PLAY REVIEWED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 221, 26 September 1938, Page 15

PLAY REVIEWED.

STANDARDS COMPARED. ' If the result of the match may be accepted as a criterion, the League club standard of play in Sydney is better than in Auckland. Up to a point, the Aucklanders held their own, but on the full run of the play Eastern Suburbs were a definitely superior aide to Marist, the Auckland club champions of 1938. The visitors;' play was sharper, more penetrative, and there waa a rare Wend of strategy about it which made their display both colourful and impressive. The Australian atorle of play was essentially League; in New Zealand a Rugby ten* drncy still lingers. The visitors' back play wae strictly moulded on the four-three-qnsrter pattern, they played with a pleasing rhythm, and there was always a keen search for the overlap. There was a flexibility of movement about the Sydney play that could be copied with advantage in Auckland.

Eastern Suburbs opened up with pace, ilceieion and rapid inter-play that made Manet look like an inferior side, and they had to concentrate hard on the defensive in an endeavour to save their line. Bi iiliant passing and great pace eaw the Sydney backs well in the picture. Both the revenge and scissors passes were used on occasions and three converted trie* came in quick succession. Jt .wae beginning t© look onesided, but Manet gradually settled down to support their forwards. Team play, which had peen very ragged .up to this point, unproved, and, rallying in a way that delighted the spectator, the Aucklandere P'«yed on ao well that they finished the first half on practically even terms. Loss of Woods. Marist kept in the ascendancy when the second half opened, but they were soon a man abort, Woods being injured. Him loss meant much to Marist. They held on gamely for a while. Then they wilted and in the final phase of the play it waa simply a series of Eastern Suburbs processions over the Mariat line. Yet to the last Marist fought back gamely ae chance offered. But a man short was a great disadvantage in the set scrums, where the full weight wan needed. Coming to individual players, the visitors had in their forwards a trio of exceptional physique in Stehr, Pearce and Arnold, and a rake in Pierce, who gave his team a steady share of the ball from the set scrums. The Sydney six packed low and hard, and they were lively in the loose, and ever ready to team into combined work with their backs. The latter were a very spectacular set and often brilliant. In attack they were particularly dangerous, and quick to change direction and thrust from unexpected angles. Robinson was a polished scrum half, passing sharply and deeply to Pawley in support. The outer half varied hie play cleverly to the need of the particular moment, either using the lateral progress kick to beat a covering defence, or sweeping on a deep pass to bring a racing threequarter line into action, where Hyde was a particularly bright star, playing a beautiful positional game in the centre, and admirably catering for a very fast wing pair in Dermond and Gatraa. ■ And behind them was- i cUw and versatile full-beck in Norton, whose showing was in keeping with the best traditions of Australian custodian play. He Rave a splendid demonstration of running his backs into position, or kicked with fine judgment. MftTiST Firwirfi Exosf. The Marist pack gave a magnificent exhibition of sustained forward play, and, even when s>. man short for most of the second half they were just as resolute and tireless.

Tn patches the Marist backs played to form, hut they did not touch the brilliant play of the Sydney seven, anil in defence tlioy (jot the shadow instead of the substance at times, through holding off for interception, instead of obeying the golden rule of taking the man with the ball. Yet there was considerable individual merit. Glover, at full-back, had a day of practically ceaseless defence. He tackled with great resolution, and gave his side splendid service. Haslam, in the centre, displayed great generalship, and his defence wae unwavering, while both Matthews and Murdoch showed a ready opportunism.