zealand. Mr Mair, however, favoured another game between the North and South Islands. It was eventually decided to play a match Auckland v. New Zealand. The Chairman said that at present no information waa to hand regarding the itinerary of the New Zealand team in England. Mr H. Millard’s suggestion that a cablegram should be sent to the English League requesting immediate notification of the definite itinerary aa aoon as one was arranged was agreed to.

Athletic ... .. P 7 W 6 L 0 DP A FP 1 137 34 13 City 7 6 1 0 164 41 12 Christian Broa. 7 4 2 1 90 76 9 Kaitanguta 7 t S 0 47 107 4 Kaikorai ... — T 2 5 0 36 127 4 Paoifio ... ... T • T 0 35 123 0