LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 185, 7 August 1928, Page 14

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

TEST REFLECTIONS.

SULLIVAN'S FAUX PAS,

PROVINCIAL TEAM CHOSEN.

A STRONG COMBINATION

Now that the tumult and shouting has died—there are still a few rumblings as the outcome of a petulant outburst by Sullivan, who skipped the English team in the first Test match—it is possible to make a calm survey of an eveut that was eagerly anticipated by Aucklanders, a game that will pass down through the coiridors of time as one of the most

exciting contests ever staged on a Dominion ground. The next Test match will be played at Dunedin. Should the Dominion team win it will be a case ol' history repeating itself—New Zealand won the rubber in 1924—but if, on the other hand, the English team is successful, then the third Test match, which is to be decided at Christchurcli, will be vested with national interest. The impression one gained last Saturday was that if the heavy English forwards cati sustain their efTort right through, and if their backs team well, the visitors will have quite a sporting chance of coming out on tlic right side in the Tests. , When the English team set out on their tour the Home critics —there are some very capable ones # in the Old Land —said that the forwards were up to international standard, the halves were first rate, there was a great scoring wing in Ellabv, the team would be capably served at full-back, but that the centre three-quarters were not up to the plane, of some previous years, when there were stalwarts of the type of Lomas and Wagstaff in ♦ the game. This opinion is fully borne out by local observations. The weakness of the centres was very' apparent, and it will need to be remedied if England is to win the rubber.

It has often been said that opportunity makes the man. Take the case of L. Scott, the Dcvonport wing threequarter. Right through the season he has shown consistent improvement, and lie won a place in the New Zealand To>t team.on his merits.""" And on the day he played as if he had been in international football for a couple of seasons. That he rose to the occasion so splendidly was a course of great satisfaction to the many who admire bis play. The same applies to Prentice. The Richmand player is one of the finest defensive backs in Auckland, and it was a weakness in defence near the scrum when the last English team was out this way that made it imperative that a player of proved defence should be played in the five-eighth line. Metaphorically, Prentice grabbed his chance in the biggest football with both hands, and his sterling tackling was a theme of admiration. Quite early in the game Prentice electrified the spectators by lifting Sloman, the English fifteen stone front row man, clean, off his feet. It is difficult to see how the New Zealand selectors could imprrive the home team for the next Test match as the whole six played well, and gave their best. James O'Brien and Hutt had the right collective Weight to make the front row the solid arch that it slion'd lie, and Somcrs, when it came to raking, bad very s.turjjv shoulders to swing on. Without being sliowv Timms, the Waikato man. toiled to the point of exhaustion, while O'Brien and Ooodall, the West Coast men are fit for any football company . " -■ The value of having an accurate goal kicker was fully demonstrated by Dclgrosso, whose safe boot garnered some golden points for his side. With much to enthuse over it is rather a to have to refer to a reverse side of the picture. There seems to be some born orators amongst the visitors, a couple of their forwards talked far too much in the course of the game, and it grated on Aucklander spectators who are unused to it. Immediately the game was over the manager of f the English team congratulated the New Zealand team. It was in keeping with the spirit of true sportsmanship which has always characterised Mr. Osborne,« while Jonathan INrkin, the captain of the tourists—he was a spectator through injuries received in Australia—also extended congratulations, and had no complaint to make. It was left to Sullivan, the acting-cap-tain of the English team, to cause real unpleasantness, and his foolish remarks were made at a dinner tendered to the teams after the match. SulliVan, dressed in brief authority, was peeved at the result of the game, and his criticism of the referee's rulings was in exceedingly bad taste. On Sullivan's side it can be said that he is young and inexperienced in some things, but the English managers are going to take decided risks if they allow him to make statements which can only have the effect of committing the whole team, and destroying a reputation for sportsmanship which others have tried assiduously ito build up. The spirited and spontaneous reply that the refer.ee (Mr. L. Bull) made wiil be warmly supported by all League enthusiasts.

