LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 248, 19 October 1926, Page 13

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

NEW ZEALANDERS ABROAD. THEIR BEST WIN. In defeating Hull on Saturday, the Sew Zealand League team gave the lie direct io the English critic who proclaimed to the world that the men from the Dominion were a lot of third raters. Even we in Xew Zealand did not for a moment hold that the team now on tour was a woorld-beating side, but we did consider them at least a useful set, who could offer solid resistance to any team that England might field. Having been downed in'the first Test, and again by the powerful Warrington Club, it was recognised that the tourists would meet spine opposition which would, in all probability, add further losses to the record of the New Zealandere. One of these team-s was Hull, a side which had not suffered, defeat in 35 successive games. It may be assumed the Hull men were very anxious to keep their etring of successes intact, and in the face of the severe criticism which had been levelled at the Dominion Leaguers, the Home side would have every reason to anticipate another win, when they took the field on Saturday. But, as has so often been emphasised previously, if there is one game Xew Zealand can play and play well, it is • football, either Rugby or League, and this the Hull team found to be only too true. Certainly there was not a great deal separating the teams when the-fina.Lwhistle, sounded, but it came at a time when Gregory had just converted a try and placed the Xew Zealander= two points in the lead, 15 —13. From the accounts in the cables it is clear that the match was one of thrills and th« football hard —just the sort that the Dominion men would revel in. The victory is the most important so far secured on the tour, and will cau=e the selector* of England' 3 team for the second Test which, by the way, is not till nest month to take no chances. According to th< itinerary the game to-morrow will b« against Bradford Jforth. This team wai not very - prominent last season, whicr. would point to. the tourists notching another win. A Comparison. To date, the Xew Zealanders now ob tour have played 11 matches, and th« result compared with the same matches played by Baskerville'e team in 1907-08 which are given below, should mak( interesting reading:— 1926. 1907. Dewsbury Won 13—9 Won IS—S Leigh Won 23—16 Lost 9 —li Halifax Lost 13—19 Lost 4—9 Rochdale « ; ... Won 11—9 Won 19—0 Barrow Won 19—16 Lost 3—6 Widnes Won 13—5 Won 26 —13 England Lost 20—28 Lost 16— li York Won 19 —11 Lost 3—5 Warrington .. Lost 5: —18 Lost 7—B Bromley Won Ss—l2 Won 25—6 Hull ... Won 15—13 Won 18—1! DUNEDIN SEASON REVIEWED. The season just endefl can hardly b« Inscribed -as* a very successful one, chieflj owing to the fact that many of th< players have not taken as kindly to th« rules as was naturally expected the} would (says "Drop Kick" in the "Dune iin Star"). League, when played as i 1 3hould be, is one of the most inspiring james that the ingenuity of man has jver devised, but unfortunately the •xponente of it here have failed as yet ;o do the code full justice. It is, perhaps, >nly a matter of tinKTfcef ore the players n Otago reach something of the standard ittained in Auckland. One thing is certain—that, until they do so, the public an hardly be expected to support the :ode here as they are doing elsewhere. Che executive, and particularly the secretary, and a few others, have done everything conceivable as far as placing the rame on a sound footing is concerned. They have certainly done so in the important department of finance, but the players remain the problem. If they refuse to play League there is nothing in the world to compel them to do bo. Long before the new season comes along the executive will have to boldly face the facts and make a valiant attempt to retrieve the position. A playing coach sr two may solve the problem; this was sertainly the method adopted in Queensland, who Tecruited some of the best players from New South Wales, and gradually placed the code on the pinnacle that it is on to-day in the banana State, [t may prove costly, but it appears to be the local centre's only hope of putting the game on a firm foundation. An effort will also have to be made before the club competitions commence next year to discover exactly what interpretations are to be placed on some of the rules. At the present time each referee has his own notion about them, md the radicaJy different rulings have naturally created' a considerable amount yt dissatisfaction with, the players and the public. The. local Referees' Assor tion, after consultation with the Dominion body, ehouM endeavour to lay down ie finite rulings -on the Jaws of the game that have been giving.most trouble since the code has been in existence here. Unless this- is done it is not difficult to predict that serious trouble will develop in the near future, as already there have seen some exasperating happenings. General regret is expressed at the impending deDarture of the League x>aeh, Mr. McGregor, fo-r Auckland; but bis stay would have been much more proitable had many of the players attempted to learn something from one who was particularly well qualified to give them i good insight into" the finer points of the game. There .is no doubt, however, that he has left his impress on the game here, and his work should bear fruit in the near future. ROOPE ROOSTER FINAL. The truism that victory goes to the side that makes the least mistakes was exemplified at Carlaw Park on Saturday, when Richmond defeated Devonport by the slender margin of one point, and won the coveted Roope booster, & win by the same narrow margin of a point as when Richmond met Ponsonby in the previous game. There' may have been more spectacular expositions of the code on previous occasions, but for thrills of sustained intensity the match -will..go down into League history as one of the most epic struggles on an Auckland ground. It was solidarity that carried the maroons through, and a wonderful defence that Shore was- unable to penetrate when a point down and ten minutes to go. Yet they played with amazing inspiration to get the upper hand. Early in the game Redwood gave Richmond a big advantage by beating St. George for possession in the scrums, but when in the second half Redwood was hurt and carried off, • the Richmond five could not hold the Shore sextet. The seasiders then came very much into; the picture, and although for a time" they had everything their own way, lack of the finishing touch, plus resolute tackling, saw the. scores unchanged. In the final

