LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

Waikato Times, Volume 96, Issue 15359, 6 October 1923, Page 16 (Supplement)

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

(By “Verax.”)

The attraction to the game’s supporters next Saturady will be in the meeting of South Auckland and Auckland at Carlaw Park. The clash at headquarters is always eagerly looked forward to and a large number purpose making the trip next week end. The South Auckland thirteen will be selected after this afternoon’s contest at Ngaruawahia fop the coming struggle, and the home thirteen will be the best available. It can be strengthened on the standard available for the Northern Union Cup game when 20-20 were the total’s at the close of fast and open hostilities. Auckland, also, will be an improved team to what they were here. This writer favours Auckland, but, summed up, it should be a great game. The cup will not be Involved.

Describing the game between Auckland and the Provincial team the Star writer says that in the Provincial team J. Dufty was not very sound, but he had too much to do owing to the weak defence made by his associates. Stewart and Jackson at times were shining out, but the opposition was too strong and they rarely accomplished much. The forwards were very disappointing, Lovett, Somers and McVeay being the best, but not one was up to representative form. The New South Wales Rugby League asked the Rugby League (England) for official rulings on the following points of play:—“An attacking player, from the field of play kicks the ball out on the full, across the touch-in-goal line. How should it be brought back into play?" The Rugby League ruling is: By a drop out from the “25’’ line. This is a dead ball. Another problem from New South Wales was: “After an unconverted try the side dropping out from half-way kicks the ball in, touch on full." The New South Wals Referee’s Association recommends that: “The side dropping out be deemed the attacking side. In the scrummage following such breach they to put the ball In, and the other side to have the "loose head.” The Rugby League have agreed that this interpretation is substantially In accordance with present-day practice in England. In connection with the recent difficulty regarding colonial players joining up with clubs in England, the "Athletic News" stated recently that it understood that the New South Wales League was willing to enter into an agreement witli the English Rugby League such as the standing order signed by the New Zealand League. This agreement is: “Any player belonging to any League Club in membership with the Rugby League and the New Zealand League shall not be allowed to play in the other League without the consent of the club to which he belongs, such consent to he obtained through the League of which such club is a member." The agreement in regard to the alternative in case of a transfer being refused reads: “In case of a player wishing to leave one League for another, and his transfer being refused by tbe club he is leaving, such player shall be allowed -to play in the country of his adoption after a two years’ residential qualification: any touring player’s qualifications date from the completion of

the tour.” The “Athletic News” also states that the New Zealand League has als° been granted additional powers by the Rugby League, for the agreement also stipulates “that it (the, New Zealand League) shall for the purpose of this standing order, have power to give or withhold the transfers of men playing Rugby football in its sphere of influence, even though such players are not actually in membership with such League."