League Rugby.

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1007, 25 June 1930, Page 15

League Rugby.

Notes and Comment.

Beginning of the Big Adventure The seven Auckland members of the N.Z. Rugby League team, and the lone Nortlilander, C. E. Gregory, IT. Brisbane, M. Wetherill, S. Watene, Len. Barchard. S. Clark. L Seagar. C. Duftv and E. Meyer will leave Auckland by express this evening to join the other members of the team at Wellington tomorrow. They will be joined en route by the six South-Aucklanders. Sailing On Friday The team will sail from Wellington on Friday by the inter-colonial passenger steamer Ulimaroa, for Sydney, where it is due on Tuesday next. July I. The players will have the remainder of the week to get their land legs again after the Tasman trip and get into form to meet the New South Wales side on the Saturday, July 5. Nelson Bass, former Auckland and New Zealand representative will probably line out with the City forwards on Saturday. Inauspicious Beginning—Fine Ending The last New Zealand team to tour Australia—in 1925 —had a most inauspicious beginning in Sydney when it was defeated in the first match by the University side which was then well down on the Sydney competition table. However, despite grim forebodings, the players made ample amends in the following match by defeating the New South Wales side at Newcastle. Captain Of New Zealand C. E. Gregory (Auckland) was appointed captain of the touring team at the last meeting , of the Council of I the New Zealand Rugby Football League and A. Eckhoff (Otago), vice-captain. Many expected that M. Wetherill (Auckland), who captained the three test teams against the English touring team in New _ _ Zealand in 1928, would be the man selected l'or the posi-

tion. In addition. Wetherill captained the North Island team against the South a fortnight Why Gregory Was Selected It appears, however, that the choice of a skipper was a wise one thus far, that it is by no means certain that Wetherill will be able to win a. place in New Zealand’s first thirteen for the moro important matches on tour. Wetherill, although still a great player, is obviously past his best, and on present form there is no doubt that Gergory will be one of the first men selected for any side to represent the Do'minion. The touring party is well supplied with efficient five-eighths, and Meyer in the form he displayed in the Northland-Auckland Challenge Cup match would no doubt be preferred to Wetherill, with Gergory as liis partner. This is on the assumption that Dufty will be in a position to hold down his job as a fullback, which he ought to be able to do with some serious training. Otherwise, Gregory might have to fall ' back. The Skipper's Career In Football Gregory lias had a long and distinguished career in Rugby football of both codes in New Zealand. Back in 1922, he was selected as an Auckland Rugby Union representative, but was unable to travel South witli the team. The following season, as fullback he played in 11 Rugby Union representative matches. He joined the Marist League Club in 1924, and the following season toured Australia with the New Zealand team. Again in 1926, he was to the fore and played fine football for the New Zealanders in the Old Country. He lias represented Auckland many times since then and is well fortified with a knowledge of Australian playing conditions. Easing the Burden The authorities have also eased the burden of the captain of the side by appointing a forward to act as vicecaptain. This means that Ecklioff will be able to keep the pack up to the mark and leave Gregory with a free had to look after the backs and keep one eye over the team as a whole. This policy of evening up the work of ca.ptaincy is one which has found general favour among teams of both Rugby codes in recent years. *• * # According to advice received at its last meeting the incorporation of the council of the New Zealand Rugby Football League is now complete. * * «s» The Halfback Position The action of the selectors in deciding to send only one regular halfback with the team for Australia is still the subject of lively, and for the most part, adverse comment in League circles. The 1925 team in the Commonwealth had two regular halves, Wilson Hall and “Pip” Webb, and at one stage of the tour both of them were on the injured list at once, which necessitated the playing of Wetherill behind the scrum. It is apparent, therefore, that the selectors have taken a gamble with chance, and it is to be hoped that luck will hold this time. O’Brien’s Only Chance It has been rumoured in some quarters that there may be an additional half added to the touring party before it leaves New Zealand. This is quite incorrect. The 22 players selected are absolutely final and only in the event of Abbot being injured early in the tour will another half be dispatched to the scene. The players have signed an agreement with the New Zealand League giving the managers power to return to the Dominion after a week’s holiday in Australia any player injured early in the tour, and have a substitute sent across. M. C. O’Brien, the West Coaster who was injured on the day of the selection of the team, j has been advised by the New Zealand Council to get himself into condition | again ns soon as his injury will per- ! mit. This can be taken to mean that | should any forward receive an injury [in Australia, O’Brien will be the first i man called upon to fill the vacancy.

