League Rugby.

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 675, 29 May 1929, Page 15

League Rugby.

Notes QTici Comment.

N«xt Saturday'* games: Newton v. Devonport. M. 0.8. v. City. Ponsonby v. Ellerslie. Kingsland v. Richmond. King's Birthday The Management Committee of the Auckland Rugby League has not yet come to any definite decision concern,nL. the arrangements for next Monthe King’s Birthday. It is on the cards than the Shore Leaguers have offered their services for a match Cariaw Park, and the committee Mill have something definite tq announce after its- meeting: this evening. The Richmond Club is quite keen to *«nd a team tip to Hikurangi on Monday to take part in the seven-a-side tourney, -which is to be arranged, md from what can be gathered at the present time. it. is almost certain that Richmond will bo represented in this competition. It is also possible that a junior side will the trip. A few days ago, to Mr. and Mrs. •’Dooley” Mc-ore, a son. Both well. Congratulations, “Dooley.” On Saturday Ponsonby was without the services of two of its prominent forwards. Both Stevens and Fagan wire away nursing injuries, but expect to be ready for next Saturday*. Veteran Leaguer Delgrosso heads the scoring list in the senior grade. It is with his kicking that he has managed the majority of the points. On Saturday he managed seven goals. Minch am. the speedy Richmond ■nznger suffered an injured ankle in the early stages of the game against ghore last Saturday, and he is now or the insurance. lie is expected to be ready to take the field again in the near future. # Advantage or a Bye With the addition to the senior ranks of the Kingsland-Athletic side this season, there is now an even number of teams participating in the senior division, and consequently there is no bye. which in past sen sons has rendered Leaguers an occasional day of. This fact has given place to' considerable comment among many of The players, who would now appre- ■ elate a bye in the senior competition, i * * * £vens for Second Ponsonby is at the present time running level with Newton for second place in the competition, but with the Ponies meeting Ellerslie next Saturday, and Newton meeting Shore, it appears that the Ponies have a good chance of having second place all to themselves next week. . .ipid v. Richmond At last, the playful cupid rages war on the youthful Richmond thirteen. The versatile five•iflhth, Hanlon. is the first to suffer the effects of the onslaught, for he has announced that he will

b« unable to turn out in the game against Kingsland - Athletic next Saturday—that being the great day. Today, however, J. Swift, also of the Richmond Club, who played on the wing last season, joined the ranks of the benedicts. Where Was He? Where was Tim Peckham on Saturday? Possibly that’s his business, but nevertheless the fans have put the question. It was announced in these columns last week that he had been granted a transfer. and would be turning out for Kingsland-Athletic, •'•uch was certainly expected to be the case, but on Saturday everything in the garden was not lovely, compli‘.ion.s net in, and it was quite amicably decided between the secretaries ef the two clubs to cancel the transfer. And the answer to the above question is: Tim Peckham was on the sideline, a spectator. Otahuhu Presentation The members of the Otahuhu Rugby League Football Club attended a pleasing function during the last weekend, when Mr. Ken Ltppiatt, chairman committees, was presented with a handsome chiming clock on behalf of his club mates in view of his approaching marriage. Mr. J. Nicholson, president of the club, eulogised the good -ervices rendered by Mr. Lippiatt during the many years he has held office, and in asking him to accept the gift from the club members in recognition of hi* valued efforts expressed the hope that the recipient would see his clear to continue the good work he had carried on for so long. Vk Lippiatt thanked the members for me beautiful gift, and assured them 1118 services will always be available for the welfare of the club.

Wanted—Fullbacks tv.r t T lbaCks of ou tstanding- merit in are fcw S Pnf me , at , the Present time is feeliriir is one team which the shortage and it has its °and is also in a it would* ’ho 1S * trying to decide if custodier* ™ iSe ma ke Hanlon the teams ?5 ain - Then there are other fac«l Lh e Senior competition also course vL\L hC Same Problem. Of lone La ” ls c ‘ uite contented as , a_s it has the invincible Duftv I Khore ha,‘L ye ° n the back line - whill its ehoiL? L reason to rejoice over a°reiiab? tba I ' have'quuf sF’st’ssr. pssgsr^ * # * Knigsland-Athletic has not vet fielded a fullback of the ability requited in senior League. The voung | ream s attempts to And a good man for j tne hardest position in the side must be written down as dismal failures in | tiie main. Last Saturday Hemmingj son, a rormer grade Richmond player j was tried out, but he was scarcely at j home when the barbed Ponsonby bar[rago smashed at him. The previous I r a Vi rday ' ,1] was Haydon who failed m the position. There is bound to be speculation as to what Kingsland will eventually do in its efforts to build up its defence. * * * Feeble Tackling i 1* lashing Ponsonby back movements . v. -re just what was needed to show the public—and Kingsland—how costly nigh tackling can be. Ponsonby taught Kingsland a lesson, and JJelgrosso, McIntyre, and Co. found a wealth of opportunity when they dashed away lroni the Kingsland insides, of whom Longville, although lie is distinguishing himself as an undeniably good scorer, is most often caught napping on defence. Kingsland, despite the runaway victory for the Ponies, still reveals th&t it lias the material. Actually, Ponsonby had a harder task than the scores show. Some of the young team’s attacking manoeuvres were of very fair class. Defence is what should be concentrated on, • After Shore’s Scalp ; Most of the now usual 10,000 pairs jof League spectators’ eyes will be j eagerly waiting the tussle between Ponsonby and Devonport. Ponsonby is j laying in stock to stall the allconquering Shore men, and Ponies, in fact, are building up a reputation which may stand the closest comparison with Devon port’s in a week or two. Devonport can scarcely lose sight of the powerful challenge flung out. The seasiders are not likely to be caught off their guard. Just as Ponsonby has shown, through the nattiness of Mci Intyre in his halfback play, and Delgrosso in his judgment and experience, , that it has an extraordinarily tine set of backs, Devonport has shown, as City i will testify, that it lias an iron defence. Clever Olliff I Olliff, the almost inimitable Ellerslie half, is one player at least who has deserved the praise lavished on him for his sturdy work. Ellerslie can thank Olliff more than anyone for the comparatively good play of its backs |in tho last few matches. Ellerslie has played several substitutes in the backs j lately, and until the line is settled the 1 team will have trouble in striking winj ning form.

Well Satisfied The City Club authorities are well satisfied with the service they are receiving from Steve Watene, the former Manukau Rugby fullback, and this is not surprising. Rapidly overcoming an expected strangeness after his introduction to a new code, the Maori player is beginning to build up a reputation. His dash pleases the crowd. The True Brisbane As pleasing as any other piece of League news is the knowledge that Brisbane, the International and Marist back, is working back into form with each match. After a slow start, he is again demonstrating the characteristic Brisbane breaks through a defending line.