RUGBY LEAGUE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3994, 30 September 1930, Page 48

RUGBY LEAGUE.

By Forward. REVIEW OF THE SEASON.

Subject to the possibility of challenge matches for the Gore Cup and the Thacker Shield, which concern only the Christian Brothers’ Club, the season in Dunedin has practically reached its end, the only fixture remaining being the match on Saturday between Christian Brothers and a combined team for the benefit of the unemployed. At the beginning of the season the prospects were fairly hopeful, but towards the finish there wer e very decided signs of lack of interest on the part of many players, whose conduct must have been discouraging to the officials, who have tried hard in the face of strong opposition to foster the code in Dunedin. The first setback was the defection of Kaikorai, which came as a surprise, as last season that club’s senior team put up some really good performances, while the juniors shaped very well. One or two other clubs found a difficulty in securing recruits to take the place of members who were retiring from the game, and this seemed to have a discouraging effect on those who were left to carry on. The visit of the British team invested the Rugby code with special interest, and possibly this had something to do with the position in which the League clubs f/und themselves. The two exceptions to the genera] rule were Christian Brothers and Kaitangata. The former wan stronger than ever, and the country club finally upheld its reputation for keenness.

The standard of play was probably somewhat better than it has been in the past, and at times some very interesting games were witnessed, but most of the teams were inconsistent, making a good display one week and shaping very poorly on their next appearance. The outstanding team was Christian Brothers A, which has improved steadily year by year. The members of this team fully deserved their remarkably successful career, for they were always thoroughly trained, and devoted considerable attention to acquiring the art of playing League football as it should be played. Their combination was excellent, and every member of the team had the faculty of opening up the game whenever an opportunity came along When it came to passing movements every player could be counted on to do his share. Christian Brothers are the only players who have exploited the reverse pass to the full extent, and the adoption of this style of play has enabled them to have matters pretty well all their own way The superiority of the champion team was very marked, and may have been responsible in some measure for discourag ing other teams, which were frequently hopelessly outclassed. Christian Brothers never once made a poor display, and they thoroughly deserved the honours that fell to them. There are some very promising players in the club’s B team, who will worthily fill vacancies in the A team when the older players retire. Th e Kaitangata players are entitled to credit for the enthusiasm displayed by them and for the many fine games which they playe'd. On most occasions they put up a really good fight, and occasionally lost just because they lacked the ability to drive an attack home. They were never discouraged, and played the game in the tru e sporting spirit. Athletic also showed a keenness that was most commendable. Hie other clubs were hampered at times by the inability of players to take the held; and this fact may account to some extent for the lack of interest displayed towards the end of the season. At the ™pe time, several players showed an indifference that was no credit to them lhey should realise that if anything is worth doing it should be done thoroughly and with keenness, and if they cannot display any enthusiasm they should leave the game alone. Lack of training was too much in evidence during the season, and there were many instances of players taking the field without having a chance of standing up properly to a hard and last game.

There is one feature of the game, the importance of which a great majority “V 4 J i et S?' as P e d> though it has been stressed almost weekly. I refer to the deplorable weakness in tackling. Week after week spectators have seen the same detect, which has been a most expensive one from a scoring point of view. Attempts to tackle round the shoulders or neck are absolutely futile, and as Ion" as players persist in such methods they must realise that three or. four men wiil be required to stop one opponent. The Otago Rugby League’s lease of the Caledonion Ground will expire at the end of the present month, and next season its own ground in South Dunedin will be ready for use. What th e future of the code in Dunedin will be it is hard to say at present. If the game is to be kept alive more players must be secured, and those who participate in it must show move interest than many of them have done this season.

A word of praise is due to the referees, who have done excellent work throughout the season. No doubt they have made mistakes, but they are entitled to take credit to themselves for having given satisfaction to all concerned.

SUSPENSION OF DUFTY. The appeal of the Ellerslie Club against the suspension of C. Dufty by the New Zealand Rugby League was dealt with at the last meeting of the controlling body (says the Auckland correspondent of the Chiistchurch Times). Dufty was recently suspended during the pleasure of the New Zealand League. Proceedings were taken in committee, after which the following statement was handed to the press: Dufty was suspended for refusing to play football. He was selected as a member of the New Zealand touring team to play Auckland, and he endeavoured to force the New Zealand Rugby. League Council to pay him, for playing by means of a threat. Dufty carried the threat into effect and did not play. When called upon for an explanation and given an opportunity to explain he was defiant.” A request was also received from the Auckland Rugby League for the reasons for Dufty's suspension. It was decided to convey the reasons given through the Auckland League to the Ellerslie Club, and to add the following statement:—“The New Zealand Rugby League Council has, and reserves unto itself, the right to deaf with players and all matters relating to players under its control, as it deems" advisable. Further, the council is fully conscious of the fact that it has a duty to perform in the administration and control of the code in New Zealand.”

