LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Waikato Times, Volume 100, Issue 16818, 9 June 1926, Page 11

LEAGUE FOOTBALL

THE CODE IN HAMILTON. (By "Verax.") Hinemoa Park was the scene, of activities again last Sal unlay week, when the second round of Hie senior competition was commenced. Frankton met and defeated United by i i points to G after a hard battle between tin: two teams. Frankton, so far Ihis season, have been undefeated ami their wins have been well deserved for Ihis team play a very nice game of the League code. But after viewing the form of the other teams, it. points In Frankton having to piny their best foolball lo maintain their unbeaten record in the second round. They were unfortunate last Saturday in not having the. services of their full-back, Skccls, who is ill in bed. United made the game very willing and il was only in the last, quarter of an hour that their opponents showed their superiority. Itobinson spoiled what, was a good game by thinking he was in a boxing tournament, 'this brought action from the referee and United was weakened considerably by his absence. Up to this incident this player was playing a good game of football, and it is certainly detrimental to any player's team to mix football with fisticuffs or wrestling, and the sooner the people in authority put a stop to this sort of thing tho better it will be for League football. In playing League football properly, players should remember there is no time for rough play or talking.

Athletics and Whitiora match was a very' close game from whistle to whistle, Whitiora winning by a narrow margin of two points. Both teams played a good clean game of football, and the. standard of League football iu Hamilton is undoubtedly improving. Players now are right into their stride, and further improvement will be accomplished before the first competition is over.

This season's programme is a very heavy one, with a good many trophies to play for and it will come as no surprise to sec (he trophies well distributed at the end of the season. Hamilton this year have a good many rep. matches to plqf also. They have already challenged LWcr Waikato for that" much coveted trophy, the Endean Shield. The last, occasion on which it was held in. Hamilton was 1923, but everything points to the shield coming back this year. Rotorua will also be in the field for the same shield and arc determined to have that shield back to where it first belonged. The Soamcs' Cup will be another trophy the three centres will be playing for, while the juniors will have the Frascr-Smith Challenge shield to compete for. The combined team of Hamilton and Lower Waikato were seen in action at ( \rawa Park, Rotorua, on Saturday. The learn lefl Hamilton by motor cars for Rotorua Saturday morning at 8 o'clock, Mr S. Saunders, Hamilton, and Mr R. T. Hill, Tauph'i, accompanying the players. Form of Players. The Athletics team have been a trifle unlucky so far this season. Early in the game last Saturday week they lost the services of Sutton, their hooker, and Humphries, the half. The former player is a tower of strength to his team and plays a fine game of football. Bath played a safe game and is improving with each match. Shaw played his usual good game. Lang did well, but was a little too eager. C. Vcrnall played an improved game of football. Palmer is certainly improving and is sure to u.ako good with a little more experience. Childs is the weak spot in the backs and why this player turns around to deliver a pass is hard to understand. He certainly gives ins opponents every chance of smothering his pass. Uelaney, a new recruit, played a very nice game, as did McCormick. A. Vcrnall continues to improve. Spencer, for his weight, plays a rcallv good game. Martin gels through a lot of work for his team. Staunton is big and heavy enough for a cood one, but he wants to become more acquainted with the leather. Hinemoa Park grounds are not hard to fall on, "Lolly.'" Gilmer, at full back for Whitiora, played a very sound, safe game lor his'team. Don't kick so hard "Gil, when close lo your opponents line. Walts played a really good game and this player is going to improve Hogg is big and heavy enough, but he won't use his pace. Why? C Taylor is sound both on attack and defence, and plays a really good game of football. Keep quiet, ' -Ned Hill is good and was a tower o strength lo Whitiora. There is a good future for this player. Can't he dribble that. ball. Fowler can still play football. \ Tavlor like his brother, is good, and certainly has a bright future and should do well in bis football. The forwards all played a great game, and Ihcy played no part in [heir victory on Saturday. This team is going to he. bard for the remainder of the season. The Whitiora-Alhletics game was very close. With only a few minutes to g„ l.he score was 19 all, but handed a penalty goal, to win then first full back for the winners, his handler, of the ball being excellent. In the three-quarter line C. Taylor was easily the best. This p ayer in - proves wilh every game, and will be hard to keep out of the next rep. team. Hill and Fowles combined well n five-eighths Mill made some good openings and was very solid on dcfCThe forwards wore a hard-working ricrhaps the most outstanding. 10,.. with Price, Woodliall, and Quinn for Athletics Bath, at lull back, did well He is very young, but he goes jv.t, 1,0 the forwan s in goaa stvk Shaw and Long played well in he three-quarter line. Shaw handles the ball in great style. _ Woods and Vcrn.il, til fivc-cighlhs, were, not given many chances by the opposition. Sill ton was playing a goon game until he retired. McCormack was always on the l '■'''- He did fairly well as hooker alter Sutton retired. Whiliora had a good team out on Saturday \veok>bul have yet lo field Uieir best. Tin y expect lo be verystrong against Frankton in their next match. • GENERAL JOTTINGS. Xow that the early representative fixtures are over. Hamilton will sellle down in earnest, with their senior competition, and nexl Saturday will see Whiliora disputing mailers wilh Frankton and I'niled loin? conclusions wilh Athletics. Frankton wenl through Ihe lir.->t round undefeated, and started Uiu

