LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

Waikato Times, Volume 96, Issue 15356, 3 October 1923, Page 9

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

(By “Verax.”) On Saturday the Western League thirteen will visit Hamilton where they will play the local representatives. This game promises to be an interesting one as several prominent players are included in the visiting team. The annual social gathering conducted by the Hamilton League on Saturday evening, was very largely attended and the reports presented showed the prominence that the game had reached tdpee it was first introduced into this area. The present strength of the game is four senior and five junior teams while’ the prospects for the new season give the indications that the number of teams will be added to. The most important remaining match of the season will be decided at Carlaw Park on Saturday week when South Auckland and Auckland will play

their return game. Although the Northern Union Cup will not be involved on the coming occasion the game will be a keenly contested one, in view of the fact that a draw was recorded in a double figure scoring game when the teams came together in Hamilton a short time back. The Frankton Club ih annexing the opening competition for the Innes Memorial Shield, tho knock out test for the Grigg bull-dog and providing the seven-aside tournament runnersup, has attained a record for one season of which the members have every reason to be proud. Appreciation of the work during the past season of the various Club and , League officials and the referees was testified to in a fitting manner at the annual gathering of the Hamilton League. This recognition was a deserved one as we are prone to overlook tlie self-sacrificing duties of these members which means so much for the success of every game. In speaking of the referees Hie chairman (Mr R. ii. Wood) exhorted those who were conversant with the game and were not participating actively in it to join the ranks of the officials whose services play such an important part in its progress. It is to be hoped that cognisance will be taken of this appeal by the time the new season rolls round as it is better to have a surfeit than to be deficient in capable referees. *

There was a hearty round of applause at the smok-o on Saturday evening when the chairman announced that the medal for the most points scored during tho season and for the best all round player had been awarded to "Joe” Dufty, whose tally, if counted in pounds would suffice for the ereotion of half a dozen press slands at llinemoa Park. Other medals awarded were as follows: —Best junior back , W. Everest; most improved junior forward, J. Price; most improved junior hack, C. Vernall; best forward in junior competition, a Prince; player scoring most points in junior seven-a-side competition, A. Taylor. Judging by the manner in which the League has distributed awards amongst T .he junior players, it Is clear that they recognise to the full the value of encouraging the younger brigade, to whom we must look in the near future to fill the senior ranks. The game has spread rapidly among the juniors this season and it is safe to assert that the ranks will be considerably augmented for the new term. REPS. V. “THE REST”.

On Saturday next at Ngaruawahla for the purpose of a practice game and with the object of picking the team to play at Carlaw Park, Auckland, the South Auckland reps will play the next best chosen from the South Auckland centre. This should prove to bo a ver y interesting game to watch as the two sides will he very evenly matched and are" quite capable of producing fast, open and spectacular play. The rep. team mentioned is that which played Auckland on Steele Park recently for the Northern Union Cup but there is every probability that several changes will be made in the team to play in Auckland on Saturday, October i 3. The B. team will be chosen from the following players:—G. Rayner, Whelan, Jacques, D. Johnson, Holly, Lineham, G. Hall, Neill, Hutt, Allen, Wiki, McVay, Sheeran, Loughlin, Grice, Bishop, Paterson.,