LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

Observer, Volume XXXVII, Issue 52, 1 September 1917, Page 10

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

The club benefit put on by the League on Saturday attracted some 4000 people who saw a very fine open hut one-sided game between Newlon and City, City emerging victorious by 31 points to 11. City, who played four fourth grade players, kicked off with a strong wind in- their favour ar.d attacked right from the start. Davidson securing from the loose in the white's 25 and hurdling the full-back scored under the posts, easily converting his own try. Soon after commencement, Ruka.tai broke through with the ball at his toe and picking up handed it out to Davidson who again scored under the posts, Rukatai converting, making his side 10 to nil with about 10 minutes of the game gone Newton rallied a little after this reverse and carried play down to reds' 25 where the ball came out to their backs and Giles scored in a good position, Potier converting. Scores 10 to 5. City, helped by the wind, however, were not to be denied and the ball coming out to Clark on the wing he outpaced t the opposition and scored near the corner, Davidson, with a good kick, converting. From the kick-off the play again centered in the whites' 25 where, from a. scrum, Hogan, bialf-back, who was playing- good football, secured and giving a dummy pass raced to the line and scored a good try, Davidson missing with the kick. Soon after this, Weatherell bi-oke through and handing the ball to Stawaway at the right time, this player side-stepped the full and scored under the goal, Rukatai easily converting. The spell ended soon after this with City in the lend by 20 points to 5,

° - resuming the wind had not abated and Newton looked to have a chance, of making up their leeway.

Lovett securing and beating a couple of mem handed the ball out to Farrant who scored a nice try, Potier again failing with the kick.

City again took a hand in the play after this reverse and 'rushing play down to the whites' 25 Hogan secured from a scrum and passing out nicely to Weatherell, this player running straight beat the white backs and scored a nice try near the posts. He converted it himself.

The play then became very even and was full of incident, both humorous and exciting, when Cloke secured the oval and beating a couple of opponents scored on the destructor side, Potier, who seemed to have a day off, again failing with the kick."

Soon after this the game ended with City 20 points ahead owing chiefly to the manner in which they threw the ball about combined with what luck was going.

During the interval, a goal-kick-ing competition was held, Marks, of Graftoini Athletic Club, winning with 2 goals after an extremely poor display.

In criticising the players we will confine our remarks to City as Newton players seemed to be decidedly off. In fact, they did not seem to be trying.

Niccoll, full-back, is the full for City's 4th grade team and we do not wonder that they have never been beaten as he gave a real finished display, not making one mistake on the day.

The same thing applies to Weatherell, five-eighth, G. Davidlson, wing three-quarter, and S. Home, in the forwards. All these boys had just finished a hard game against Richmond, when City asked them to play iiiii their senior team, as they were short. They did so and gave a really fine exhibition, opening up the play well, Weatherell in particular playing a brilliant game.

The rest of the red backs, played well, H. Davidson being the best back on the ground. He is a tiger for work and was instrumental in, starting nearly all attacking movements.

"Rukatai and Mitchell were the pick of the red forwards. Ruk excelling himself, especially in the thick whilst Mitchell was here, there and everywhere, breaking up the Newton backs with his following up and tackling and, together with Davidson, starting attacking movements from all parts of the ground.

Rumour has it that Ponsonby will be pitted against City again next week. If so, the reds would be welladvised to play Weatherell as he is just the man they want at fiveeighths to open up their backs although he is, perhaps, rather light, he is by far too good a player to be in a fourth grade team.