THE LEAGUE CODE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 158, 6 July 1926, Page 14

THE LEAGUE CODE.

AUCKLAND V. NEW ZEALAND.

TO-MORROWS TRIAL.

While it is common property that the selectors have chosen certain players assured of inclusion in the League team to tour England, those same selectors for some reason are not prepared to announce tho names until after the trial

game between Auckland and New Zealand is decided to-morrow. It was always understood that half of the 26 players to go to England would be selected after the North v. South match last Saturday, but it is doubtful if the full thirteen were chosen. Others will be wanted, and there are still two opportunities for players to earn a place with the tourists. Saturday's games wore a veritable football feast, and after the exhibitions given it is quite safe to offer the prediction that the trial to- : morrow will be every bit as -good, as i every man of the two teams will strive hard to favourably impress the seloc- ; tors. A glance through the list suggests that the Auckland team could be 1 stronger, but, ac the absent ones are j the best we have in their particular posii tions, we may take it they are booked ' for the Old Country, and the reason they J arc standing down is to allow others to I have a chance. Even so, the Auckland team is a solid one, and will put up a great tight against the New Zealand J team, and might possibly score a victory. i To-morrow's game and the trial on J Saturday next between the A and B teams will bring the trials to an end, : and though the selectors should not cxi perience great difficulty in naming- the \ twelve forwards, the job of deciding upon ] the fourteen backs is no easy one, and in i two games a man can quite easily play J himself either out of, or into, the team. I It therefore goes without saying that all I will be out-and-out triers. Players included in the game to-mor-row who.were not fielded on Saturday last are Carroll (Wellington), Devin'e (Timaru), and Vivian (Canterbury). Gieson (Waikato) will also be given a .chance, as he will replace Tallentire as hooker for New Zealand at half-time. The indications are that a great game will be served up, and though Wednesday is regarded as an off-day, the exhibition given on Saturday last will entice another big crowd to-morrow: — The teams are: — NEW ZEALAND. Full-back.—Eckboff (Otago). .Three-quarters. — Sanders (Canterbury), Desmond (Wellington), Hickey (Otago). Fivp-eigbths.—Vorratli (Otago), Vivian j -(Canterbury) , . Half.—Wilson-Hall (Canterbury). Forwards.—Menzics (Waikatoi. Talleutlre (West Coast), Carroll (Wellington). Deviur (Timaru), Thomas (Otago), 'Mouat (West Coast). AUCKLAND. Full-baeJS—Gregory (Marlst). Three-quarters.—'Mansl 11 (Newtonj, Brisbane f.Marist), Brown (City). Five-eighths.—Webb (TJevonport), Lewie tCity). Half.—Delgrosso (Ponsonbyt. Forwards.—O'Brien (Devonporfi, Towueend (City), Herring (Grafton), Hurt (Ponsouby), Payne (Ponsonbyl, Clarke 'jNewton). Emergencies. — Forwards: O'Brien (Maristl, Dixon (Devonport). Books: ißlle.v (I'onsonby), Wilson, jun. (Mangere), Little 'wood (Ponsonby), "Wade (City), Cleavvr 'iDevonport). THE TEAM FOR ENGLAND. FORM IN THE TRIALS. The Rugby League games which have been played to date have emphasised the fact that there is not a surfeit of highclass inside backs in the code as far as New Zealand is concerned, although there are players of undoubted promise who may be moulded into a good combination. In some other respects the selectors have an easier task. There are plenty of good forwards of the necessary stamina and skill in sight from whom to select the final dozen. Two more trial matches have yet to be played, m> there is still time for somebody to make a, late run and win a place. Of the two fullbacks to be chosen Dufty and Gregory appear to have the strongest claims. Although dissimilar in method both are of undoubted class in their play, and have shown splendid form-.throughout the present season. The real problem is the selection of the backSv..: liie centre-threequarters must ~be, men whe will rtin straight and play u&seifishly into the hands of the men beside.them. The filling of the five-eighths positions is the most difficult of the lot. What is wanted for the tour is two pairs of players who can blend and the way for the men behind them. Cole has been the outstanding five-eighths in the trials, with a -wonderful brilliance in attack. None of the other five-eighths have reached his level, and the selection of the other trio will take a lot of thinking 6\it.' Delgrosso, Sanders and Kirwan should be all in the running. Delgroseo has not played close to the scrum in the trials, but he has had previous experience there, and is the headiest back in the code. Like Kirwan he has not sufficient pace for a ■wing-three-quarter, with faster men inside of him. Among the half-backs • Wilson-Hall stands on a pedestal alone, and his play this season has justified the claim that the League game in New Zealand; has at last developed a champion halfback. In the inter-Island game he displayed splendid initiative in starting scoring movements, his burst of speed recalling Duncan Thompson, which is saying a lot.