fleeting moments Richmond carried the play to their opponents' territory, and the end came with an anti-climax. A penalty was given against Devonport, and a player was out at the same time. Without waiting for the whistle for the resumption of play, Carroll kicked the ball over the crossbar, and the bell signalled time. The crowd was mystified when Carroll was again given the ball, and he then put the matter •beyond doubt or argument by kicking over the touchline. Although both sides played to their back when opportunity offered, it was countered by deadly tackling, both intermediate lines skirmishing enterprisingly with a view of cutting off passes. Forward the teams were well matched, but on the move the Devonport backs were more impressive, and it was faulty handling at psychological moments that proved their undoing, j Right through the season the Richmond back play in attack has not reached a. high plane, the fault being that several of the inside backs have but little idea of correctly timing a pass, although in this respect there are other League teams which have a similar failing. On Saturday there were many occasions when the inside men took their passes standing instead of with pace up, and it meant that the wings did not get the chances that should have come their way. Individually the Richmond play was full of merit. The best back was Prentice, who ran with determination and praiseworthy straightness. Davis played a great game at the base of the scrum, while the defence of Devon and Hanlon was impregnable. It was the Richmond forwards who carried their side through to victory, and they never let up from Btart to finish. Redwood was outstandingly good up to the time that he was hurt, and his ability to give his side the ball from the get scrums when pitted against a hooker of the skill of St. George meant a lot to his side. In the Shore forwards the outstanding player was Ruby, as far as dash went, but often his methods savoured more of strength than science. O'Brien, Douglas and A. Scott were in everything that was going. The veteran, Laing, was the best of the Shore backs, and for incisive attack in the latter stages of the game it was the finest exposition of penetrative five-eighth play seen on a local ground this season. With a modicum of support of ilie right kind, some of Laing , s efforts would have been finalised. Cleaver got the ball away well when his forwards could give it to him, and the pick of the three-quarters were L. Scott and K. Scott on the wings. Seagar was patchy, showing up at times, but he seemed unable to link up with Laing, and provide the right connection to the wings. At fullback Perry gave a highclass display, and his play on the day left nothing to be desired. SCHOOLBOYS' TEAMS. Four schoolboys' teams turned out on Saturday and gave a good exhibition of football, making the play open, and throwing the ball about at every opportunity. It is intended next season to have a schoolboys' competition. Already a set of caps for the winners and a valuable cup have been offered for competition.