The Mighty Fallen The Auckland Rugby League Is an enterprising body which caters well‘for its patrons and players both in many ways. This enterprise was appreciated on Saturday when the notice board at the entrance gates was inscribed with the simple story of the mighty fallen: Britain 6, All Blacks 3. On such occasions as those of great international contests many of the dividing walls of the two Rugby codes disappear, and it is safe to say that the thousands of League followers who streamed out the gates of Carlaw Park on Saturday were just a little disappointed that the elect of a sister code’s players had failed in tlieir clash with the Homeland men.

AH Blacks of Newer Brand However, All .Blacks of a newer brand will soon be starring on the playing fields of Australia, and who knows but that in spite of the most optimistic of well-wishers* hopes they also will need the condolence of the Dominion’s football public. The New Zealand League team will have a hard row to hoe in Australia. That goes without saying, in view of past experiences across the Tasman. However, we are hoping .... Auckland Championship Tabic Saturday’s matches in the Auckland Rugby League’s senior A grade competition left the championship table as follows:

Mr. C. A. Snedden, chairman of the council of the New Zealand Rugby Football League, will farewell the New Zealand team when it leaves Wellington on Friday. Newton’s Young Team Newton, although soundly trounced by a much more formidable Marist side on Saturday, has in the making a team which may take a big part in the League competitions in future years. The oldest Newton man on Saturday was 24, and the average age of the members worked out at 21. The youngest member, Hill, is only IS. With experience, the Red and Whites ought to be well able to take on the mantle of the great Newton teams of the past and figure again on the great heights

Vice-Rega! Patronage The State Governor of New South Wales. Sir Philip Game, made his first appearance at a sporting event in Sydney, when he was welcomed at the Royal Agricultural Society's ground by Sir J Joynton Smith, patron of the New South Wales Rugby League, and president of the board of control, during the recent Queensland-X.S.W. match. Sir Philip said that the match was the most impressive game of Rugby he had ever seen. • * s Two Rugby Union Men Ponsonbv has been fortunate in being offered the services of two Rugby Union men as recruits for its teams. I. Wilson, who played at fullback on Saturday and gave quite a good exhibition, too. comes from the Franklin district, which he represented against the Auckland B representatives last season. He is only 20 and scales 10J stone. The other Rugby man is P. K. Francis, wiio comes from Papakura. where he played the Union game. He is 23 and weighs 13 stone. Consistent Halfback “Shorty” Olliff, Ellerslie’s diminutive halfback, played his usual consistent game behind the Red. White and Blue scrum. on Saturday. and it was no fault of nis that Richmond triumphed. This player has shown great consistency In his play for the last two seasons and many supporters of the code would have liked to have seen him given a tryout in one of the recent representative trials. Charity Day at Mangere

The Ponsonby-Kingsland match is being 1 played at Mangere to assist tin Mangere Club in its charity day efforts The proceeds are to be devoted to the assistance of the dependents of a player of the club who have been left in a penniless condition as the result of the player being injured and having !r> spend n lone period In hospital.

Points. CTi p W. 1j. r>. F. A. Pts Maris t G 3 1 — 115 54 10 Ponsonby .... 6 4 - — Go SO S Devonport .. . 6 3 3 — 65 60 6 Kllersiie .... 6 2 3 1 65 64 5 Newton .... 6 2 4 — 73 90 4 Richmond .... 6 2 4 — 50 71 4 Kingsland . . 6 1 5 -— 52 99 2