LEAGUE RUGBY

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16830, 5 September 1922, Page 2

LEAGUE RUGBY

[s! Notes on the Game. GH

THE PAST SEASON. With th& exception of the Australian visit, the .-junior trip to the West, f’oast aud the postponed jxajne between Addington and Woolston. the season has concluded. The season so far as dub fixtures -were concerned, was one of the best seasons From a playing point of view that ha v s been recorded. Taking a guide from last season the code is in a very much stronger position than in any previous period and there is every reason to believe that next year ■will see a still further advance, as the youth who commenced their football careers under the code are no tv developing into first, grade members. It. is not only locally, but iu other parts of the Dominion that the game is progressing. In Auckland it is the popular draw for the public, and recent events have disclosed the great hold that it has gained from the players’ point of view, and the Northern Association with its own ground is in a sound position in all ways. Tt received over £>3ooo in gate, receipts this season up to near the completion oi the club matches. The Auckland League holds the Dominion record foi attendances and one which will stand for some time was when 3d,000 people witnessed the Auckland representative team heat the last English team. South of Auckland League footballer* have had their best season and it was a surprise to see the Waikato repres sentatives heat the. crack New Soutf Wales University. Hawkes Bay have improved and a* the Bay supporters are enthusiasts, they are sure to show further progress next season. Wellington have had to face stiff opposition with the forces opposed . to them and it has been a stern task to maintain their position. A change in their administration due to the older members being transferred elsewhere, at,first was "a c%et back, but the present executive, who are rare enthusiasts, have made a lot of progress lately and will re-open next season in a strong position. Opinions differ as to whether the standard of play has improved or not. Personally. I ain of the opinion that there is a decided improvement, especially the air fielding and ground fielding, and this will He further demonstated next season. No team can afford to carry players who cannot time and judge the flight, of the ball correctly. It 'is sound advice to all young players that one of the essential features to success is clean, smart, and safe catching of the ball. No ex- ! cuse be offered by a player who misjudges catching a football and this should bo borne in mind by all plavOne of the best features of the season has been the production of some youth of promise and the advent of Woolston is a typical ease. Though they showed promise they have a long way to go yet before they will win their first senior premiership. The youth is there with pace, and other essentials, but the chief assets of all is yet to ho grasped, speedy team play, team co-operation, and team tactics. The present individualastic ideas will be better in the discard. The Sydenham. Addington. Hornby. Kaiapoi and Linwood clubs have each won competitions, Sydenham having been successful in two competitions Of the whole series it has been the Sydenham fourth grade team that has shown the neatest approach to the code as .it should be played, and with these youths it has been team work : and playing to the instructions of their i coach that has been the principal factor of their success. All credit is due to these youths and their coach. Mr Craig, for the splendid form shown and there is every reason to predict further successes for the club having Ivaiapoi. who won the third grade competition, had a very strong team, one of the most powerful in any of the competitions, and their success was popular aud well deserved. They pra> tie-ally remained together from the time they started three seasons ago. when they won one match. They were-runners-up last season and won this year. With another season several of their members will no doubt be found in the senior grade, and from a physical point of view and with every facil itv for training, it will be a matter oi time only when the present third grad players, or a majority of them, will’ probably he in the highest grade team in senior football. One of the most popular wins of the season was attained by the Linwood fifth grade team, and their success was fully deserved, as these youths, who are of a good type of player, won their competition by their team play and co-operation. I am informed that the principal reason of their success was due to the excellent leadership of their team captaiu, W. Desmond. These youths played attractive football, and though some of the members include lads who are at school, they should have further successes in future seasons. Taking the teams in order of seniority, Addington c-omo first under review, and though their prospects of winning the premiership were freely spoken of at the commencement of the season and they made a fine start, being unbeaten at the end of the first round, a weakness on defence saw them beaten by Sydenham in the second round. In the second meeting a holding ground ham pered the light Addington backs, and the Magpies were again beaten by a narrow margin and missed the premiership. but they atoned for their loss by winning all their fixtures to date for the President’s Challenge Shield in the knock-out competition, though they have to again play Woolston in a fortnight’s time. The senior team won the majority of their fixtures by their team play and the speed of their backs, and being on the youthful side there should be many seasons yet of football with the majority of the players. In J. Sanders, the captain, they possess a player who has had the benefit of the best football, he having represented the Dominion, and lie was also a member of tho New Zealand team that toiired Australia last season. Though their junior team did not do as well as expected, a good side at times, and have some promising player®. They were weak ened by the seniors drawing on thei*' best players, two of whom, G. Falgar and TL Christenson, are capable members. The tviird grade won half oT their matches and have some promising youths. The fourth and fifth grade