There is not the sliadow of a doubt that the success or failure of the team in England . will rest in the forwards. Fortunately the selectors have in sight more than the required dozen of robust, virile players, capable of fully extending Jany forward divisions that they are likely to meet. Two good hookers will be essential. Tovrnsend and Tallentire both did well last Saturday, while Carrol, the ex-Rugby Union All Black, will be seen in action to-morrow. On the fine showing of the South Island pack Henry, Mouatt, Wright, Petersen and Mason look certain of a place, while on the North side Singe and Avery must have good prospects. The real difficulty will be who to leave out.

Xor does the players mentioned exhaust all the possible candidates. Vivian, a live-eighths from Christchurch, and Devine, a fifteen stone forward from Timaru-* will be in to-morrow's trial game, and it is quite possible that they will make Rood. Compared with the 1907 Xew Zealand team the 1926 tourists should be stronger in the forwards, and about on a oar as far as the backs are concerned. History in one respect might repeat itself, in that the reserve backs may not be up to the standard of the first choices. On the other hand they -will depart from New Zealand shores with the services of a wonderfully successful coach in "Mr. E. H. Mair. who has the happy genius of getting the very best out of' a team.

SCARCITY OF WINGERS

A month acr> it was the general opinion not only of keen followers of the game, but the selectors also, that the cne great problem which would be encountered in getting 2(5 players for England \vo6ld lie in selecting first-class inside backs. But since then the position has undergone a complete cliangn and to-day, instead of looking for inside backs.jthe selectors are badly in need of, good wingers. It was intended to name 13 certainties early this week after the form had been disclosed in the North and South' ganio, but it is doubtful whether the selectors have picked out more than nine, and possibly there is not a recognised winger in the nine. Of course one has no inside knowledge but a glance through the teams to lie Gelded to-morrow the selectors am faced with no easy task. The trouble appears to be that the hacks are just a passably good lot, fulling a little below international standard. The position of the selectors is an unenviable one. and no matter what the final decision is there is bound to he faults found by the "fans." Asked to name hnlf-a-dozpn backs as certainties the writer would vote for Dufty, Colo, Drlprnsso. Kirwan, Davidson, 'and Wilson-Hall. That would still leave eight to get, and with little or nothing to choose between them it is extremely difficult to say who will be the fortunate ones. Of forwards there are plenty. Mouatt, Wright, Petersen, Henry, and Singe should be certainties. A BUSY COACH. Every team to go on tour has its coach, but never has a lwrly of footballers ever been in charge of such n little bundle of energy as Mr. E. H. Mair. the coach and team's manager of the Leaguites to go on tour. His whole heart and soul is centred in the welfare of the team and lie is doing all that man can possibly do to gee that the Dominion's representatives when they step on the football fields of the Mother Country arc in a position to give of their very best, and have that necessary understanding between players which is essential if success is to he achieved. This week Mr. Mair has been buay coaching the possibilities for England, and in

addition was out with the Richmond Club one evening putting the players through a course of training. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. H.P., Newtnn.—The first three tramps plnypfl were: Sppr. 5, New Zealand 2~>. v. •Queensland 24; Sept. 9. Aix-klanrl IS. v. Queensland IS: Sopt. 12, Queensland 33. v. New Zealand 14.