The EngrsTimen will again be seen in action at Carlaw Park to-morrow, when tliey will meet an Auckland team. The home team has been built on the foundation of resting some of the stars, and giving lesser lights a chance, an excellent policy, and one that has resulted 'ii a snlendiit si<le being assembled, a team that should produce satisfactory results if they combine 011 the day, and absorb the advice previously given by the writer about resolute tackling. S. Rayner, the full-back, is a very sound player, and if he plays at the top of liis form should make a very satisfactory choice. Auckland's coming fullback is undoubtedly Bare-hard. the°clever little City player, and although on actual form he deserves consideration, he is still a bit young to thrust into football with an international team engaged. The other backs are a speedy, clever lot. One is glad to see Beattie, the speedy Shore player, get a chance, while the inclusion of Hanlon in the fiveeighth line, is popular. The Richmond player has all the gifts that makefile high-class player, and his only real fault is that he has not yet got the right idea in connection with the release of the ball to a supporting player. Seagar, on his best day, will give every -satisfaction, while the prowess of Peckham is well known. It wil" not be such a weighty pack as last Saturday's lot, but there is a great trio together with Moisley, Stephenson and Slenzies in the front row, while the play of Hall and Clarke in the trial game fuliy entitled them- to selection. The fact that players of the calibre of Wilson. Davis ajid Amos are among the

reserve backs, and Payne in the reserve forwards, only goes to show the -embarrassing wealth of talent at the selectors' disposal. The team will train at Carlaw Park this evening.

CONFLICTING RULES.

On almost every occasion when football teams visit overseas countries there is a difference of opinion in regard to the interpretation of the rules governing the particular code of R igby. The English League team is no exception to the rule. Last week, the managers of the visiting team, both recognised authorities on the game, made certain demands to the New Zealand Rugby League, and it was surprising to hear the different opinions expressed. The tour to New Zealand was agreed to only under the same conditions as to Australia, which country played the rules as laid down in the hand book of the English Rugby League.

The replacement of injured players was one of the main features of the discussion, and it is little wonder that Mr. G. F. Hutchins strongly objected to the local practice of substitutes. The first rule in the Northern Union game reads: "The Hue by League game of football should be played by 13 players on each eide, but when once the game is started substitutes shall not be introduced to take the place of any player compelled to leave the field of play through injury or any other cause." Mr. Hutchins put up some strong arguments in support of his claim, which after a ler.gthy djscussion proved of no avail. Several delegates, in opposing tlio English law, said that the replacement of injured players in New Zealand was solely to suit local conditions where the public would never be convinced that a team should continue, until the first spell at least, with less players than the opposing side. Whatever our views are in' New Zealand, Mr. Hutchins made it clear that no other teams would visit the Dominion unless the rules of Rugby League football were played.

It is interesting lo note that in Australia no players will in future be replaced, and this also it is understood will apply to club fixture.-. The local leagues will therefore have to seriously consider the advice of the English managers and right away come to an amicable settlement of a much-abused custom. The fact that the New Zealand Council 'gave way to the managers' -demands for two spells of 40 minutes for the remainder of their matches in the Dominion is evidence that a change may be expected in Auckland. Many keen supporters of the code have for some time advocated that spells of 45 minutes are unnecessary, and brighter and more attractive football would be the result of 10 minutes' less play.

Whether a scrum or a free kick should bo given for the pass forward, or for a player who is in front from a dribbling rush was another point discussed by the managers, who were loud in the condemnation on the ruling as applied in New Zealand, where a free kick for being offside is awarded. Our interpretation, however, is against all the leading authorities on the game, and there is no doubt that the first breach caused — the forward pass, calls for a scrum, or

the advantage rule being applied. In this case the English representatives won and a scrum shall to called for forward passes. At the close, of the discussions which were very interesting, the president, Mr. C. A. Snedden, said that New Zealand was keen to play the game as ruled in England and he hoped that on the managers' return Home the Dominion would be kept better acquainted in future with the rules and interpretations of the game.

OFF-SIDE CONTROVERSY.