second with their record unbroken. Athletics gave this learn a hard game when they met last, and great interest will lie taken in their next, meeting. Whitiora and United have both strengthened Ihoir tenuis of late. This was proved when Whiliora met and defeated Athletics in Hie lies I, game in' the second round. On this performance Frankton will have to be at their best, lo maintain their unbeaten record when Ihcy meet. Whitiora next Saturday.

United and Athletics should also prove to be a very close game. United have some, good material to pick from and will give Athletics a hard game. The grounds at Hinemoa Park have stood the wet weather exceptionally well and both grounds are in firstclass order, and given a fine day next Saturday two very fast games should be witnessed.

Mr G. S. Saunders, chairman of the Hamilton League, journeyed lo Rotorua last Saturday, rind speaks in glowing terms of the future of Ihe League code in that town. Auckland witnessed two surprises last Saturday, when Marist, defeated Ponsonby and Dcvonport defeated City.

t'nnsonby were unfortunate in losing the services of that good player lielsrosso. owing lo injuries received early in the match. 'The Ponsonby forwards worked hard to hold their unbeaten record, but Marist proved too good.

Payne, Hutt and Peckham (laic of South Auckland) arc attached to the Ponsonby teams, and arc playing good football.

Gregory played a beautiful game at full-back for Marist, and Kirwan had the crowd on their toes many limes with that beautiful corkscrew run of his.

Xew South Wales defeated Queensland in Sydney last Saturday by an points to 17. This will bring Ihe Blues back lo the limelight, and their next meeting with Ihe Xew Zealand team will be eagerly looked forward to. Rumour has it that Teddy Everest will shortly be donning the jersey In town. Reg. Skeets, Ihe Frankton full-back, who was conCned to his bed with pleurisy a few weeks back, is now well and about again. Tom Shaw gained his place in the South Auckland team to visit Wellington and Auckland this month. Woodhall, Ihe Whitiora forward, also makes Ihe trip. Hill, of Whiliora, will be hard to keep out of the reps, in future. Jock Lynham will be out for his old club next Saturday, after being out of town for some weeks. N. Vcrnall, the well-known player who injured his shoulder early in the season, has decided to give the game up, and is now handling the whistle. 11. Childs, an old Auckland rep. and referee, is also handling the whistle in Hamilton this year. Sma (ialhrailh, the full-back of that formidable Frankton team of 1923, is out again this year for United. E. Vcrnall, of the same team, is coming out again for Whiliora. This player was Ihe South Auckland hooker for many years. G. Sutton, the Athletio hooker, who was injured some months ago, is <Riite well again and will be out wilh his team next Saturday. Remember the new play the ball rule next Saturday boys I Otago will be playing in Hamilton in August.