LEAGUE RUGBY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16454, 16 June 1921, Page 3

LEAGUE RUGBY.

NOTES ON THE GAMES, (By ‘ I SCRT7MOTTT. ’’) Th© active brigade were again favoured with fine weather for their fix--Inr<?s last week, though in the majority of instances- they hod complaints regarding the bard state of the grounds. Tlio recent rain tv ill be of advantage this week. Tho competitions were of considerable interest, though tho Senior teams did not rise to tho*sparkle of previous fixtures and Die team work was below standard. Tn tho -Junior grade Kain.poi and Hornby were both successful, and retain their lead for the second competition premiership. Fa oh of the leading teams in the. third grade series suffered defeat, and ibis will provide additional interest- to followers of this grade. Addington fourth administered the first reverse met with by Federal in the fourth division. FEDERAL (18) v ADDINGTON (9). The Addington team met Federal on their own ground, and chiefly owing to a hard game by their forwards the Federalites avenged tho first- round reverse; The Magpies’ supporters were confident of their team’s success during tho week, but when it was stated that "NY. Green was unable to play their stock fell heavily. R. M‘Kenzoc was elevated from, the fourth grade to aplace in the backs. If there arc others or the same physique and ability available tbe clubs have prospects of bright futures, as this player displayed promise. The Federalites did not field their full strength, as in addition to the absence of "VV. J. Mitchell, two of their best, forwards were missing. The game was evenly contested. In tlie close play tbe Federal forwards had tlie advantage, whilst in the loose open play the .Addingtonites made play merry. The game scc-sawcd until the concluding stages, when the weight of the Federalites bad its effect and they had the Magpies well beaten. Though T.otb sides heeled out, tlie back play wos- inconsistent. The Federal fiveeighths hung to the ball too often, and kicked frequently when team p?ay would have benefited the side. The Addington backs made a promising start, but tbov began to scratch early and some of their fielding Was inc'.ffercnt. Kiiiso, Kane, Pabi, Healey, JVheeler and Worsfold played best for Federal. Tbo first-named should pass more to bis supports. For Addington. "Watts, M’Kenzic, Goodman, Sanders. Smith and M’Lcod pat in a lot of dash. The side are missing the services of J. Saucers. SYDENHAM (19), TIN WOOD (J 3 k The fixture between these old rivals was very similar to the many previous comes between the clubs. Tt was a hard go between tbe Sydenham backs and iho Linwood forwards. The Sydenham backs were scoring tries before the Lin-.v-iod men. could get going. Sydenham have won many matches by fast open play in tbe opening stages of each •spell, and will win more by this method. it is hard to understand tlie reasoning of their opponents. The Liuwoodites are well aware of this feature. yet they forget all about tho lnu;iiess after going ou the field. The fcyd( nham backs scored twice in tbe fir-t ter. minutes of each spell, and tbo other trios were gained, through tho it--Makes of their opponents. For the best part of the game the l.v.nvood fo r ward s d omi nat c d the pi ay, und-gjut a lot of energy into their efforts. If the team had been efficiently captained they would bare done better. b'be tries scored by tbe losers wore the results of hard individual efforts, » nr! through individualism the Linwooditos lost n loti of scoring chances. The live-eighths had a monopoly of the ball, and ran straight across to the side lines instead of trying to make ground.

