RUGBY LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11717, 6 June 1916, Page 7

RUGBY LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

• NOTES AND COMMENTS. (By FORWARD.) Saturday .last being a public holiday, all matches under tho. auspices of the Canterbury Rugby League were-post-poned. • ■ V Many of 'the clubs had arranged for practice matches, which, howeycr, were not very vwll attended, the line 'weather, no doiabt, inducing many players to spend the- holiday out of town. * * The .play on Saturday was not of a very high <yrder. Players from the Second, Thi;rd and Fourth Grades nil played together, and this 110 doubt was responsible for the lack of cohesion shown. It M ould have been better had the tc-ains boeen given an hour's solid co a chin 12; by tho older players. V* Our younger forwards show a deplorable lack of knowledge as to what a forward slioidd do when the ball is heeled out of the serum. Most times they stand about to see what is going tg happen, and get in the way of their own backs("When tho ball is heeled out of the serum, tho forwards (should their own side have possession) should break up as quickly as possible, and go straight up-tho centre of tho field, where they will he in sx good scoring position should the attack swing 'in to tho centre. Shoui'd tho opposing: sido gain, possesion fronu the scrum, they should go down tho centre of the held toward their own gosd. This will leave their backs freo to break up an attack without having to watch the centre. " \' * * * * One thing they would do well to learn, and that is that to bo a successful forward .at the League code one must be. ablo to run and handle tho ball as well as a back player. « The card tournament inaugurated by the Federal' Club has been postponed, owing to the- 3iall not being, available. Pursuant tt> the. decision of tho gen- # * oral tho New South "Wales Itugby Leagtfic will allocate about; £3O of a recent .Saturday's takings to patriotic and <ohariiablo purposes. the amount is approximate, as all tho returns have U:ot yet reached headquarters, and it represents 10 per cent of tho gross gtfitu receipts from First Grade gamon. This policy will be pursued throughout the seasou. *»*

At Hull recently' Syd. Deanc-. the well-known Australian half-buck, of Hull Ciub, made an application lor a pafjsjjort to travel to Australia to join, im Australian contingent i'nitho front, II: was stated that Deanc had been :in Australia two years, and left there for England before the war broke- out. Tho magistrate complimented Deanc 'itj>ou his action, and granted the permit ision. Deano said he could not; join the Australians in England, and wanted to be amongst friends.

From ,a private letter received in Chris tell ttrch i learn that O- I?. Sinclair, wfl.no played i'or the Northern Suburbs Junior team last season, and who has. .since been transferred to Auckland!, has been suceesful in forming a Leuguo club among the telegraph messengers, with a membership of iii'ty, and the." majority of them players. Mr Sinclair pays a tribute to tho League official*-, in Auckland, who. he says, are keen rnqid v. Ide awake, and gave him every assistance.

The following are. the fixtures, grouncvi; and referees for next Saturday :

Junihr Flag.—Sydenham v. Federal, Federal (Ground, South Park, Air A. Morrf'i; Xortli Suburbs v. Lin wood, St Alhanj; Park. Mr R. Matson. Third Grade. -Sydenham v. Addington, 2 Cor Hi Park, Mr T. M'Clelland ; Linwond v. Hornby, at Hornby, Mr <l. Au'ld. " \ Fourth Grade. —Lirnvbod v. Addiiigton, at liinwood Park. Mr E. Ayling; Sydonlhiini ■ a b\o.

What, fn'o i,: .»>!• word " Farewell!" It- u '.lf, ot parliv..;, pain ar.d cad regret: It oft. <■(,iit ij ( . Hcuai of friendship's knell. Fur* i 'v.-nH, spelt this wt,y, means otherwise. Faro ' --fii v.-iui h>>.'ii:h make strength secufo li'-'-i 1 r?fl ! ip* »nd donc-ng eyes WrouiLt I i».v W -"Hi-i' J.\-p--ermi:it I'ur#- 8