LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

Observer, Volume XXXV, Issue 51, 28 August 1915, Page 10

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

A further step towards finding the winners of "Roope's Rooster" was madb at Victoria Park last Saturday, when the Auckland Rugby League sent the Grafton and North Shore thirteens into the field.

The meeting of these teams throughout the Cup competition provided an interesting series of matches, and always brightened the treasurer's smile. No wonder then, when another chamce presented itself of seeing the keen rivals in action, and the "gate" was being devoted 1 to local charities that a large attendance of leagneites thronged the popular playing field.

It was whispered the Shoreites would place a strong team in the field, and so it proved. The olavers from across the water were the best team, and thoroughly deserved theiir success in a win by 17 point® to 13.

Botbe teams wore mourning bands for C. Savoury, C Bailey, Moki and Miller, League flayers who have given their lives in the fighting at the Dardanelles.

Grafton were favourites, but North Shore, who managed to put in their strongest team this season, played ,a fine game, and the issue never looked in doubt.

Grafton's poor© was made up of two tries by D. McGregor and one by Collins, K. Ifweneon converting one and kicking a penalty goal, while Shore's ooints were scored by Bailey (one), Nicholson (one), Mason (one), J. Paul converting two and kicking a penalty goal. Hamper also kicked a penalty goal l .

Shore's victory was secured by the superiority of their forwards. They secured! the ball most often in the scrum, and l in the open, were head and shoulders above Grafton pack, who seemed 1 to miss the services of Hay ward and Warner. J. McGregor, Grafton's full-back was fair. His tackling seemed to be a little weak. On some occasions his line kicking lacked judgment, but on the whole no serious fault could be found with his work. His obstruction methods, so much in evidence against Newton the previous week, were conspicuous by their absence in this match.

D. McGregor, wing three-quarter, was the best of the Grafton backs. The two tries he secured were very fine efforts, in fact his second try was the finest, in the writer's opinion, seen on Victoria Park. If wesson secured the ball, andl passed it to McGregor on, the right wing. The latter cut across with a lightning dash, passed clean through the whole of North Shore's backs, finishing by dlivimg over the line close to the goal posts. Unfortunately he struck his knees against the upright when making his supreme effort and injured himself somewhat. It was a brilliant try, a fitting climax to a brilliant match, and well merited the roTinids of applause that greeted him from the big gathering of spectators.

Ifwerson, at, centre three-quarter, did nothing to merit special mention, in fact, his display was somewhat disappointing.

Haddon, on the other wing, had little to do, but did it satisfactorily.

McDonaldi, at five-eighths, was out of his place, 'and one wonders why Grafton olays him at other than half, for in that position l he is good, while Isles, who played half, always shows out better at five-eighths.

None of Grafton's forwards call for special mention, except Mitchell, and then it is for off-side tactics. The novice can be excused, but in a New Zealand representative such tactics are nothing less than disgraceful.

On the other hand, Shore's forwards worked' like Trojans, Walters and T. Paul giving nrobably the finest exposition seen this season. The remainder of the pack assisted with marked! ability.

Morgan, the Shore half, was sound, although on one or two occasions he fumbled a little.

Stewart, who has been suffering from ill health during this last few weeks, pllaved a brilliant game, and, with D. McGregor, of Grafton, was the best back on the ground. The rest of Shore's backs all played, up to form, with the exception of McAnefny at full, who failed to take the ball: on numerous occaisions. Stil'H, his recoveries were .erood, and little ground! was wasted' through his mistakes 1 .

Special mention, should be made of Mason's try. He secured the ball in Grafton's twenty-five, and : , with a strong run, beat three or four of Grafton's backs, scoring at the goaill poet. It wais second! to McGregor's effort, and it will be a long time before League patrons see such brilliant tries scored in any one match.

The final for the "Rooster" will draw together North Shore and Newton. At the time of writing the date had not been settled for the match.

Although no inter-provincial League games will be played, several inter-union matches are set down for decision. The Thames reps, will be met at Victoria Park next Saturday, and the following week a return game will 1 be played at ihe Thames. In connection, with this game a sineeiail excursion will be run, and tickets will be available for return on Monday,

On September 11th the junior and senior Aucklandl reps, will visit Huntly, and meet the chosen players under the Lower Waikato Association control. The junior match will be played a® a curtain-raiser.

In view of the match with Thames next Saturday, the following team has been selected to represent Auckland:—Mcdymbnt, D. McGregor, Jones, Asher, J. Cross, H. Wynyard, Walsh, Walters, Bennett, Stanaway, Mitchell Rogers Collins. Emergencies: Backs. Boylan and Clark; forward, McWhkter.