For Svdenhnm, Marshall. Young, Kowo. King (2), "Vint-thews. Trudgeon and "Beere were always noticeable for good play. Gregory was the most capable man for Linwood, and r>ut in a lot of good work. Smith. Rates. HArvev. Marriott, Healy and Ball wore all triers. NOTES. Tbe Sydenham Club recently presented Mr Rurdom. the ambulance official, with a brief hag as sj token of appreciation for his services to pin vers at Sydenham Park. r l he. Governor-General. Viscount Jellieoe, was an interested spectator at tho Maritime-Maristfi fixture in Auckland last Saturday and enjoyed the fast game. Maritime beat the Green and Golds by 15 points to 8. The Auckland “Star” states: - There was so much private speculation about tbe movements of several wellknown players, who were said to have been either approached by the Rugby l uion or to have gone over to the Rugby game, that it was interesting to see that tin* personnel of the twin teams principally concerned included in to-day’s match Maritime and Marist Brothers’ Old Hoys—included the players involved in the rumour. It was recently published that overtures had been made to IT. Tailored, the captain of the New Zealang league team, to rejoin the Union ranks. Tt is interesting to view the position that has arisen. When the League game was first introduced tho various Rugby unions in the Dominion telegraphed disqualifictions of players up and down the country, and the New Zealand Rugby Union sent letters to players who had given up the game but who were assisting the new code to show cause why they should not be disqualified for life. To-da; they are seeking the services of the players whom they can entice back. The farce of tlie w hole business is with the New Zealand Rugby Union. They freely re-instate players like If,verson. Herring and others and then notify -Singe, the crack Auckland forward, and M 'Flwee, of the."West Coast, to show cause why they sßall not h© disqualified. The New Zealand and Auckland Rugby Unions have m> monopoly of this, either. There are several ex-Leaguers in the local Rugby Union matches each Saturday. 1 know; of four playing in tlie Senior competit ions. The local secretary notified me to-day that tbo first representative match of the present season will be played on Saturday week at Sydenham Dark between the Wellington and Canterbury teams. Tho northern representatives are credited wit-h being a far better side than they had last season, and they have issued a challenge to Auckland for the Northern Union Challenge Cup. The Petono Club are to play Ponsonbv for the Dr Thacker challenge shield, and this fixture will probably be played at Carlaw Park. The Australian -papers to hand are by no means flattering to tho New Zealand team, and critics are of the opinion that it is the poorest set >of . backs that has represented the "Dominion. Tlie large score obtained by New South Wales against the Dominion, team was due to poor defence. The collaring must have been mediocre, as the New South-Wales half, D. Thompson ran through where and when liepleased. It was then but a question of each back passing and handling tho

ball to score. Davidson was the only New Zealand back that was credited with approval. Tbe result, of tlie game againstQueensland last Saturday doc- not put the New Zealanders in a favourable light, as they were beaten by practically the same team that they bo easily defeated in Sydney in the triangular tests. JUNIOR NOTES. (By “ KIWI.”) The competitions were continued last week with some reversal of form iu the Third and Fourth Grades, and there is going to be some strenuous games in the Third Grade before the competition closes- Addington delighted their - supporters by downing the hitherto unbeaten Federal Club in the Fourth Grade, though to followers of form the result was not surprising, as the western suburbs thirteen, alter an indifferent start, have improved wonderfully and are developing into a line side. They have some enthusiasts in tho team, and in R. 51 Kenzic a plaver of promise. The Junior results still leave Kniapoi and Hornby in the lead. The former beat a weak I.inwood side last week easily, though the Linwood team are to be commended for giving the opposition a. good practice run. Hornby bad no difficulty in adding Sydenham to their list ol victims, though the south suburbs bad a moderate side. The game was a gilt to th© Blacks, though they failed to utilise it for tlie most useful purpose, that of building up a passing back coidAvou were also iu the position of being drawn against weak opposition, and they ran up a good tally of points. The game that attracted most attention was that between A\ oolston and Addington at \\ oolston Park. ft was n hard 20. rsulting in a win for the homo side bv two points. Tt was solidity and weight that won the gain© for the royal blues, w hose forwards did good work. The backs will require to adopt a lot t.f improvement in their combination to beat the leading teams. Tbe Addington side displayed a bet ter knowledge of tbe rules and finer points of tbe game . Tn the Third Grade Templeton surprised Hornby, and. playing their best game to date# tho hTyo and blacks dethroned the Hornby ires. Sydenham put up a good score in lowering tbe Tvaiapoi team’s record, and the results wall give additional interest. to the future fixtures Sydenham. TCainpoi. Hornby and Templeton are now in tbe leading positions. "Woolston had an easy win at Jdnwood’s expense, and Avon defeated Addington after a good game.