X.S.W. writes: —"Your paragraph in the Sports Edition apropos the off-side rule, in which a comparison is put forward to justify the deliberate and intentional placing of oneself off-side reads: 'Otherwise any player in front of his full-back, who has kicked, and within even 15 yards of the receiver, is equally off-side.' This has started me thinking. You suppose that there is sound logic in this contention. This is hardly so, in the face of the fact that all laws or rules are subject to an interpretation in the broadest sense of fairness, justice and intention. Comparisons are always odious in matters of law where intention is the essence. There will always be anomalies in law&i but these should not be availed of by an obvious offender against the principle. For instance, would it be right to permit of 'knoeks-on,' forward passing and the like, on the 'logical' grounds that it occurs by way of a man potting for goal or drop-kicking, for in order to drop-kick the ball must be thrown forward, the toe being the furthest point of the body forward necessitates this; then agi)in, what of the übiquitous player who twirls the ball round his body, from arm to arm. Isn't he off-side when the ball is in the middle of his back. There are numerous such anomalies, and the whole thing boils down to fairness, justice and intention : the referee being the one to interpret in the broadest and fairest way. Np good sport should look for. flaws to take advantage of. This amounts to nothing else but pointing, and 'pointers' and true sports are as poles apart: Win-at-any-price tactics seem hardly British."

ONLOOKER'S VIEWPOINT.

THE TEST HATCH.

"Lover of Clean Sjxjrt" writes:—"As a spectator of the mateli between England and New Zealand at Carlaw Park last Saturday, may I be allowed space in which to say a few words in defence of the English team. It was very amusing to note that the New Zealand team say the English did not play the game. The kettle calling the frying pan black, I am afraid. Maybe the English got in a few parting shots, but what about the unsportsmanlike play of various New Zealand players during the progress of the game ? What about the player who hung on to the ball so that the visiting team could not score till his players returned to the field after the half-time spell? The unfair game the Zealanders played, as nearing the end of the match, tired out, they thought the

other side might after all win.? Was that, I ask you, playing the game ? Fair's fair after all, i 8 it not? Come on New Zealand, play up and play the game." "Aussie" presents his views as follows:—"The gentleman responsible for the report of the League Test in the Eight o'Clock Edition of Saturday night is indeed generous when ho describes the Englishmen as good sportsmen. They are a great team. Yes, the greatest team of 'squealers' yet seen on the park. Hardly a decision was given against them, but a 'deputation' of two or more didn't wait on Mr. L. Bull and question his ruling. These men are representing a country responsible for the rules governing Northern Union football, and because they are not allowed to travel 14,000 miles to break them they are highly indignant with Mr. Bull for not allowing 'lifting* in the scrum, obstruction, 'shepherding' and offside tactics to go unpenalised. Of course it must have been very disappointing to learn so soon after the commencement of the game that a team which was only picked two days before the match and had not had a game together was more than holding its own against the cream of England that was at the top of its form, and was playing its fourteenth match as a combination. It is up to the New Zealand League to follow the advice of that great little sport, M„ Wctherill, choose the next Test team early, and, I would add, put the members into camp r. ud give them a chance to train and get fit, so that it can be proved the victory of Saturday last was no fluke."

LEAGUE PIONEERS.

W. Perrett writes:—"l noticed in- the programme of the North v. South match a portrait of Mr. James Carlaiv, underneath which was a tribute to the 'grand old man of the League game.' Also in the "Star" of last Tuesday another portrait of the same gentleman and a con-

siderable amount of kudos as to his - career in the League game. I am mat nl ; S to belittle Mr. Carlaw's efforts for th»» ? League in any way, in fact we all admira him for what he has done. But I Want to point out as a very old League worker ' that credit should be given where credit is due. I feel tore that many of us were working for the League «ame l«n<» before Mr. Carlaw. If l remember rightly, the league started in Aucldaul in 190 l». and the first Auckland team toured South in lfllO. M r . D. W. Jfr. Lean is to niv mind 'the grand old' maa of the game.' having been in it since its inception. He lias been a great worker for the game and the game's sake alone— when money and big crowds were conspicuous by their absence and all tL» hurdles in the world had to be jumped. Why do we not hear of such workers a « Teddy Watts. Harry Oakley, Billy Wvnvard, Fred Gladding, George Frater, J Dickson, M.P., Billy Dervan and the lat« Percy Usher—others, too, I cannot thmiof for the moment * 1 am speaking of 1911 now when Carlaw Park was thought of. We played on Victoria Park in those days. Touring teams had to pay tlieir own exj>enses and loss of time by each player putting five or six pounds iu the hat before he left home. But we got there just the same and had some splendid teams, too. I am sure all the old pioneers are just as pleased as I am to see the League game has progressed so rapidly, but I do think the bouquets should be distributed and not handed to one individual alone.'"—(Mr. Perrett apparently has not seen .the tribute to Mr. McLean which appeared in the "Star's''' Sports Edition.—Sports Ed.)