SPORTING GOSSIP.

Auckland Star, Volume 55, Issue 136, 10 June 1924, Page 9

SPORTING GOSSIP.

LEAGUE FOOTBALL. THE AUSTRALIANS* VISIT. One of two things, or both, is evident ! from the two meetings between the Auck- . land reps, and the Australian Universities team. In the first meeting on Wednesday Auckland won nicely, and though the visitors were beaten, there Avas that about ' their play which suggested possibilities given a dry ground. The teams met again on Saturday, when (he weather conditions i were nil against bright football, and with the Aucklanders quite used to the henvy : slippery ground it was only natural to expect them to again win. Anil so they did, by 17 points to 2. But it was not so much the win that impressed one, but the failure of the visitors to make a showing in attack, nnd proof of this is the fact that the Auckland full-back, Dufty, was not called upon to tackle a man in his own i twenty-five during the second spell. That this is not the trne form of the visitors admits of no question, aud tbe summing up of the manager and captain of the I Aussies, that they were all at sea in the hoaA-y going, is no doubt the correct one. Tbe form was too bad .to be true, even making all allowances for the vast Improvement which it is claimed has been made ln the League standard of pluy. The Aussies haA-e not shown their true ability in Auckland, and one can only hope that they get a dry ground on Saturday, when they meet Auckland for the third time. It would then come aB no surprise to see them hold their own with the local reps., and provide a fast, sparkling exhibition. The performance of c. Duffy at fullback for Auckland on Saturday was remarkable and on all sides it is admitted that, the prevailing conditions being taken into* consideration,' no finer exhibition in the position has been witnessed. A wet slippery ball, with the ground sloppy, one could pardon any mistakes, the best of i players might make, but no pardon Avas required for Dufty—he didn't make any mistakes. He did eA-erything right, never missing a ball while his line and goal kicking well merited the applause accorded. Tavo others of the Auckland backs who were in happy mood, were AVctherill and B. Davidson, the former especially showing uncanny accuracy in picking up the wet ball. All the forwards played sterling games, McDonald nlAvays being in the spotlight. THE THIRD TIME. There was a suggestion that Instead of playing the Auckland reps, on Saturday, the Universities team should be opposed hy the City Club thirteen, but evidently the League did not favour this move, and the Auckland representatives will for the third time oppose the visitors. It is to be hoped that fine weather prcA-alls, and the A-isitors given the opportunity to show that their performance in the second match Avas as their manager put It, "all at sea." The selectors have chosen the folloAving to represent Auckland :— Full-back, C. Dufty; three-quarters, G. Davidson, B. Davidson, I. Littlewood ; fiveeighths, H. Laing, M. AA'ethcrill; half, C. Poison: forwards. .7. O'Brien (M.0.8.), A. Townsend. J. O'Brien (Shore), H. McDonald, B. Avery, N. Bass. Reserves: Backs, Wilson. Hall, Dclgrosso, Garrett; forwards, McNeil and Somcrs. AU players must attend practice at Carlaw Park at 7.30 o'clock to-night.