LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

Observer, Volume XXXVII, Issue 49, 11 August 1917, Page 10

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

The Auckland Rugby League, commenced the annual Roope Rooster competitions on Victoria Park, last Saturday, before an attendance oi 5000 people, Newton- defeating North Shore by 24 .points to 6 and City beating Waterside Workers by 13 ooints to 7. v ; Neither .game calls for much comment, both exhibitions being very one-sided, resulting in the most uninteresting football seen at the I ark for some seasons. Owing to recent enlistments, North Shore found it difficult to place a team in the field—but with the. aid of one fourth grade_ player and a couole of juniors, ultimately brought their number up to the required 13. Newton attacked from the beginning in fact, with one or two exceptions they were attacking the whole time —Thomas scoring a try soon after th<* commencement of the game; Potier failing with the kick which was a good one. Shortly after, - Potier redeemed himself by kicking a very fine penalty goal. ; Newton's lead was further increased by Cloke, who by side-step-ping and cutting in, beat four or five of the defence and scored a very meritorious try, which Potier again

converted. This player added two more to his total shortly afterwards with a penalty, kick—just before half-time, Tobin scored an unconverted try, placing Newton in the lead at half-time by 15 points to nil. In the second half, G. lies commenced early by scoring a try for Newton—the kick failing. Then came one of the very few bright incidents of tho game. Nicholson (Shore) intercepted in his own 25, and breaking through punted over the full-back's head, then in a good' race for the ball, scored ani exciting try (the first for Shore) amidst loud applause. The kick failed. Soon after this, Williams and G. lies scored again for Newton,whilst Neighbour added 3 more points to Shore's total, the game ending 24 points to 6 in Newton's favour, after a very poor exhibition of the code. On No. 2 ground, City met the Waterside Workers—the exhibition being as one-sided as the other match, Waterside Workers lacking knowledge of the finer points and combination. City, who seemed to take the match as a joke, scored 13 points in the first spell—Eustace scoring am unconverted try and McKubery and Davidson scoring a try each— both of which E. Asher converted from the line with good kicks. With about ten minutes to go Waterside Workers attacked, and from a penalty, Curtis landed a goal. Soon after this, Watersiders again attacked, their forwards falling over the line in a body, together with five or six of City's men and, after the referee had sorted the players out, he found Tierney on tho hall, giving Watersiders their first try in the match', which Farrant converted. Soon after this the whistle went time-up with City .attackimg,, leaving the total 13 points to 7 in City's favour.

Criticisms on the players are uncalled for as the games being such ]X)or exhibitions, nobody stands out for any special mention.