LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 228, 27 September 1927, Page 14

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

INTER-ISLAND GAME. brilliant north backs. SPECTACULAR EXPOSITION" OF CODE. The annual match between the North and South Island teams—the second that has been played to date—indicated that the standard of the code has improved in the Dominion compared with previous years, and that the game has made remarkable progress in the South Island.l Lust season there were about two Saturdays which could be really described as wet, but this year it has just about been reversed. Heavy rain prior to the game on Saturday made the ground very soft and muddy in patches, but the ball could be handled, and the result was that a very entertaining exposition of the code was given, the handling work of the North Island backs being delightful, and at times rousing the spectators to a high pitch of enthusiasm. The better team won, sterling individual defence alone saving the Southerners from a greater score being put up again»t them. Fielding aa evenly balanced and fast sextet of forwards, the men from the South fully held their own, and forward honours on the day were even. But the North Island bucks were superior and combined in a fashion that recalled the

spectacular attacking work of some of the great sides thai have visited New Zealand from Australia during past years. With a more experienced side North were expected to show to greater advantage. From the Southern viewpoint, the most satisfactory , feature was the promise revealed, by the young players included in their team—youngsters who have the beat of their football careers before them, and who will probably climb to greater football heights in the future. South Island got the opening score when Hand, the Canterbury forward, demonstrated the chances that often come ta the man who follows up. The ball was in the air at the time near the left corner, and had two of the North backs accepted the clearing chance that they had, the game would still have been pointless at that stage. The clearing chance, however, was lost. Hand kkkM the baU across the goal-line and had too big a start in the race far possession to be interfered with. An exhibition of clever supporting play at the other end brought North level. It started as a blind side movement, Wetherill giving the ball to Raynor, on and then, as the Waikato man swung In, the Ancklander swept round on the outside to take the return pass. Even thep there were two men ahead, but Wetherill drew them, snapped .another pass to Raynor, trailing on''the inside in < .support, and the latter went across to register a pretty try- Supporting play played a big part in the passing movement that put North in the lead. It started from scrum work at midfleld, Peckliam shoot-

tag the ball away to Gregory. The latter opened up • big gap In the South backs with clever penetrative running. By that time Peckham was again in support, and eventually List was sent sailing across unopposed. % - On the principle that attack Is the best defence, South opened up passing in their own twenty-five, and. were going well until Raynor intercepted and raced ahead. A clean cut-in stranded one of the South Island live-eighths and a wide swerve left the South Island fullback lamenting, Sullivan slipping when trying to get into position fOr. the.'taekle. After that the Waikato man scored as he liked behind the posts—A try that was.converted. 'Clever play by Woods, the

youthful Southern halfback, gave South their second try—a stab kick, a sharp follow through,'and a score that was the reward for great opportunism. "* From out near the touchline Sullivan landed;:* wonderful- angle goal — no mean feat with a heavy ball. Once , near the; end Woodgate surprised North with his speed, and Qoodall ran for thel}ne with a clear field, a certain scOrebeing saved by List, Who came with great pace and floored the Duller rep. from behind. / Both teams were remarkably well served at fullback, but Dufty Was superior to Sullivan, much for the reason that he is more experienced in the finer points of the code, his linking with his three-quarters in attack line fear, ♦ ur « Of his play. Undoubtedly fullback is his proper place, and the game that he played could scarcely be improved upon. Sullivan came with a big reputation, and made good. His kicking wais excellent and his defence magnificent; He went down to the fiercest of rushes and never failed to hold a; man that he could lay his hands upon. ' i In a word it can be said that every N»rthJ.land tack played to form aA mMM his selection. For one* Auckland IMM supporters saw an intermediate line working in perfect Hudson, Peckham, Gregory and Prentice teaming with a wonderful understanding-and pre- . cision, while in the centre was Wetherlll, who gave a remarkable demonstration of I centreplay. On his day it is claimed that Wetherlll has no peer in New Zealand, and on (Saturday he save hie'very best, playing unselfishly, handing good passes on to his wings and making wonderful openings by the sheer skill and artistry of Ms play—aa exhibition that had. afiMWfc a Mend of nonchalance on occasions. Thanks to Wetherill the North wings saw more of the tall than they usuaUy get in a season. and unde* happy auspices both List and Baynor positively shone.. The Waikato man ran strongly and kepi position well, the oalj ' twig about his play that waa not apprc- ; HaW being his erode method of handing • *#, jigh overhead passes.

The North forwards went well, Somers Jjooking cleanly, and O'Brien being in everything that was going. Love, the huge native forward from Wellington, impressed with his physique, but he is not the beau ideal League front man, as he appeared to be too slow in the open play. Timms, the Waikato forward, was the best, standing out with

clever dribbling, heading every rush, and maintaining his dash right to the end. In the loose forward position Clarke fell short of the Avery plane, although he played well. Youth was 'the feature of the South Island backs. Woods, a Christchurch youngster, who jumped from fourth grade to rep. status in a single season, played a very bright, nippy game, and got the ball away splendidly. The South Island five-eighths were outclassed by the Auckland pair matched against them, they did not send the ball on with celerity, were stereotyped in style, while McKewen, although fast, hopelessly jammed the men outside him in attack by taking this line of least resistance, and running across the Held. In the centre Robins, the Christchurch Marist captain, played well and intelligently, his anticipation in defence being a wonderful asset ,to the South. Little was seen of Blackaby on attack, but in defence his man stopping-power was weak, and List on several occasions simply brushed him aside. On the other wing Oliver was similarly starved for attacking chances, but the little that came his way gave him the chance to reveal himself .as one of the most promising wing-threequarters in the Dominion. He 'has all the gifts that are necessary to lift a player to fame, sure hands, great speed, a dazzling side-step,, and it may be that in thepseasons to come he will prove' to be the mecurial scoringwing that New Zealand is seeking, a layer to be compared with either Horder, or Aynsley.

The South pack was not as robust as the sturdy six side seen in action from "down under" last year, but it was a well balanced sextet that averaged in the neighbourhood of thirteen stone and displayed fine, sustained dash. On the day they were quite a match for the six pitted against them. Goodall, the Buller forward, was decidedly the best, and right through the game he stood out prominently. Woodgate and Hand had pace to burn in the loose, while Tallentire, in the role of hooker, did not | suffer in comparison with his vis-a-vis.