LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

Observer, Volume XXXV, Issue 38, 29 May 1915, Page 10

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

The third round of the Auckland Busby League's championship competitions was decided last Saturday under wretched weather condition®. The senior matches resulted: North Shore Albion, 7, v. Graf ton Athletic, 7- Ponsonby United, 14, v. Newton Rangers, 2; Otahufru, 2, v. City, 0. So far as Northern Unionists were concerned, all road® led) to Victoria Park, where North Shore Albion and Graf ton Athletic were drawn to try conclusions. In anticipation ot a first rate frame, and despite the adverse weather, there was a record attendance. The resultant play was ■highly interesting, quite m keeping with. tfi« importance of the occasion. Both teams had an unbeaten record!, which now remains, but on the day the marine suburb's players were unlucky in not gawiii-ng a wm. Coming to the indlividual players for Shore. Stewart, five-eighths, and Westan, three-quarters, were best. The Tear division all worked well, and! generally handled the leather better than their opr>onents. Haltback Morgan was in fine form, playing a heady game. Most prominent of the forwards were Chatfield and Walters They were ever on the ball, andl led a lot of useful invasions. J. Paul, with a roving commission, was always in the limelight. His goal kicking is of great value to Shore. As usual, Ifwerson got through an immense amount of work in the back division of Grafton. J. McGregor was perhaps the brightest, but D. McGregor is too confined to Rugby methods'. McDonald, 'half, was very clever at times. Warner and Mitchell claim forward honours, but a couple of others, though hard workers, are too inclined! to "mix things." < It is not football, and! its omission, is greatly appreciated by spectators. Ponsomby added further championship .points to their 'list at the expense of Newton. The allotted time for play was spent at the Domain, where the worst of conditions prevailed. The pliay resolved itself into a hard, strenuous struggle among the forwards, and does not call for comment. The winners were the better team, and thoroughly deserve the success gained. At Otahuhiu the home team accounted) for their visitors (City) by 2 points to nil. As tihe teams took the field in the first spell a heavy

wind, accompanied by rain, blew straight down the field. The locals hadi the advantage of the wind and ground m the first spell, and quickly rushed play to their opponents' territory, which became the scene of action for tihe major portion of the spell.

The new ball wae in, itself a handicap, but whero the leather _be<mmie greasy players Jfound it impossible, to throw it about. The one exception was Fischer, who handled the ball with remarkable success.

Three free kicks to Otalhnhxi through off-side play by Rukatai raiised the home supporters' hopes, but in each case the uprights were narrowly missed 1 . City opened' a promising forwa*rdi rush, which was abruptly ended through off-side play. Another free to Otahulhu saw Farr'elily entrusted' with a shot at goal from the half-way line, and, to the delight of his supporters, the leather flew between the uprights, and registered tlhe only score of the game.

The opening of the scoring account brought a fresh complexion on the game. The backs started handling the sodden ball, and threw it about in a remarkable manner, but half-time ceased) all anxiety.

The wind and rain increased in fury as the second half opened. Otahuhu were keeping the ball down, while t!he City backs on the other hand would kick high at every opportunity. The City tactics had the effect of making the ?ame much faster than wae expected on such a diay.

The two sets of forwards played well right through, although the weight of City proved too much for the locals.

In open work OtaTvuJhu beat their opponents, while McOallum and Richardson stood out most conspicuously.

In the second spell, Eustace, the speedy and safe wing three-quarter, exchanged places with, Spence. This enabled) the" full-back to show his defensive abilities, and he was often noticed in fierce grips with the redoubtable Aeher, as he made desperate bide for a try.

Fischer a,nd Farrelly played well throughout, and shone particularly in defence.

An unfortunate incident, and one that no doubt will call for inquiry. The referee, Mr Demipsey, had been giving ;a good! lexjhfibiitilon until he disallowed a made to Spence. This caused a. hostile demonstration amongst the juvenile section of the ba.rnackers. From then the referee seemed! to lose control, with the result that a lot of exchanges which should' have been put a stop to took place in the scrams and close forward tussles.

Little can be said- about tlie showing of the City players at Otahnhn on Saturday, as, with the exception of Opai Asher, the play was wretched.

Mincham handled the greasy ball fairly well, but his tackling ? was very weak, as was also Boyla'ti's at wing tbreequarter.

V. Barchardl, five-eighths, was fair, but was inclined to hang on, too long. Oity would be well advised to play him on the wing.

Rukatai, who was brought <wt of the scrum, was the other fiveeighths, and although he played a heady game none of the other players seemed to thimk it worth while following him.

Tresize was the best of the forwards.

At ia recent meeting of the Auckland' League a letter was received from the Otahnhu dub complaining about the uniforms some of the team® are wearing. The suburban club went to a lot of expense to comply with the League's rules and their players take the field am a mofit creditable manner. It is manifestly unfair thlat certain teams have disregarded the rule. Otahxihu are to be commended! upon their action, and it is pleasing to note the League has decided to take stringent action with the offenders.

One club, Ponsonby. possesses several offenders who will receive the warning to oaet their jerseys asidte.

The New Zealand League xuma/nirnously decided! to accede to the Auckland Centre's request to uplift the disqualifications upon all players serving their King and Country. The recommendation, by the Auckland Centre that no further action be taken regarding the dt&lifting of the disqualifications upon Childs, Harker and Knox was adopted! by the New Zealand League. With regard to Knox he wrote the Auckland Centre disclaiming amy liability in the application to remove his suspension. It seems hard to understand hie action in this miatter when his connection witih the Sunn.yside Club as auditor is considered. Mr Alf. Seccombe, of Lion fame, a. vice-president of the Auckland Centre, hae been nominated for a similar position on the New Zealand League. The application from W. Williams for a transfer from, the Newton Club to Thames Old Boys has been refused. W. Davidson was regraded from the third to fourth Ponsonby team, but Tickner's request was refused. The City Council, in reply to a request from the League to place a fence around the main ground at Victoria Park, stated that no funds were available for the work. The League decided, provided' the necessary permission was granted, that in the interests of the patrons of the sport to erect the fence at their own expense. The splendid work done by the members of St. John's Ambulance in attending injured players has met with the greatest appreciation by the Auckland Centre. A contribution is always made to this ueeful organisation andt as a further recognition it has teen decided to reimburse members of the Ambulance Coma with travelling expenses. No doubt other sports bodies will' make a step in the same direction. In future to ensure that all players possess the regulation < jersey the Auckland League has decided- to indent for all clubs this portion of a player's apparel. It n's certainly a big move but should be only means of definitely dealing with a vexed! question. City Councillors have evidently found! the game attractive, for eleven have accepted the invitation to attend the matches.