FOOTBALL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 25 July 1924, Page 10

FOOTBALL.

ALL BLACK TEAM. TELKGK *VH —‘‘HKSh ASSOCIATION.) M ELLINGTON, July 25. The following will be the All Black team at Palmerston North to-morrow: Full-back, Nepia; three-quarters, Steel, Brown, Kobilliard; live-eighths, Badeley and Cooke; half, Dailey ; wing, Parker; forwards, Richardson, White, West, Cupples, Masters. Munro, Medea ry. WAIROA BEAT EAST COAST. WAIROA-. .July 24. The Mairoa Rugby sub-union representatives for the third time this season successfully defended the handsome Barry Cup by defeating the East Coast Union's fifteen here this afternoon in bitterly cold weather by 15 points to nil. The game was a good one, and was evenly contested in the first half, but in the second spell the issue was never in doubt. The forwards were fairly evenly matched, but the visitors’ back division lacked the finish of the defenders, who were faster and handled the ball better. ALL BLACKS AT AUCKLAND. A LAMENTABLE DISPLAY. An Auckland writer comments as follows on the All Black v. Auckland match : In considering the profoundly disappointing result of the match, it has to be remembered that the All Blacks had just- completed a sea. voyage and several were, not feeling at their best. Making full allowances for that, however, the display of the team was lamentable. They were out-generalled and out-played in every department. Not once did they look like winning. It may be said it was not the All Blacks’ strongest team —everyone who saw the match will pray sincerely it was not. New Zealand’s fame and prowess on the playing fields abroad will certainly not be upheld unless a vast improvement is made “What on earth was wrong?” a member of the team was asked, but he could not account for the poor showing. Nothing seemed to go right. The most glaring weakness wag undoubtedly the position of half-back. Mill played shockingly. There can be little excuse for a man who muddles things so thoroughly as he did. Time after time he was caught fiddling away with the ball in the scrum, and then when he did get the ball out to the five-eighths his pass was so feeble that the opposing forwards smothered the movement. He had New Zealand’s chosen vanguard in front of him, while Wright, the Auckland half, had a. pack half a stone lighter all round. Yet Wright was immeasurably superior: It must be conceded that the All Black forwards really failed to play up to reputation. They hardly ever hooked the ball, and repeatedly crumpled no in the scrum. Certainly the line-out work was fair, and at times impressive, but their loose play was too ponderous to be effective. M. Brownlee was easily the best forward. Badeley was well marked and did not show to advantage. It is apparent that Mill’s style is no use to Badeley or to the other backs. The half was so glow that the backs simply had to pass the ball without running a yard. Consequently a passing movement had no other result than to send the ball from one side of the field to the other. The one bright spot in the game was the display of Brown at centre three-quarter. He showed great dash and resource and should make a name for himself in Britain. Of the hacks of the team he was, on the. day’s play, the one who caught the eye and excited most interest. Hart, the other Taranaki plaver. did not get so many chances. When he did on attack he showed amazing speed, hut he seemed nervous and overanxious to get rid of the hall on defence. No doubt he will improve a lot vet. The full-back. Nepia, played below standard, big kicking lacking accuracy. For Auckland Ifwerson kicked Well and bis general play was goodThe Aucklanders as a whole played above themselves, and the manner in which the forwards suppressed the vigorous effort by the All Blacks in the second spell to gain supremacy was full of merit. Doubtless the All Blacks wl! shape differently when next they play, but to attain success drastic measures will have to be taken in regard to the tactics and organisation of the team.

TEAMS FOR SATURDAY. Hawera. Seniors.—Sinclair, Lay. Thomas, Whittington. McGregor, Cameron, A. Paterson, Chadwick, Robinson, Malcolm, N. Paterson, Hunt. Williams, Spratt, Osborne. Henrv. Janie. Juniors.—Hohin, Shore, Brown, Watkins, Barron. Greig, Simpson, Grant, Tait, France, Laing, Ballantyne. Murphv, Hunt. Hulbert, Thomas, Munro. Team leaves at 1 p.m. Thirds.—Busing, Brown, Mundy. P. Loader, E. Burke. Sage. Wooiford, Whyte, Valentine. Miirphy. Jones. Loretz, lippett. Crutch, Robinson; emergency, J. Loader. Team leaves at 12 noon. Okaiawa. Normanby Thirds.—Hawke, Forbes Franklin, Wilson, Blair, Telfer (4), Linn (2). Hooper (2). Hori. Anensen, Tippett, Walden. Kaponga. The following will Kapoima on Saturday; Malone. Briggs, Whalen Patterson. Kilpatricl- Guv, Lvnskov. Evans. Thournine. Bennie, Scott. Do vie. Kissick. Ham nnvsle.v, Martin ’Bus loaves at 12 o’clock.