ENGLISH TEAM COMING

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 194, 18 August 1927, Page 14

ENGLISH TEAM COMING

~ LESSONS OF THE PAST. L A few weeks ago it seemed that Auck[supporters of the League code were in -for a lean time in regard to big matches this season, seeing that the Auckland representative team is due to go on tour in the South Island, but the position has been considerably brightened with the knowledge that the St.- George team from Sydney is coming across to play four matches, and with the fixing of the inter-island game to be played at Carlaw Park. The dates for the visit of the Sydney* side are still uncertain, but there is no real reason why. there should be any interference with the local arrangements. Even-with the Auckland rep. team on tour strong teams could be gathered to meet the visitors, and, fur-, ther, some of the younger and promising' players could be given a chance in good football company. At the moment two rep. teams of equal strength could be" chosen in Auckland, and if they met it would take a clairvoyant to tell which would win. Information has also come to hand thatt the, British team will visit New Zealand next season at the conclusion of the Australian portion of the programme, so probably New Zealand will have another chance of achieving fame in a fight for the mythical ashes,-which were so; jeasily surrendered .when the last X- ... ■ . <■•- .-.-«•■• ■• •■"

Dominion team went Home, • There will probably -be a number of flew; faces in the -touring English side., Since last season tne English League has gathered into its fold a number of leading Rugby players, two of note being Andrews, the Welsh international three-quarter, and Kinnear, the Scottish centre. Until now the Home policy has been to select only English, (Welsh" or Scottish players; Were the choice made wider,' New Zealand would probably see Van Heerden and Van Rooyen, the well-known South African players,, once mpre in s acti6p, and for that matter some of the other Springbok stars who have joined English teams during the past few years. ; Every tour that has been arranged by the English Rugby League has resulted in satisfactory financial returns, and the fact that this season a League match in Sydney drew over 56,000 spectators augurs well for the financial side of the arrangements next season. The need for proper coaching of players was remarked upon during the present week by an old player; who pointed out that when orthodox play was unequal to the needs Of the occasion, then finesse was-imperative. It is-beyond argument that some of the best lessons taught in -Auckland have not been appreciated. Call to miadthe way that Gallagher, the English breakaway forward, used' to move off the scrum to make the extra back on occasions when five men could hold the pack against them. It is rarely seen in club games, the sole exception being that Marist have used the move occasionally with J. O'Brien breaking off the scrum, although mostly as a defensive, and not an attacking move. Another memory is the perfect timing of a pass with full pace" up, as illustrated by Johnny Thomas, Of ■ one of the English teams, the" elusive back-hand pass that Stone, the slippery Gloucester player in the 1920 English team, used to hand out, the reverse' pass, so cleverly exploited by the Queenslanders, and their clever, infiltration method of progression, with players at top speed, crisp, unselfish passing and superb handling. ' Again there is an obvious weakness in the local scrumming. The; men who shine in the loose are numerous, but the few who will push their weight in the tight play are exceedingly rare and scarcely known beyond the players who pack with them. General congratulations have been extended to the Ellerslie team on winning the B grade championship after a hard-fought game with Kingsland. Play in the B grade this season has, amply demonstrated the fact that not all the League stars are in the A .division, although-the public-do iiot see-a great deal of the B players in action, and thus the claims of the best players in the grade-are not fully appreciated. List, of the Kingsland team, is probably the best centre three-quarter in Auckland, and both he and Little wood, of Ellerslie, had strong claims for inclusion in the last New Zealand team that toured England. " ' Reports from Wellington indicate that the prospects of the code there are much brighter than they have been for some time past: A ten years' lease has been secured of a ground, and the feeling is that, if more playing grounds could be secured there would, be no difficulty in getting at least'two more senior teams to play. . )