LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

Observer, Volume XXXV, Issue 47, 31 July 1915, Page 10

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

League followers had a splendid programme provided them last Saturday, and the enterprise of the management executive in securing full control of Victoria Park was well rewarded. The general conditions for play left little to cavil at.

Two senior matches were played at the Park ,and resulted: Grafton, 15, v. Newton, 9; City, 13, v. North Shore, 7, while Ponsonby journeyed to Otahuhu and inflicted a defeat of 18 points to 9 upon the home thirteen.

The championship is now placed in a more decisive state, with City and Grafton level for first place. Ponsonby are two points behind, but the ultimate issue for the season's honours can safely be reckoned between the present leaders.

Grafton and Newton were given pride of position in front of the stand, and, while the match did not provide a thrilling and exciting exposition of the codie, the resultant

Another feature of Newton's forwards is they all did their bit in the scrum but the same cannot be said of Grafton. In this respect Warner is a sorry offender, and its no wonder when, after easing off there, he shines so well in the open.

The passing of the Grafton backs does not leave a great deal to be desired. Generally speaking, the players were always in position and took the leather well. The fault that does want rectifying is the selfishness occasionally exhibited by a couple.

Newton backs failed' miserably when it came to passing. Their work was marked by too much of the "chance and chuck" order. Then again, position is a lost art, and especially with Biggs selfishness predominated. In tackling Grafton showed to advantage, but the weaker efforts of Newton proved expensive. The red andl whites seldom exhibited much certainty in their hold of an opponent.

Full-back J. McGregor fielded in fine style, and although inclined to do a gallop managed to get in his kick to advantage.

D. McGregor was in rare form, and from the start set off in great style. His defence was sound but it was his aggressive work that won such gokleni opinions. He raced and cut through the opposition in an electrifying manner. His kicking was exceptionally well judged, and more advantage should have been made by club mates of some of his efforts in this direction.

Ifwerson's generalship meant much to his team. He was ever dangerous. Once in possession of the leather, he would swerve past and' open a dangerous attack. It is a pity other members of the team do not adopt his unselfish methods. One tit-bit of the match was his run down the line with McGregor in the se-

cond spell

Haddon, at three - quarter, strengthened the line. He showed a fine turn of speed, and proved difficult to stop. His try was well deserved. In the second! spell he showed an inclination to hang on to the ball.

lies was best of the five-eighths.

While Roiope put in a lot of fine work, he nullified other chances by trying to gO too far.

J. McDonald was great at half, and opened some fine attacks, always sending the ball out well.

Mitchell and Hayward deserve most praise forward. The outstanding features of Rogers andl Warner have already been mentioned. The forwards are all too inclined to offside play.

Virtue was weak at full-back for Newton. He seemed unable to cope with McGregor's kicks and fumbled the ball badly several times.

There is not a great difference between the trio in Clark, Rope and Williams at three-quarter. Their efforts were moderate.

Polter was best of the five-eighths, and) fitted in well with half-back Farrant.

Bennett was the pick of the forwards. The burly skipper led his men in fine style, and seized every opportunity that offered.

Of the remainder of the vanguard it would be unfair to individualise, for they all worked strenuously throughout.

play was full of incident. Tlie best team won, and in the back division the superiority prevailed. The margin of points was fully justified. Newton had the best of matters forward, especially m .scrum work. The reef and whites' vanguard were altogether cleaner in their tactics. A set of hard, willing forwards, with pleny of dlash. in their work are greatly appreciated', but among Grafton's vanguard are players who would find themselves, more conspicuous m the football world if the energiesdevotedto the man were turned to the ball instead. Off-side play is another weakness and of. the breaches mentioned Rogers is the worst offender.