teams hare .youths of promise, am' summed tip the club have had their most, successful season to date, which must be gratifying: to thoso members uho have worked untiringly for the interests of the western suburbs. Sydenham won the senior premiership having only one defeat recorded against them in the'opening round by Addmaifcn. The ro»-inclusin.n of W. hr** in the second round made a lot of difference to the team and it was largely due to his judgment and solidity that? ! the team secured the .’NFKcon Chip, j They possess a fine side of youthful meml ber.s who should be available tor some seasons yet, and with a strong \ot of junior players to draw on soutli suburbs should maintain their standard of previous years- From the inception of the code Sydenham have been strong but never more **o than during the present season. Their junior grade team made great improvement under the coaching of W. King and beat all hut the two leading teams, a position earned by team work and training. The third grade commenced brightly and after the opening round had favourable prospects, hut owing to lack I of support on the part of some of their j players, due it is alleged, to dissension, they went back. The fourth grade nor'' unbeaten, winning all of their twelve ! matches and scoring 318 points against I 37 points, a fine performance, that reflets the greatest credit on the players and their coach. They possess a lot of youths of promise who will be doing the club further good service in higher grades in future seasons. Their giade had a, good record and finished third in their competition.

Linwood had a team chiefly composed of junior players in the senior grade. However, the young members ""hare only to stick together and build up team work to occupy prominence in future seasons, The third grade have some promising youths and performed well at times, but in the fifth grade the club had a competition winning team and these youths fully deserved their success aa they played bright football.

From a winning position to in the senior grade was the fate of Federal and the old stereotyped saying, neglect the juniors for the seniors was never more apparent. When their principal senior players dropped out they did not passes;* the juniors to fill the vacancies and the retirement of W. I. Mitchell was a big loss. The team hail some useful players, but they lacked knowledge of team work and the forwards, though second to none in tight play, were not. of the type 'likely to win. The club have some promising youths in their fourth grade who should be useful in future season*. Woolston made a promising start ns seniors and by developing team play and system they will be more successful next year. Their third grade have, youths of promise and their fifth grade were runners up in that competition. With a good playing ground and facilities for training, backed up by some supporters, the club should have a successful future. Hornby won the junior premiership with a solid team and it is anticipated that they will go up to senior grade next season- They have two good playing grounds x and a fine training room and with a large membership and a solid third grade team who were runners-up in that competition the Mack jerseyed club should have strong teams available next season. The third grade, who lost only ore game, being beaten" in the play-off. possess «ome youths of promise, one of whom. R. M* Gregor. should be seen to advantage in senior fixtures next year. Avon commenced well, but fell away a lot after the first round. They showed some inconsistent performances in the junior competition, though thev have some good material. Their team play in club matches was moderate. The third grade team performed well, showing better team play than tins older members, and they have some promising youths in their fifth grade. Two new teams, yi Waimairi an 1 Oruruhia. entered for the junior grad*-, iho former having the hotter record, and for their first reason they performed creditably. The material is available. and a good coach, well versed in the finer points of the code, could develop it to good purpose, as they youth oi promise in their third grade. The club possesses a keen enthusiast* mi Mr W. Smith. The Ouruhia team, from a physical point, are a fine type, hut Tor their first season they only gaiued experience. Coming frtfm a widely scatt* red district, they are at a disadvantage, but under a good coach they could h J moulded into a match-winning side. Templeton did not fare so well as in former season's, but half-way throug’i the season they lost- the services of some of their members, and this caused a setback. The member*' are keen enthusiast** and travel long distances for their football. Kaiapoi have had a successful season, and from a club point of view have very favourable prospects. Th«\v were runners-up to Hornby for the junior premiership, and won the third grade championship with an unbeaten (Continued on Page 3.) /