LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 218, 15 September 1925, Page 14

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

"IT'S DIFFERENT NOW."

The decisive beating which the Queenslanders handed out to the New Zealand team on Saturday when, in the second Test, the visitors downed, the Blacks to the tune of 35 points to 14, could not be entered up as a surprise, because it was always evident from the play in the first lest, and again In the match on the Wednesday against Auckland, that with anything like ordinary luck, the Queenslanders were a- much better side than the Dominion men. Despite the fact that in the game against Auckland on Wednesday the local selectors saw fit to shift Webb from the position at half to the three-quarter line during the progress of play, the New Zealand selectors ou Saturday put him back behind the scrum and they paid the penalty. Auckland played a drawn game— IS all—which was quite satisfactory, but rather than leave well alone, the selectors preferred to make a change, and they had the pleasure (';) of seeing their chosen'hopelessly outclassed. Not that the New Zealanders would, have had a whining chance no matter where the men were placed, and coming home from the Park after the match one spectator ■ summed•, the position up by remarking : "I know why we did so well in the first Test. The Queenslanders were strangers here and didn't know where the goal line was. It's different now." AUCKLAND BEATEN. The- defeat of the Auckland touring team at Christchurch on Saturday by one point in a close game-—the scores were 6 to 5. .iv favour 'Of Canterbury—is. a good result, because it will- go far towards furthering the code ln the South. Auckland has always been regarded as the stronghold of the League game in the Dominion, but it will be remembered that early, last season the Marist Bros, team came to Auckland from Christchurch and played the City team. The game was a hard one, and though defeated* that day the general opinion is that the. best team lost. Now we find on Saturday" the' Canterbury representatives beating Auckland, but it must be admitted that the Northerners on tour are second-raters, our best being included in the New Zeland team which played against Queensland. OTAGO'S VISIT. From what can be .gathered it would appear that there Is a good chance of the much discussed visit of the Otago team to Auckland this season being cancelled. Apparently the Otaco League is not prepared to come North without a guarantee against financial loss, which the trustees of the A.R.L. are not prepared to give. It is a pity if the match is off. because from now on the Auckland League has nothing big to serve up to patrons, and the remainder of the season promises to be rather lean.

A FINE RECORD

In winning the honours in five of the grade competitions this season, the Richmond Club's teams have established' h record that will take a lot of beating. The senior grade combination did not do at' all well, but. like all teams which are weak in the early part of the season, they do not get the opportunities to strengthen up that come to the more prominent clubs. Any good Rugby Union player inclined to turn over to the League code shows a preference for joining up with a strong club, and this naturally tends to still further weaken the teams at the bottom of the list, and gives them very little chance of improving their positions.

A BRILLIANT SIDE. After the performance of the Queenslanders on Saturday there can be no question of them 'being a -brilliant set. As pointed out in these columns last week, the visitors, either as a team, or .man for man, were far superior to the New Zealanders. even given the latter all the credit due for winning the first test. The Queenslanders were defeated in that game simply because they gave away so many penalty kicks, and 'invariably "when they were attacking. They were in the same position as a poker player, who. after stacking the four aces, spoiled his effort by then dealing himself six cards, and having to stand out. And so it was with the Queenslanders. ' They, would do all the necessary work to take them to within a few yards of their opponents' line, and then commit some breach, which meant a penalty awarded against them, and the ball boosted oack to half-way. On Saturday, in the second; Test, they conceded numerous penalties again, but even so their handling of the ball was more certain, and in the second half of the play they ran over the defence.

.7. Craig, probably the most versatile ..player in Australasia, gave a brilliant exhibition at full-b.aek, and his kicking was one of the outstanding features of the match. Of the four three-quarters. Gorman was the biggest~nuisanee to the New Zealanders. His trlckiness completely baffled his opponents, and he made some wonderful openings. Crouch played a great game, and both Spencer and Aynsley maintained their reputation as great wingers. Edwards, at half, was nippy, and completely overshadowed Webb, who was not a success behind the New Zealand pack. The Queensland forwards; were quite the equal, if not better,' than the New Zealanders. and in Armbnister, Purecll and Henderson they had a trio who worked solidly and well all the time. Purcell was the best forward on the ground.

Without being as brilliant as Craig. Gregory played his usual good game for New Zealand, but more than once his tackling was at fault. Delgrosso was easily the best of the three-quarters, neither Llttlewood nor Saunders being a success. Wetberill was better than Kirwan at five-

eighths, in fact Wetherill was the best back on the New Zealand side. Webb was not good at half-back, and the forwards did not do any better than the Queensland vanguard. Avery showed out best.