LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 August 1928, Page 11

LEAGUE FOOTBALL

TO-MORROW’S TEST TEAMS

(Press Association.)

CHRISTCHURCH, Aug. 23

The teams for the Rugby League test match here on Saturday are as follow: — ENGLAND Full back: J. Sullivan. Three-quarters: T. E. Gwynne, L. Fairclough, T. C. Askin and A. Frodsham. Halves: J. Parkin and W. Rees. Forwards: H. Bowman, N. Bentham, J. Thompson, A. Fildes, F. Bowen, W. Horton. NEW ZEALAND Full back: C. Dufty. Three-quarters: Hardgreaves, H. Brisbane, L. Scott, C. List (one to be omitted). Five-eighths: S. Prentice, M. Wetherill and F. Delgrosso (one to be omitted). Forwards: L. Hutt, W. Somers, M. O’Brien, V. Goodall, C. Hall, E. Eckhoff, T. Timms, A. Townsend and W. Le Warne (three to be omitted).

A REPORT DENIED.

(Special to “Star.”)

CHRISTCHURCH, August 24

“Of all the contemptible newspaper reports of any match during my long association with the game, I have seen nothing more so than the reference to stretcher bearers being continually on the field during the second Test match at Dunedin,” declared Mr. E. Osborne, manager of the English Rugby League team last night. Mr. Osborne stated that the report of which he complained showed such a palsied .view that he could only imagine it to be the comment of a writer, who had either had a very bad night, or else was suffering from distorted '■imagination. A stretcher was used only once, to carry off Delgrosso, the New ‘Zealand inside back. Mr Osborne said that any ordinary person reading the report would draw from it the conclusion that Horton and Delgrosso had suffered serious injury, yet both had already played again.

The manager of the English team did not entirely exonerate participants in the test match from rough play. “The test match is like a Cuptie,” he said. “Everybody puts in all he knows. Both sides are tremendously keen, and unnecessary feeling is introduced. It is utterly incomprehensible but that it was there was perfectly evident.” Jonathan Parkin, captain of the English team, said a great deal more had been made out of it than was warranted.

Mr Osborne said that anything approaching a robust tackle by either side was apparently thought to be dirty by the spectators, who were largely responsible for the bad feeling and created a very unfavourable impression. A section provoked the players into doing things for which they could condemn, then they hooted. A case which illustrated their bad sportsmanship was when two .New Zealanders collided and J. O’Brien’s nose was broken. The spectators referred to were booing continuously, Put it in as strong as you can. It wants condemning in unmeasured terms.

Mr Osborne said that fair criticism they always were pleased to acknowledge, but many in the Dunedin crowd were dead against them. In the second half, he moved among the crowd. When they saw his badge they talked not to him, but at him. He only hoped the comments were not made by Rugby Union men, for they had a reputation for politeness. Mr Osborne said the gate receipts at Dunedin were £602, and at Invercargill over £4OO. “I am not given to prophecy, but I believe we shall win the third testj” concluded Mr Osborne, “and that we shall have the satisfaction and joy of taking back to England, the cups won in Australia and New Zealand.” Jonathan Parkin did not venture to prophesy, but said he would prefer to wait and see.

There is an atmosphere of quiet confidence about the New Zealand team, although M. Wetherill, the captain, would make no comment on their prospects. The English team will be accorded a civic reception at noon to-day. On Sunday the Englishmen will place a wreath on the-grave of Mr Baskerville, one of the pioneers of Rugby League in New Zealand, in Karori cemetery at Wellington.

WEEK-END GAMES

League games will be played on live grounds next Sunday. At Cobden, a Bradshaw Cup game will be played between Grey and Runanga seniors. Grey won the last game against the Black and Whites under heavy football conditions, and hope to repeat the performance, next Sunday on the Cobden ground. Marist Seniors journey to Melson Creek in another Bradshaw Cup fixture. Blackball have a bye. Junior Knock-out Cup games include Nelson Creek v. Grey at Nelson Creek at 1.30 p.m. and Runanga v. Blackball at Dunollie at 3 p.m. Both games should be worth watching. Marist v. Brunner Thirds play at Brunner. These minor grade games are often quite as interesting as the senior matches. The Marist-Blackball Fifth Grade fixture is to be played at Cobden at 1.30 p.m.

The junior fixture, • Marist v. Ngahere, to have been played on Sunday, has been postponed on account of a bereavement in the family of one of the Marist players. The Nelson Creek senior team to play Marist at Nelson Creek on Sunday will be as follows: —Williams, Tobin, Greer, Sadler, Helem, Butterworth, Southorne, Brownlie, Molloy, Bennet, Calder, M. O’Brien, Biyan. The following will represent Marist thirds against Brunner, at Brunner, on Sunday, 3 p.m.:—Behan, Williams, O’Donnell, Rose, Anisy, Atkinson, Riordan, O’Leary, O’Brien, Cairney, Higgins, Restieaux, Simmons, Bailey and Costello.