AUSTRALIAN TOUR LESSONS. A recent issue of the Sydney Referee made the following references to the New Zealand team: —

“There is a lesson to New Zealand in this tour. The team embraced some good talent, that is a few young, natural footballers. But it did not know quite too much about the fine points, and apart from that the team was inferior to the players on this side of the Tasman, and many are tolerably old players, “ The truth is that some of the New Zealanders were very good players, that others could be made very good players with coaching and experience, that they must cultivate team-work of the nature the Kangaroos have revealed since their return from England, and some of the finest club teams show in Sydney.

“ The Kangaroos are a glorious team, and it is no reflection on New Zealand to be defeated by thirtecns whose strength is mainly Kangaroo. “ New Zealand has lost ■ to greedy English clubs some of the most brilliant players. This attitude by the English Rugby League is indefensible.

“ But it is an attitude the New Zealanders will have to combat, or they will develop high-grade players only to see them drawn into the net that takes them to Yorkshire or Lancashire. It is practically the same net that has taken cricketer C. C. Dacre to Gloucestershire. It is a net that holds no national sentiment save that which cash can talk.

“New Zealand needs good coaching for the younger players, strong, well-organised clubs in its Rugby League centres, a more virile rivalry for the interprovincial honours, and the calm judgment of leaders who know there is a higher standard to reach and that it has to be reached if -they are to hold Australians and English teams. They need coaching, and an objective with spirited interprovincial rivalry.”

SATURDAY’S BENEFIT MATCH.

The final League football match of the season took place at the Caledonian Ground on Saturday, when a team representing the Christian Brothers Old Boys' Club met a combined team from the other League clubs in the city in a benefit match, the proceeds from which were devoted to the fund for the relief of unemployment. The ground was in fairly good order at the start of the game, but the ball quickly became greasy, and after the shower in the second half it became very difficult to handle, with the result that the game in the final stages was very ragged.

For the first 20 minutes of the play the Christian Brothers were confined to their own territory. The ball was being freely thrown about, but numerous chances were lost by the Combined team through speculating. At length B. O'Connor broke away, and after a good run up the right wing threw infield to Pearce. The pass went astray, and play swung across to the opposite side of the field, where, after scrambling play, Culling got across. Pearce failed to convert. Christian Brothers, 3 points; Combined team, nil. The Greens kept up the pressure, and Quinn picked up from a scramble and passed to B. O’Connor, who went over. The same player failed with the kick. Christian Brothers, 6 points; Combined team, nil. Half time went shortly after. At the opening of the second spell Atkinson failed to field a hard punt, and Kean broke away, and when tackled passed to J. O’Connor, who put in a long run, but was pulled down on the line. However, B. O’Connor was handv. and he picked up and scored. The attempt to convert was a failure. From this stage the game fell away in the standard of play, and the final 20 minutes were marked by little in the way of combined effort, the players on both sides appearing to be tiring. No further score was registered, and time was called with the score:— Christian Brothers .. 9 points. Combined team .. .. Nil. Mr Percy was the referee. Two cycle races were run during the afternoon, one before the commencement or the game and the other at half time. The track had numerous pools of water on it, but notwithstanding. this some excellent performances were registered. The following are the results:— Two-mile B Grade Handicap.—J. Milne (200yds) 1, B. Thomas (210yds) 2, H. Annison (210yds) 3.

Two-mile Open Handicap.—J. C Fogarty (scr) 1, H. G. Cooper (100yds) 2, J. Milne (200yds) and J. Taylor (120yds), equal, 2.

GAMES IN CHRISTCHURCH. CHRISTCHURCH, September 27. No Rugby Union games were played to-day, the season having ended. The League games resulted as follows:— Addington 30 beat Sydenham 14. Marists 16 beat Hornby 13. SYDNEY CHAMPIONSHIP. SYDNEY, September 28. Iff the City of Sydney Championship St. George beat Western Suburbs in a ding-dong game by 14 points to 6 points. Western Suburbs hold the minor championship, having won most points in the seasons dub competitions, and have the right to challenge St. George for a further test. This will be played next Saturday.