LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 209, 4 September 1925, Page 9

LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP.

THE WORLD'S BEST.

QUEENSLAND V. NEW ZEALAND.

TO-MORROW'S BIG 'GAME,

When the English League, footballers came to Auckland last year after securing the Ashes in Australia they little thought that a fortnight after they landed -at Auckland the Ashes which they so richly prized, and which, by the way, exist in name only, would be possessed by New Zealand. The manager of that team told us we would have to walk over the dead bodies of his men to get those Ashes, and incidentally added that hia men, to use his own words, "would make full use of the strength God gave them." To some extent Aucklanders will agree. The Englishmen certainly used what strength they had, but our representatives did not kill any of thein---but they did win the Ashes, much to the surprise of the visitors. To-morrow we have Queensland with us, and quite rightly they claim to be the world's champion League footballers, they defeated England last year, have downed New South Wales with monotonous regularity for three years past, and last month had no sympathy for their guests when they downed the New Zealand tourists twice, the first time 43 to 19, and the second time 29 to 20. Oh the face of this the Queenslanders might be pardoned if they feel the task in front of them on Saturday when they again meet the best thirteen in New Zealand is not a very difficult one. However, that is where the Queenslanders differ from the Englishmen. Our present visitors are quite confident about winning, but are prepared to meet in the Dominion men a vastly improved side. "We hope to win," eaid Mr. J. Doyle, one of the managers, to a "Stair" representative when discussing the match, "but it might' irot be any certainty, because you have a stronger team than we met in Queenlland. They tell mc the game against Auckland last Saturday showed What an improvement Had been worked in the New Zealand team, and if it is all true then the public should see a contest which should be a treat. Don't think we look upon your team as easy —we don't. New Zealand is pretty hard to beat on their owh ground, and we are looking forward to a hard tontest."

"I Wbuld just like to have another fortnight with the iriehi" said Mr. i≤. H. Mair, coach to the New Zealand team, "and we would be sure to whack them. And we might do it, too, tomorrow. I have never had such a keen lot of players in my hands, and they have that feeling that their vety lives depend upon winning. We Showed the Auckland team sbttid new tricks last week, tout we kept a few back for tomorrow. No doubt Queensland have one or two for us, biit I am looking forward to a great game, played fast from bell to bell, and in the best spirit. What we have to do is play them at their own game, and may the best side win. We look upon the tests as deciding the world's League championship." ' The captain of the New Zealand team, H. AVefy, says: "I doh't know how the game will go, but I like our chance. 1 admit they made us look like a lot of children the first game in Queensland, biit the Second time We wef« only beaten by nine points, aiid one try was pre* sented to them. Now we are 100. per cent better and if we cannot make the Queenslanders play as hard and as good as they eVei* played, Well, I will be did' appointed. Just Between we think we can win," lie concluded With ft smile.

The teams are: QUSENSI>AND.^Maro6n. Fullback: Ffauehfelder (lOst fib). Three-quarters: Patten (lOst 7lb), Gorman (list 51b), Craig (12st 21b), Aynsley (12st 21b). tfive-eighths: Moore (list Sib). Half: Connell (lOst 41b). Forwards: Potter (13at Mb), Henderebii (12st 71b), Bennett (14st 41b), Steirtolirt (13st 71b), Armbruster (13st 101b). NEW ZEALAND.—BIack. Fullback: Gregory (lOst 131b). Three-quarters: Parkes (13st), Kirwati (l2st), Delgrosso (list 21b). Five-eighths: Wetherill (lOst 71b)* Saunders (list 21b). Half: Wilson-Hall (16st Mb). Forwards: O'Brien (1354 lllb), St. George (13st 31b), Herring (13st 21b), Peterson (13st 41b), Singe (13st 71b), Avery, captain (13at 81b). Taking the Queensland side first it is Considered as strong a side ac the visitors can field. It will be noticed that the visitors play four three-quarters, aiid of the quartette selected for td'inorrow Gorman is claimed to have no superior on the. football field. Craig ig not a stranger hero and Aucklandcfs will remember him as one of the stars of the Kangaroo team which toured England and afterwards New Zealand. • Aynsley is claimed to be a great scoring wing, and he proved this when he played against New Zealand at Queensland last month. The forwards are the pick °f the bunch, and besides being heady players, they have plenty of speed and can handle the ball like the backs.

On the New Zealand side the" backs arc those who played against Auckland oil Saturday last, the only alteration heiilg that Kirwan goes t6 centre three* quarter and Saxinders JnoVes up to partner Wetherill at five-eightns. !fbe forwards are a hefty lot of Bolid gfaftetft who can be relied upon to keep going from bell to bell. St. George, who haS given some fine exhibitions of hooking this season, will bo luakine his first appearance in big football, but he has earned hig place and can be relied upon to get his Share of the ball. Herring, O'Brien, and Avery were away with the New Zealand team in Australia, but Petersen, of Christchurcli, arid Sinpe of the local Marist Bros' team, have been included in place of Moiiatt and iSenery, who returned Smith last week. fhe present pack could not be improved Upon and should be the equal of the Queens* land vanguard.

.Two Curtain Raisers,

The match will start at three o'clock and will be preceded by two curtainraisers. At 12.30 p.m. a junior representative Hamilton team will play the Athletic third-grade, .team, at 1,30. p.m. ttorthcote and Otahuhu, the leaders in the senior B division, will play off the final f6i* the Stallafd- Cup. • • • The Hamilton junior representatives U. Bkeets; ters, Li Muir, E. Everest (cap), Brown; five-eighths, A 4 Taylor, S.Muif J halfback W« Cilildi; forwards, Mawhiniicy,

McConnack, L. Woodhall, J. Dick, F. Price, J, Laing. Reserves: S. Paget, C. Prince.

The Athletic thirS-graile team is:— Fullback, Longville; three-quarters, Draffin, Christmas, Broadhurst; fiveeighths, Seagar, Wilson; halfback, Lucas; forwards, Nelson, Wlialey tain), Forbes, Cavanagh, Clark, Stephenson. Emergencies: JlcKenzie, Atmstrong.

The Northcote team will be:—Backs: McCrae, Stewart, Fitzgerald, Thompson, Wilkins> Speight, Greening, Green. Forwards: Watsoh, Campbell, Mason, King, McLaughlih, Laurie, Pennyeook, Scott. The Otahuhu team is:—Ellery, Kirkland, Murray, Todd, Croxson, Brady, Game, Hart, McDonald, Scarborough, Eustace, Philip (2) and Brown. The following referees have been appointed for the various matches: — Queensland v. New Zealand, 3 p.m., Mr. L. Bull; Hamilton juniors v. Athletic thirds, 12.30 p.m., Mr. Tunes: Northcote v. Otahuhu, 1.30 p.m., Mr. Ripley.; fonsonby v. Richmond, Domain 1 p.m., Mr. Taylor.