LEAGUE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3783, 14 September 1926, Page 53

LEAGUE.

By

FORWARD.

NOTES. J. Blackaby, who was injured in the Otago-Cahfcerbury match, is now convaleseont (says the Christchurch Star), but he

will bo unable to wear the Green jersey again this year. He will be a great acquisition to his club next year. Christian Brothers should now win the medal competition with any luck. They are a fine team taking their play over the past two years. The freedom with which they throw the ball about is very attractive, and they will not be begrudged a victory as they have knocked at the door for two seasons for premiership honours. The Monica Park Board of Control has agreed to take charge of the Hornbv Club’s trip to Dunedin to play City for the Gore Challenge Cup. The Christchurch team will come to Dunedin by motor on Friday. October 1, play here on Saturday, October 2 and return home on the Sunday. For the past couple of seasons the League code has not made the progress in the Waikato that one expected, seeing what a solid footing the game is on in Auckland. Though South Auckland could field a useful side, it was never within points of tho best Auckland thirteen. However, the return to the fold of 36 Huntly players who have been playing Rugby should offer material which can lie utilised to strengthen the South Auckland team, and the match, which they are booked to play against Auckland in a few weeks will bo awaited with interest.

Gate receipts for matches on August 7, in Sydney, were:—Cricket ground, £553 17s fid; North Sydney, £153 4s; Wentworth Park, £95 12s 9d; Marrickville, £BS 12s; total, £893 6s sd. On the corresponding date last year the total was £277 19s sd. The increase for the season up to the date in question has been £5674 5s 7d. The shares or tho different clubs up to August 7, were:—South Sydney, £1689 3s 4d; University, £1022 Os 9d; Glebe, £983 9s 4d; Eastern Suburbs, £864 6s lOd: Western Suburbs, £722 14s sd; Balmain, £660 4s 2d; Newtown, £578 9s Pd; North Sydney, £555 12s; St. George, £551 6s lid. While we shall have to await the end of the season before a true statement of the gate receipts at Carlaw Pqrk is available (says the Auckland Star), it is pretty safe to offer the prediction that a fresh record will be established. Right from the opening of the season the attendances have been greater than in other years, and though visiting teams invariably show a loss, even allowing for this, the A.R.L., there is every reason to believe, could show a very happy statement just now. It is to be hoped that the support of the public continues right to the end, as the League is desirous of starting on a big scheme of improvements.

That the standard of the League game is higher in Auckland than other parts of New Zealand has Been revealed by the interprovincial games that have been played this season (says the Auckland Star), but both (Jtago and Canterbury impressed by their methods, and the big leaven of youth in one southern side augurs well for the future. This season the game in Auckland has reached a relatively high plane, although there is still room for improvement in the back play in the matter of backing up and crisp handling, which was so ably demonstrated here bv the New South Wales touring team of 1913, the British team of 1914, and the brilliant Queensland combination last season. Superior pace and more finish to the attack gave Auckland a goed win against Canterbury on Saturday week. The challengers. while they made a great fight in the first spell, could not sustain the pace set, and the local men dominated the game in the second spell. The visitors have yet to learn that possession and ability to keep the ball form the outstanding features of League football. In the first spell at least three more tries should have been scored, but on each occasion a back elected to kick, and therefore gave the Auckland men the ball. The Auckland thirteen is not invincible, and Canterbury had a great opportunity of running up a good number of points bad the visitors passed more and kept possession, for Canterbury had a big advantage in winning the ball from the scrums.

NORTHERN UNION CUP. The Northern Union Cup, emblematic of the provincial championship of New Zealand, has been held by Auckland since 1914 (says the New Zealand Herald) and has been won bv only one other League—South Auckland—during that long term. Many stirring contests were witnessed before the Great War, when Auckland had visits from strong teams representing Wellington, Taranaki, Hawke’s Bay and Canterbury. The great fight Wellington made at Victoria Park in 1914. when the southern team just failed to lift the cup, only a bare point separating the teams, still lives in memory. Since the war ended Auckland has shown marked superiority over all visiting teams. It was expected that, this season would find Canterubry in a position to place a strong team against Auckland, but the absence of five players with the New Zealand team, together with the inability of three others to travel to Auckland, weakened the Canterbury team’s chances considerably.

