LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 214, 10 September 1928, Page 8

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

INDICTMENT BY AUSTRAL^! "SURPRISED, BUT HOT t STATEMENT BY PRE&DEHI. | ~r * : "We are surprised, bat not with the indictment of Leagne in New Zealand, by Mr. Dave on his return to Australia," ajj president of the New Zealand Ragfcy League (Mr. C. A. Snedden) this matmrS: ing. According to Mr. Murray, aa Ami* tralian who acted as luggage ™«n rubber-down for the English team while in New Zealand, the GaSfe'"'' church Test match was a fierce K«**u This is strangely in conflict with fvtr' church Press reports of the the opinions expressed by the EmM v team managers (Messrs. E. Osborne 2 F. G. Hutchins), who said that it tense, splendid game played with & best of good feeling. i; Mr. Snedden said that it was not m, sidered in New Zealand that Mr. Munav was in a fit position to judge the rin ing abilities of the New Zealand and his reported opinion that the* would be curtain-raiser standard in tralia was not shared by Messrs. and Hutchins, who believe fl?it -nntha New Zealand team win tour Eng|2: within the next seven years. Hs wm pleased that Mr. Murray admitted off the field the Englishmen wtm treated splendidly. Mr. Murray also a guest of New Zealand.

RETORT TO CRITIUinL

"A GRAIN OF SALT" NEEDED. ' (By Telegranh.—Own Corrcspoatatf UH KISTUHL Km, this day. Dave Murray's qualifications aa £ critic of international football an questioned by Mr. W. J. MitAJ, a New Zealand Rugby League —l— who has represented New z—j both Rugby and League. Mr. Mitchell states that as far aa h| knows, Murray has occupied no tion other than that of masseur to & teams. Murray came to New as the paid servant of the Rugby League team, and his aftkwm should be taken with a grain of —It With reference to the statement tisi if the New Zealand team went to Sjfr nev they would be playing in "curtail raisers," Mr. Mitchell said that judgi* by the results of the mati*h»« played by the Englishmen, New Zealand shodf be quite as good as - a NewWales team. "There is no doubt that Prentice, tfct great tackier from Anrk-l»T»«i vu 4 Z in the ointment as far as the men were concerned," said Mr. Tfitrkil "They were after him, all rigfct7a3 frankly said so before the TMi TW didn't get a chance, however. Pr—iif plays hard and is a terrific He has a vice-like grip from which a| opponent has a chance of getting anft and he brings him to the gmmJ wits a thud. There is, however, notttf illegal about Prentice's tackling—it* good and hard. Neither he nor BriaI bane had a chance to show their attack* [ ing powers in the third Test at Cfai* church, as the tackling was too deed on both aides." This statement refers to one mafc Dave Murray, who was maasenr fct the English playera, and whose caUal criticism of New Zealand players, naa» agement and referees appears is ov sporting pages.