"GREAT SIDE RUINED."

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 292, 9 December 1926, Page 9

"GREAT SIDE RUINED."

LEAGUE TOURISTS IN ENGLAND. A PEEP BEHIND THE VEIL. PLAYER AS A CRITIC. "A great side absolutely ruined." This is the summing up of one of the Auckland players with the New Zealand Rugby League team in England, who in a letter to an Auckland friend lifts the veil gently aside, and refers to some of the trials and tribulations that the tourists have experienced. He states that the New Zealanders found some of the Home referees very severe in regard to their interpretation of scrum play, and says that before the tour had got very far the blunder in regard to the selection of hookers was demonstrated.. '"Parkes has been raking," he adds, "and has proyed that he is the best man that we have for that position, despite tlie fact that he was") chosen as a back. Gardiner, also chosen as a-three-quarter, has been up in the' forwards, and has proved the right man in the right place for the 'mixed stuff' that has to be faced in some of these games." The Aucklander deplores the fact that Wetherill, the City five-eighth, was unable to make the trip, and says that the\* have not seen his equal on a Home ground, although Jonathan Parkin, the English stand-off half, the equivalent to i a first five-eighth in England, carved the defence of the New Zealand backs to ribbons in the first Test game. "We 6hould have won the first Test game," he states, "althought we did not deserve to. In support of a theory that the •heads' have, Desmond started as fiveeightn. and before the game was ovcK Delgrosso, Wilson-Hall, and Ben. Davidson were all tried there." In mentioning Ben Davidson the writer says that he has been the sheetanchor of the New Zealand backs, and that the English critics have been greatly impressed with his pace, straight running, unselfishness, and ability "to make the play for the men on the Wings. He states that several of the leading English clubs are ready to negotiate to get Devidson's services, that Halifax have made a straight-out offer of £800 if he will stay at Home and play for them. •'But," says tl-% writer, "the two years' residential'clause is a ban, and unless it is lifted there is no chance of any of the Colonial players signing up. In any case. H.I), likes Xew Zealand better, "so you will ! probably see him out for Litv again next season at Carlaw Park." Referring to the split that occurred the writer said that it came at an unfortunate time, mid shook the team badJv. Probably you know all about it at your end now.- lle adds, ''but just imagine a team being picked and six players saying at the very last moment that they were not going to play. Jheir grievance

was with the team manager. You know my views in regard to him, but I can say that he has done all in his power to help us and make the tour successful." The writer says that he has come across TJronco' Seeling and George Smith, two famous New —ealand players of other days, who have settled down at Home after playing for English clubs. | "Seeling is carrying his age well," says I the writer, "and looks fit enough to ! still be playing. The old hands here say j that he was the greatest forward, irres- j pective of code, that was ever seen in the North of England,- and that is saying a lot. Poor old 'Smithy' is not getting any younger, and his playing days have long since passed. There was a wistful look* in his eyes when we talked about Auckland Rugby and athletics of about 25 years ago, and I think that he . would be glad to get back to his home I town." j