LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 284, 1 November 1926, Page 8

LEAGUE FOOTBALL

NEW ZEALANDERS BEATEN. LONDON, Opt. 30. The New Zealand League team was beaten by St. Helen’s by 28 Jjoints to i 4. St. Helen’s fielded a weakened team, because four men were playing in a county match, but they fully deserved their victorv. It was a strenuous game throughout. Though much the lighter side, the St. Helen’s team were quicker on the; ball, and often had the visitors guessing. The New Zealanders’ persistent tackling, however, keptthe score down. The passing on both sides was noteworthy, St. Helen’s left wing being outstanding. The New Zealand team was as follows: Gregory, Brown, Cole, Brisbane, Saunders, Delgrosso, Hall, Herring, Parkes, Mason, Avery, Gardiner and Thomas. . The black .drew first blood, Sanders scoring a gift try in the first few minutes. This was their only score in the first spell, while their opponents put on nine points. McComas forced an opening and dropped a goal, Grundy got a goal from a free kick, and Wilson notched a try, which Grundy converted. The New Zealanders started much more brightly in the second spell, but fell away before St. Helen’s! persistent lightning attacks. Most of the scoring occurred in the closing stages. Mason, Avery ana Sanders secured tries for the blacks, Gregory converting one, while Dolan, Smith, Halton, Bailey and Pike crossed for the Lancashire men, Grundy adding goals to two of the tries.—A. and N.Z. cabje.

TROUBLE AMONG PLAYERS. LONDON, Oct. 30. The trouble among the New Zealand eague Rugby players is said to -be due to half a dozen players insisting that there should be a more impartial selection of the team, and objections to what they consider the ultra-eco-nomy of the management; fpr instance, sending only a bare team to the place of the match, leaving the remainder behind at headquarters. One of the team’s chief faults has been indifferent hooking. It was significant at Leeds on Wednesday that two backs played in the pack, the wing three-quarter, Parkes, playing as a hooker, and Gardiner in the back row. ~ The management of the New Zealand League team denies a report that some members of the team refused to play on Saturday..—A. and N.Z. cable.