LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

Waikato Times, Volume 97, Issue 15272, 23 June 1923, Page 15 (Supplement)

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

(lly “Verax.”)

The position of the senior teams engaged in the Hamilton competition at the conclusion of Saturday’s play was;

Seniors.

Juniors,

The junior table in the Hamilton competition after Saturday’s game showed;

Hero and There.

As will be seen from the table above the senior championship was at a very interesting stage after Saturday’s game. The game this afternoon between Frankton and Athletic, both of which have played a game less than the others, will throw further light on the position, and should Athletics win they will go to the front. On the other hand, success to Frankton will give the side a very strong lead in the season’s honours. Bach has two matches yet to play to conclude the competition. With the completion of the shield games a knock-out competition will be instituted and many exciting encounters ■ are promised during its course. The four teams will have greatly improved their play by that time. Although they at present stand at the bottom of the ladder, City is a team which has not always had the best of luck. Their forces are rapidly consolidating, and they promise to keep the best of the thirteens moving from' this out. < The Wellington representatives purpose visiting the West Coast this season, the latter having offered very generous terms for the tour, during which Canterbury will be played. In the junior competition In Hamilton the defeat of Whitiora by Athletics has opened up promise of good keen gaifces. United is improving each match and the leaders will have to play all they know to beat them, whilst Frankton are also a good team. With to-day’s, each club has two matches to play. Altogether the League matches promise to be worth seeing. The spectators can rest assured that each club, whether top or bottom of the competitions, Is out to give of its very best and that, after all, is what counts.

Wellington has a challenge in for the Northern Union Cup, and reports from the Empire City show that a very strong side can be assembled to travel to Hamilton.

J. Kruse, Petone half, is undoubtedly the best half in the game in Wellington. Ho is very heady. He has played League for Petone for the past four or five years, and is still showing good form. “Brownie" Paki, who has been three-quarter in the ranks of the St. George’s in Sydney this season, is showing very good form, being especially noted in a recent report for fine defensive play.

Tonga Mahuta is again in the fullback position for Huntly this season. His powerful kicking is still a feature ’ his Dlay.

A letter from the West Coast League states they are doing well. This year they have four senior teams, nine junior, four third grade, three fourth-grade, and four school teams. The public patronage, although the weather has been very wet, has surpassed that of last year. Wilson-Hall Is a tower of strength to the game. When Ngaruawahia succeeded In defeating Huntly by 6 points to 3 on Saturday, he was in the thick of the fray, and topped off the try which gave his side success. The management of the Auckland League, at this week’s meeting, granted permission for a matoh to be played on July 14 between Devonport and a Hamilton team, provided satisfactory arrangements for the ground could be made with the Devonport Borough Council.

T. Balks, Hutt full-back, and last year’s Petone full-back, who was seen in action with the Wellington team at Steele Park, is still playing his usual sound game. It is said that he has only scored one try in New Zealand, against Central at Newtown Park, in the 1921 season. He never goes out of the full-back position.

When Easts recently defeated St. George’s in the Sydney competition by 4 points to nil, a writer in the Sydney Sportsman said: “Brownie Paki has been the star player for Saints. He only had the ball a few times, but he made Easts know he was playing when he did handle the leather, and his tackling was of the deadliest, sort.” Improvement in many of the players has been noticed. Patterson, of City, is each week advancing his play, and should be one of the best League backs in Hamilton very* shortly. The penalty goals he kicked last Saturday were fine efforts. Payne of United is also showing greatly improved play compared with last season, and will no doubt gain a place in the rep. team. Dufty, of Frankton, has excelled himself. this year, his tricky movements being always worth ’ watching in the field. Athletics are to be congratulated upon scouring Tim Peckham. He has been of great assistance, and the way he tricks his opponents is noted by all spectators. One could enlarge upon the above list of good players, and a match between two rep. teams would be interesting. In the Wellington competition Hutt seniors set out to beat Petone a fortnight ago, but they found the unbeaten team a harder proposition than they imagined. The first spell ended up in favour of Hutt. by 2 points to nil, and it looked as though the new Hutt team were going to win. Petone, however, came to light'in.the second half, and rattled up 11 points, whilst Hutt could not increase their score, the game ending 11-2. The liutt team is to be congratulated on its fine record, especially as this is its first season under the jurisdiction of the League rules, and “Half-Back” (the writer in llie Post) does not have to look very far ahead to the time when this team will be a champion one. The suburbanites have a splendid following'of the public, who show much interest in the League game.

Pd. won lost dwn tor agt. Pts. Frankton 6 5 — 1 108 44 10 United 7 4 i 2 108 79 9 Atmetic 0 2 1 3 no 02 5 City 7 1 — 6 36 147 2

Pd. won lost awn tor a?t. Pts. Wtiitlora 7 6 — i 80 29 12 Athletics 7 5 — 2 72 -27 10 Frankton 7 2 — 5 37 48 4 United 7 1 — 6 11 112 2