LEAGUE RUGBY.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 733, 16 June 1916, Page 2

LEAGUE RUGBY.

MOTES OF THE WEEK. The Management ComicHtee of the Canterbury Rugby League welcomed last, Saturday two prominent League enthusiasts from the West Const, and bade farewell to Mr Griffin, the Addington delegate, who was going to the Coast. The Northern Suburbs' team has had the bad luck to have to withdraw from the competition, owing to the club being left with only four playing members, the rest having enlisted. A. Brunsden was made a life member of.the Centre Committee, in recognition of his past; services. When thanking the committee for the honour, he stated that, though having to withdraw for this year, there would be a Northern Suburbs' team, he hoped, as soon us the boys were back. The old trouble with referees' .deei sions cropped up again at, the centre meeting, and it was decided to call the referee, line umpires, aud captains of the teams concerned before, the committee at to-morrow's meeting. This means a lot of argument for nothing, as the committee has no power to reverse a referee's decision. Referring to the patriotic match, which, it was suggested, should be played by a team composed of League players at Trentham, Dr Thacker wrote to the centre, asking that the Canterbury

committee should send a team first to Wellington, and then, he thought, a return match could be played here. The League Council seems at last as if it will take up the matter of badges.

('. R. Sinclair, late of the Northern Suburbs' Club, who is now in Auckland, writes that the code is very strong among the young fellows in that city, and the Ponsonby Club is doing everything possible for the youths and schoolboys.

A schoolboys' matter was before, the Canterbury Centre Committee last Saturday. It is said that a teacher in one of The biggest schools in Christehurch would not. allow any boy who plays League to touch the football which was used in the playground, as it was the property of the Rugby Union, and also that, when asked to inform the scholars that membership of a certain club was free to boys, he simply announced that they could see the games free. The centre decided that the boys in question should be supplied with a ball, aud a Rugby Union boy should be allowed to kick it if he felt so inclined, the owners having no jurisdiction over boys who desire to kick footballs which come in their wav.

The second round of matches were played last Saturday in idea football weather. The chief match in the junior competition was between Federal and Sydenham, anil, after a strenuous game, the former won by '2O to 10. Federal, chiefly as the result of solid forward play, soon shifted play to Sydenham territory, and from a scrum Porter passed to Cunningham, theu to Murray, who transferred back to Cunningham, the movement ending in Cunningham scoring a try, which was converted. After some give-and-take play, the Sydenham backs secured, and, mainly through the good play of Gaston and Brunsden, the latter scored and also converted his own try. Play at this stage was keen, resolving into a struggle between the Federal forwards ami the Sydenham backs. Cunningham, however, soon got an open run down the line, and, outpasing the opposition, scored a good try. Sydenham returned to the attack, and, after good play by Matthews, Brunsden, and (Hover, the latter scored. The whistle blew at half-time with scores at 8 all.

Play in the second spell was lively, but Federal was leading all along, and succeeded in placing two more tries to its credit. These were converted, and a penalty goal was also scored. Sydenham also scored a penalty, play ending in Federal's favour by L'O. to 10. Mr A. Morris proved an efficient referee. Old League players will be sorry to hear of the death of F ("Joe'.') Moore, who was buried at Sydenham Cemetery on. Wednesday. At one time Moore played-for the Albion, Club under Rugby Union rules, but the League took his fancy. He was one of the delegates for the Addington Club since its formation, and did good work. He leaves a wife and one child. RAMBLER.