LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

Waikato Times, Volume 98, Issue 15299, 28 July 1923, Page 16 (Supplement)

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

) (By "Verax.") The officials of the Hamilton League are determined to run the game on right lines and will not tolerate any behaviour that is likely to lower the game in the eyes of the.public. The Management Committee has disqualified an Athletic player for misbehaviour on the field and lias severely cautioned another player for refusing to obey the official engaged In

keeping the line clear of spectators. The tendency amongst the public to crowd on to the line is something in the nature of a problem to the officials and unless the eager ones can be made to realise that they can see the game just as well from further back and that their thoughtlessness is preventing others from watching the progress of play it will bo necessary to erect fences.

Hamilton has accepted Cambridge's challenge for the Endean Shield and the match will be played on August 18 at Hinomoa Park.

Despite unpleasant weather conditions, the Endean Shield match, Hamilton versus Taumarunui last Saturday, although one-sided, was interesting lo the large crowd of spectators assembled.

On account of the influenza epidemic the Taumarunui League placed a much weakened team on the field, no fewer than seven of the original side being absent. Wilh Hamilton at full strength, it was early seen that the game would be rather one-sided. However, Taumarunui, ably led by Singe, kept to their task, and on numerous occasions were unlucky in not scoring. All things considered the King Country men need not be disheartened, and the result next year may be a different story.

For Hamilton, Jacques, gave his usual good exhibition, as full back. The threequarter line was sound and the handling of the ball, under the conditions, was exceptionally good. Stewart and Dufty (five-eighths), both played well, Dufty being more prominent than usual. Pecklutm, et half, was the king-pin, proving very elusive, and a veritable "box of tricks." Very few footballers use their head on the field to the exteut that Peckham does.

The forwards were solid, Dent, Loughlin and Gawn being most prominent. Loughlin, as hooker, dominated in the scrums, and more than justified his inclusion. He also scored a couiiie of tries. The Hamilton team has now developed fine combination, and will be a hard proposition to shield challengers.

The Taumarunui team was lacking combination, but as stated above, half the number was not the original choice. Cherry (half-back), an exHamilton player, together with Singe (five-eighths), were the outstanding players. Without Singe, the score would have been a much bigger one m Hamilton's favour.

For the Sunschine League match next Saturday the hockey and soccer authorities have agreed to combine in placing on games at Seddon Park to assist the fund. The officials of the League extend their appreciation to Ihe kindred sports for their contribution to a deserving cause.

The Sunshine League Cup, which has been presented to the Hamilton League for the purpose of raising funds for a very deserving object, will be competed for on Saturday next. The Lower Waikato representatives are to journey south to play for the Cup so we will have the Endean Shieid game over again. Apart from the worthy object of the fund, the publio can be assured of football of a high class.

When Glebe and South Sydney met last Saturday, the match was a testimonial for Frank Burge, who turned out for his old club (Glebe). Burge ranks as the greatest forward either Rugby game has ever produced in Australia. It is not considered that any other great man of the past was quite so good all rouna as lie at his best. Dr. Jim Hughes, the brilliant Sydney University Rugby Union forward, was, perhaps, the finest of purely Australian rearing prior to Burge's full development. The next challengers for the Endean Shield are to be Cambridge and the game will be played shortly in Hamilton. Waikato Central representatives hope to make a bold bid for the shield, but they will find Hamilton a much stronger- side than last vear In the opinion of "Half-back," the critic of the Post, Freddy Nunn Is undoubtedly in the very ilrst flight of five-eighths in Wellington. Nunn, who plays for Pelone, the leading club, will most likely be a member of the touring combination to Hamilton for the'Northern Union Cup. Northern Union Cup matches are approaching and the interest in them is becoming worked up to a high pitch. The work of the selectors will be eagerly scanned. With the material available a very strong thirteen can be assembled to defend the coveted trophy. The Wellington delegate, writing from Auckland, states in reference to selectors: "It is necessary that our s'electors for Wellington province keep in direct and constant touch with the New Zealand selectors. Re our players, I feel that'after watching some of the exhibitions up here, we have the goods down south to wallop Auckland. And with good selection this can be done. There is not a half in Auckland, including Poison (and I say so advisedly) lo come within cooee of young Nunn." Our delegate is not far from wrong when he mentions that Nunn ("Freddy") is a good half; in fact, he is brilliant in that position, and undoubtedly the best half playing football in Wellington at the present day. It is hoped the New Zealand selectors will not overlook this player. Writing after the decision of the English Union to re-impose the two years' residential clause for colonial players who go Home, "The Cynic" pens the following in the Spdney Referee : —This decision appears to have put an end lo the idea of a few Sydney players linking up with English clubs. It is undoubtedly in the broad interests of the game that the qualification should be made no mere formal matter. In cricket the qualification in similar circumstances is two years. If the inducement is so substantial aa to induce a player to go Homo and qualify, well and good. But the real element of sport would at once become divorced from the Rugby League game K players were allowed to leave Australia and at once play with English clubs under big retainers. II would mean in a few years good-bye to real International football. it would mean worse still —that a majority of the players would concentrate on money-making, and forget that it is (he great sporting character of play that enchains' the public. In the light of history only a few stars who might command an initial bonus of four figures would make the professional football life in England pay them when their halcyon days of usefulness on the Held had closed.

The first games of the second round for the Sydney premiership and the City Cup were played a fortnight ago with rare glamor. The older loams, which had built up names within the past few years, seemed inspired to their best by the challenge of newer teams knocking so hard, at the door of success. Thus North Sydney, spurred by the failure against South, came out with revivified forwards and with grim determination to make Western Suburbs fight for their lives. The latter responded to the inspiration of the crowd's smypalhies by shooting off the mark in each spell with the ginger and force and skill that generally mean success. They played over the Northerners in these slages. But their movements did not produce anything overwhelming in points, and when the Shoremen began to unwind points, these came freely. Fortune did not smile on Western Suburbs, who played an infinitely finer ganio

than the 27 to 12 of the score board unfolds to the eye of him who was not there. Balmain refurbished their goal-kicking, which had been beating them. And they downed the rising St. Georgettes handsomely. Glebe came out of the Red shell and administered to their neighbours of Blue (Newtown), an unequivocal licking. And Eastern Suburbs downed the 'Varsity, though they did not have it all their own way. Thus positions in the race for honours do not show the clubs of history dethroned. North Sydnev, South Sydney, and Eastern Suburbs are still level in first place, with Western Suburbs, Balmain, and St. George next. The experience West and St George had on Saturday should prove beneficial. They played gallantly, but struck snags on the day.