City Rovers defeated! North Shore by 13 points to 7, placing them a dead heat with Grafton for the championship The play was and B } MWe a the superiority of the City forwards, _ -~7 . n. , ■, t, i Williams replaced Brooks at five-eighths. D. Kennedy took his old place in the team, centre three-quarter, instead of Mincham, which strengthened the City's backs considerably. There were j two tries 6COred duri one f Cit b R^ka f ai fpom a scramble, and one fob Nicholson after a { the bal] trayel . ft Bcru ' m to Morgan, to Stewart, to Paul, to Mason, to Nicholson, who outpaced the opposition and scored. The rest of the points were made up of goals', E. Asher kicking five and Paul two. McAneny, full-back for Shore, was very safe. He is a convert from the Soccer ranks, and is a decided acquisition to the League. He takes the ball well, is a good tackier, and kicks with judgment with both feet. He is perhaps a trifle light, but makes up for it in gamenese. Nicholson, wing three-quarter, played well', but had not much to do. He possesses plenty of pace, and is a good scoring man.

Mason, a Maori, is another new member for Shore. He is an exSouth Island reip., and with a few more matches will considerably strengthen the Shore backs. He is very fast for his weight, takes the ball l well, but has a nasty habit of running across the field, thereby crowding his backs. Otherwise his play was good.

Fyfe, on the right wing did not play up to his standard, and seemed to have a day off.

Stewart, five-eighths, is not the same man he was before the accident to his shoulder five weeks ago, but as it is still weak, one cannot blame him for not getting into his work as usual until he thoroughly recovers. It is a pity that this player is not sound at present, as he is one of the best five-eighths Auckland has. Morgan, at half, was sound, and did all that came his way satisfactorily. He did not have too many chances, as City were getting the ball most often in the scrum. With the exception of Walters and) Bailey, the Shore forwards were not up to their usual standard', but these two players played hard, heady games, Bailey in particular showing to advantage. Boylan, at full for City, played his best game this season, and filled the bill to a nicety. His kicking was a feature of the match. Opai Asher, wing, who is still suffering with a severe cold, was only fair. He missed the ball on different occasions during the first spell ? but livened up considerably towards the finish, and was playing up to his best form.

V. Barchard, the other wing threequarter, was not up to his usual standard. He seems to have a tendency not to get into the play, and does not seem to get going as fast as at the beginning of the season. Kenneally was the best back on the ground, and, together with Williams and G. Asher, played nice football. These two backs are a decided acquisition to the City team. E. Asher (half) played a good game, in fact the best game he has played this season. His handling was good, and he is to be reckoned with when the representatives are selected this season. All of City's forwards played' well, and it is hard to individualise, but perhaps F. Tresize was the best. His hooking was better than usual, and he appears to be mastering this department in the League game, and if be succeeds as well l as he did in the Union games he will be hard to beat. The curtain-raiser to the NewtonGrafton match on Saturday was played between Sunnyside 111. and City A 111., resulting in a win for Sunnyside by 9 points to 7. This puts Sunnyside in the lead for the championship, one point ahead of City A.

Doran, who played a good game, scored all the points for City, a converted try and a penalty goal ,and for Sunnyside W. Parker scored and W. Dalton kicked three goals.

City Juniors beat Ponsonby Juniors by 22 points to 8, which establishes t'liem in the lead for the championship by 4 points. Tries were scored for City by W. Davidson (2), Postlewaight (1), Sheehan (1). Lunn (1), Dixoni (1), and W. Davidson kicked three goals, and for Ponsonby Boswell scored 1 and kicked a goal and Innes scored a try.

Ponsonby Fourths beat Sunnyside Fourths by 10 points to nil.

Tries for the winners were scored by Hobson (1), Minnogue (1), and Winters kicked l two goals.

At the meeting of the Council of the New Zealand Rugby League held on Monday night a discussion ensued upon the question of playing representative matches this season. The following motion moved by the chairman, was carried:—

"That this Council is of opinion that tmless the challenging leagues andl the Auckland League, the holders of the cup, can agree to devote the net proceeds of the matches to either the Hospital Ship and Wounded Soldiers' Fund, or some other patriotic purpose, no representative matches should be played this season."

An application was received from the Wanganui League asking for a grant for ground rent. The council decided to vote it £30.

It was decided to present Messrs R. Benson and A. Ferguson with badges for acting as referees in intercolonial matches and matches against the British team.

The well known and popular secretary of the Auckland Rugby League, "Bob" Spinley, has joined the ranks of the Benedicts. The best wishes for future success from all Leaugeites are tendered Mr and Mrs Spinley.