IGNORANT OP FINER POINTS. In both the Otago and Canterbury teams there are many young players who, with a little more experience, should develop into fine footballers (says the New Zealand Herald). There is no denying the fact that the true League game is not plaved by some of the southern teams. When opposed to Auckland, visiting teams have been handicapped by a lack of knowledge of the finer points of the game. Reviewing Die two games played against Auckland, it ia evident that the individual player from Otago and Canterbury is as good as most of the Auckland men, but the finish to team-work is absent. The benefits derived by the players on the trip to England should greatly assist tho southern leagues and put their football on a par with Auckland. The controllers of the League game are fully alive to the wants of tho southern leagues, and, should 6nances permit when the touring team re turns, tho council should seriously consider the employment of English or Australian coaches. Auckland, for the time being, is in the happy position of being able to look after itself, and Auckland players have had a bettor opportunity of learning the finer points of tno codo, but attention is urgently needed in the south, and it is to bo hoped the council will take a step in the direction suggested.

TOURING TEAM’S ITINERARY. The New Zealand team’s tour will open on Saturday with a match against Dews* bury, one of the weaker teams in the British Rugby League's competition. The first Tost game has been placed very early in the itinerary, and the tourist* will

need to quickly pick up their best form to have any prospect of success. The complete list of matches is as follows : 1926: September 11, Dewsbury; 15, Leigh; 18, Halifax; 22, Castleford; 25, Banow; 29, Widnes. October 2. first Test, at Wigan; 6, York, 9, Warrington: 13. Featherstone; 16, Hull; 20, Bradford N.; 23. Oldham; 27, Leeds; 30, Si. Helens Rees. November 3, Salford; 6, Huddersfield; 10, Bramley ;13, second Tert match, at Hull; 17, Wigan Highfield; 20. Batley; 23, Keighley, 27, Swinton; date not fixed. Lancashire County. December 4, Wales, at Pontypridd: 8. St Helens; 11, Wigan: date not fixed, Yorkshire County; 18. llunslet; 25, Pontypridd; 27, Broughton. 1927: January 1. Hull K.R.; 3, Rochdale II.; 8, Cumberland County; 15, third Test, at Leeds; 22 Wakefield Trinity; 29, England, in Paris. PRINCE OF REFEREES. The retirement of Mr Tom M'Mahon, veteran Rugby League referee, following upon a leg injury, sustained while officiating recently, removes an outstanding per scnality from the winter game. Recognised as the League’s prince of referees, the crowds, as well as the players, will miss him, says the Sydney Evening News Mr M'Mahon has had a long and inter esting association with the Rugby League, for he joined up in its first season, in 1908, and after officiating in second grade games, quickly forced him self to the front rank, in which he occupied a position of 17 years. From 1908 until the present season he has controlled practically all the big League engagements in Sydney, including matches against England, New Zealand, and Queensland, and his striking success with his whistle will ensure for him for all time a big place in the memories of Sydney’s League football. Mr J. Quinlan, a Rugby League official for many years, and joint manager of the 1911-12 “Kangaroos,” declares that Mr M'Mahon is the greatest referee he has ever known. “ I have known some great ones.” he says, “such as J. F. M'Manaway, R. A. Miller, Tom Pauling, and Norman Martin, of the Rugby Union; Fred Heulen Tom Costello, and Laurie Kearney, of the Rugby League; and Robinson and Enyon, two of England’s best, but none of them, in my opinion, has been quite as great as Tom M'Mahon. “ He has had a remarkable career, with all representative matches against three English teams, Queensland, and New Zealand sides, over a period of 17 years, and though Enyon may rival him in the matter of years of service, lie has not had so much first-class work as M'Mahon.

“ One could not pay a greater compliment to Tom M'Mahon than to say that he always had the confidence of all sections, and one never heard English or other visiting teams objecting to him having their matches. So much was his ability recognised that he has actually been taken to Queensland to referee a final match up there, as well as to other centres.” Tom M'Mahon, he goes on, was not only so quick yet correct, but always most determined in his decisions, and this fad was quickly recognised by players, as well as by officials and spectators. With it all, he is as popular as a man as well as a referee. Mr Quinlin declares that he would place M'Mahon first of all the referees he has known, with M'Manamey, Robinson, and Enyon just behind him. NEW ZEALAND TEAM’S FIRST MATCH. LONDON, September 8. The New Zealand League team against Dewsbury on Saturday will be Duffy, Sanders, Davidson, Gardiner, Desmond. Cole, Hall, Herring, Carroll, Singe, Paterson, Mouatt, and Avery. The members of the team feel that they have derived considerable insight into the finer points of the game as a result of W agstaff’s coaching.