FOOTBALL

Hokitika Guardian, 18 June 1931, Page 5

FOOTBALL

RUGBY GAME IN; AUSTRALIA* UNIVERSITY PLAYER'S IMPRESSIONS. CHRISTCHURCH, June 17. Favourable ‘impressions' of Australian 'Rugby were gained ■by R. K.-King, the Canterbury representative and Canterbury College student, who returned to Christchurch yesterday from his trip to Australia with the ■ New Zealand University team.

“They are a fine sporting crowd, but £ not.ceu quite a muhjer ot what seemed to me faulty tactics.” “Right from the'time the'New Zealand team landed"ih Australia fit played a consistently good game, although its members had not played together as a team in New Zealand,” ’ he said. -He thought it was excellent combination and ability to profit by opponents' mistakes which enabled the team to return home undefeated.

Commenting on the tactics and style of game played in Australia, he, said there was far' too much running across the field and not neat% efiough penetration by the Australian teams.. ' Their fast backs did not vise their speed to the best advantage. He thought they tried to do too much touch-line running and did not use enough short kicks, but he noted considerable improvement , in these matters in the final, game,. ■ • NOT ENOUGH INITIATIVE. Their forwards’ tried tb” • feed ..their backs on every . possible occasion,-L and • did not rely nearly enough on their, owfi initiative to break through, , In lineouts they held their own, but there was a tendency to obstruct opponents more ithap was necessary. Their tackling was low. and deadly and quite up to the New Zealand standard, but the geneva] kicking’ was not up to the mark, he continued.,He did not think they minded the New Zealand \ wing-forward, but he considered the ; r breakaway men rather offended in offside play. “Sydney University has a fine football ground,” he added,.“but most [of us found it much harder than those of -New Zealand.” ; ' Although New Zealand defeated - the, ■? Navy team , fairly . easily, he thought that their ’ teapr could be made, into a | particularly fine one with a, little practice’. The member's of the team; had not played fogetjier , before meeting .the New Zeaiaiiders.