LAST MATCH OF RUGBY LEAGUE TOUR.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 156, 5 July 1938, Page 15

LAST MATCH OF RUGBY LEAGUE TOUR.

•\N"ew Zealand were badly beaten for the ball from the scrums."

This -is what the report of the match which the Xew Zealandere played at Newcastle on Saturday states, and although tiie tourists won by a comfortable marKin that fact was due to their open team play and ability to handle the ball cleanly. In several of the matches played the New Zealand scrum work has been criticised and two defeats by the Queensland State team were attributed to that reason. The tour appears to have exposed a weakness' in New Zealand League football* and as the possession of the ball is everything it is something that should be remedied. In Auckland the game has developed on the lines of open play and the honest forward who does his best work in the scrums by putting- all his weight in when possession ie needed is apt to be overlooked. With five men packing it is necessary that full weight most be given if the hooker is to have a proper chance of raking the ballThe laet-man-down position may be filled by a player with a penchant for open play, ae eo well demonstrated by Tetley and Brodrick, bat apack of loose forwards cannot cope with, a ecrnm packed properly against them. Sound forward play has been well demonstrated m Auckland on various occasions by visiting English teams, with players who were up to standard in all phases of vanguard work. It is very attractive to eee the ball being thrown about freely, but much more important is to make sure of getting it. Efforts to arrange a Test fixture between Xew Zealand and Australia have not materialised, and the New Zealandere will close their tour at Sydney to-morrow with a match against a metropolitan team. AortrvJta "Raps." Maneon. one of the wing three-quarters for the Sydney team, is a young Met player, who has rapidly come to th* front this season, in the forwards ere KtMir. Pearce, Pierce and Nerval, who are Australian representatives. It would have given much satisfaction to XVw Zmlnndew had Tent fixtures jr-raiwt Australia been arranged.

Team for To-morrow. The Xew Zealand team is annonnced ae illowp: — Kiill-b.ick: Hemi. Three-quarters: Smith, Tittleton. Kay, ' • •-■.?, Midpley (one to be omitted). !\\v-«»i{!hth«: W. P. Brimble. Ma'f-back: W. Brimble. v 'r-v.rrds: .Wio:?o'.i. Glynn, McLectl. - \- ,:,,;,4._ f\, ,..,., C^otCF.