LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

Observer, Volume XXXVII, Issue 41, 16 June 1917, Page 10

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

League football wag advanced another stage on Saturday, when the principal match was between City and Newton, Newton winning by 15 points to 13, after a very even "go." The ground was in firstclass order, and there was an attendance of approximately 4000 people. City won the toss, and for some reason played with the sun in their eyes, giving Newton an advantage. A. Isles drew first blood for the red and whites with a nice try which was not converted. City then scored a try which E. Asher converted, making the score 5 points to 3. Play then became very even, and after a number of skirmishes up and down the field, Rukatai touched the ball when about ten yards off-side, giving Potior (Newton) a free kick under the goal, which he made the most of, making both teams again equal, which was. the position at half-time.. On the commencement of play, City went to pieces for about ten minutes (which they have had a tendency to do during, this season), and before they recovered Newton rattled up another ten points through Tobin scoring two tries which Potier converted. City then "woke up," and play became very close and hard, and Clark, securing from a good passing rush, scored for City, E. Asher again adding the major points. After some more give and take play, City started another good passing bout in Newton's twenty-

five, Clarke again crossing, E. Asher just missing the goal with a good kick, leaving City 2 points behind, which was the position at the finish of the game. McSweeney, at full back for Newton, played a good game, his taking and kicking being very fine. He was not asked to tackle during the afternoon, so on that score cannot be. criticised. A. Tobin, wing three-quarter, played up to his best form of a few years ago. His tackling was very solid, and, considering he has not played for a couple of seasons, must be congratulated on a good showing. A. Isles, centre three-quarter, was one of the best backs on the ground. Some of the other players should take a leaf out of his book and run straight. All Newton tries were started by him. He shows a lot of pace, and always did something with the ball when he got it. Potier, wing three-quarter, played a hard game, and on defence was good. He has a tendency to try too many drops at goal when in. a good scoring position, and on one, occasion at least appeared to throw away a try by trying to pot a goal which did not come off, allowing City to get out of a very tight corner by forcing. Lovett, first five-eighth, G. Isles second five-eighth, and Laing half, for Newton, were not up to the standard of the other backs, Laing in particular not getting rid of the ball as desired, thereby starving a good set of backs. He should learn that when on attack he must throw the ball out to his men, not kick and give his opponents the opportunity of turning the tables. It is hard.to individualise the red and white forwards, as they all played well, Bennett perhaps showing out to the most advantage. We notice by the way that he has not yet got rid of his habit of appealing to the referee for some breach, his arm in the air being very conspicuous at times. For the City team, Clarke, Davidson and Sutton were the pick of the backs, they all playing good football, although Davidson is not getting down to the rushes as well as usual, but we understand is suffering from a weak back which might account for it. Special praise must be meted out to Mitchell, the lightest forward' in the competition, who was playing as an extra, back on Saturday, his fast following up and tackling being a feature of the match. He was unlucky on one occasion in not scoring, as he just missed the line by inches after a very fine effort. City's forwards were not at full strength through the absence of Francis, McKubrey and Avery, but still Reed and Barchard, the substitutes, did well whilst their condition lasted. This match places Ponsonby in the lead for premiership honours, and next week's match between City and Ponsonby will be looked forward to with interest. The crowd present was reminiscent of the old Rugby days and is a fair indication of the popularity of Northern Union football. The success of this game is due to several factors—good administration by the executive, the keenness of the players, the clean play demanded by the officials, and free amusement for the people. " ' The casual visitor must have wondered where all the people came from. Yet this same body of sports' have already supplied over 750 men to the colours. ' Some have died' gloriously, and others are to be seen sitting on the stand, returned men maimed for life. Roy Denize 1 , ex-Auckland rep., and late of the City team, is a regular visitor to the Park. . Though feeling the effects of Gallipoli still 1 , Roy cherishes the hope that in the future he may be able to don the jersey.

Archie Waddell, ex-City man, and late of Huddersfield, has. returned invalided. Shell concussion has left him with deafness. He te keenly following the games, and hopes to be able to relieve some, player before long. Dick Fellowes, late of the League Executive, is located at Rotorua. Writing to the League secretary, Dick talks of bringing a Maori team down to play Auckland. If his enthusiasm for the game is as big as when he sat on the League Dick's team will lie a good one.