LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 18023, 19 May 1930, Page 3

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

GAMES AT NGARUAWAHIA. TRIALS FOR REPRESENTATIVES. PLAY IN STEADY RAIN. ' The South Auckland League representatives have gained an enviable reputation' in Auckland during their last four visits, and if the standard of League played in the trial games at Ngaruawahia on Saturday is any criterion they will again this year meet with a fair measure of success. Saturday was the Ngaruawahia League supporters’ and players’ big day. The League game has many patrons in Ngaruawahia, while the Huntly population is well sprinkled with followers of the code, and together with a few interested supporters from, Hamilton, the football ground Was well crowded before the first game commenced. The . Held was very 1 soft ' and the steady rain made conditions very unpleasant, but nevertheless some bright phases of play were witnessed. The first match between the combined , Ngaruawahia A and B teams and the combined Huntly A and B teams provided some good football, the Ngaruawahia side having the upper hand by 8 points to 3 when the final whistle blew. The visiting forwards were undoubtedly the stronger, hut this was offset by Ngaruawahia’s splendid defensive .work and the attacking qualities of their backs. The Huntly backs made a few attempts to open up the play, but their handling was poor. Ngaruawahia had a great back line. Abbott, the half, ’Gary at centre, and G. Tittieton on the wing were always in the picture, but the prime mover in all their movements was Williams, in the fiveeighths line. played up to the top of his form, but at times he seemed to forget that he had men outside him. G. Raynor, full-back for Huntly, shone out on occasions, .though •he did not appear to be the old South Auckland rep. full-back. The Huntly pack toiled well, and Timms, Jones. Trevetter and Stephenson will most likely find a place in the final team. Joe Menzies was the only forward in the Ngaruawahia team who impressed and he has lost some of his pace. Nevertheless he w’as a very handy man. The second match between' Hamilton. and Huntly Maoris was drawn with no score on either side. When the teams filed on to the field one spectator was heard to remark, “It’s like pitting two tons against one hundredweight.” The Maori team was certainly heavy, and the huge stalwarts were not confined to the forwards, some flfteen-stoners making their appearance in the rearguard. The big Maoris lasted well and directed attack after attack at the Hamilton citadel, but the Hamilton team showed that they were impregnable defenders. The ’.heavy Maori backs showed an amazing turn of speed, and with more knowledge of the game should prove highly dangerous. The majority of the players are new on the field so are hard to individualise, but one can say that with a little more science the Mabri team‘will be a tough proposition. . “Browny” Paki, in the five-eighths line, engineered many movements, but he seems to have lost most of his sting. He displayed flashes ,of his old brilliancy but has dropped off a lot. The Hamilton team had a very hard task and performed creditably. The defence was like a solid rock, and. on attack they had the Maoris hustled. Hard luck was all that prevented them from going over twice, hut the defence of the Maoris comes in for special mention. They ■held out prolonged attacks, and towards the close of the game were defending on their own line.. They never weakened and owed the draw to their good defensive work. The Hamilton team played bright League. As a team they worked perfectly together and individually each man did his hit. The forwards were solid (although they appeared slight beside the Maoris) and were speedy. Hogan, L. Muir, and Glasgow were always prominent, and the other players in tlie pack never shirked. Of a good back line J. Muir was perhaps the best all-rounder, with S. Muir running him a good second. Whatu shaped well, and K. Graham was always in the thick of it. J. Ilynes was responsible for some good dashes, and his defence was sound. A Possible and a Probable team will be picked from, the games, to meet at Huntly on Saturday when the final selection will be made. GAMES AT AUCKLAND. AUCKLAND, Saturday. Senior Grade. Auckland 2i beat Northland 10Mount Albert 11 beat Richmond 9. Second Grade. Marist 8 beat Devonport 0. Richmond It beat Mt. Wellington 0. Ponsonby 14 beat Mangere 2. GAMES IN THE SOUTH. Dunedin. Kaitangata 17 heat Kaikorai 3. Pacific 11 heat Athletic 9. Christian Brothers 24 beat City 4. Christchurch. Addington 13 heat Marist 6. Woolston 13 beat Hornby 5. Wflimairi 3 beat Linwood Q»