FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18471, 7 August 1923, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

THE RUGBY GAME.

AUCKLAND REP. MATCHES.

TEAM TO PLAY TARANAKI.

: The following:;-,team has been selected to represent Auckland against Taranaki at Auckland next Saturday-— Gregory, Malloy, Badeley, Lucas, Cooke; Ifwersen, Wright, Toomey, Peters,. Casey (2), Knight, Kearny, > Righton,'/.:■ W. Bayward, Keene, Helander, , Arnold. : rhe team will meet at the Newton, shed at 7.30 p.m. to-morrow. , FIFTEEN TO MEET KAIPAR&. . The team to represent Auckland against Kaipara at Helensville next Saturday is as follows:-— , Goodacre, Wilson, Grierson, Thomas, M. Reid, Johnston, Earlly, Buckland, Taylor, McCullough, O'Brien, McWilliams, McGin-. ley,* R. Taylor, Wylie, McDonald, Muir. Anyone' unable to '•' go should notify Mr. Maben immediately., v / •' NOTES AND COMMENTS. ', The Following representative matches will be played .by the Auckland teams during the remainder of the season •* '■■;■..; August Against TaramaM; v. Kaipara, at Helensville. ; ' -■v August 18—Against Wanganui. August Against Thames; North Auckland, at Whangaroi (Whiteside benefit). September —Against Otago; t. King Country, at \ Auckland, ; September New South Wales; v. Thames Valley, at Poeroa. ■. September 15—Wellington :; TEST MATCHES. \ "•• August .25— Against New South Wades, at Dunedin. :. ':'"'■ September Against New South Wales, at Christchurch. September 12Against New South Wales, at Wellington. The first match for the Moascar Cup, between Auckland Grammar School' (holders) and ' New Plymouth High School (challengers) will be played at Eden Park on Saturday, as a curtain-raiser to the representative match, Auckland versus Taranaki, which will also bo played on Saturday at. Eden Park. The Moascar Cup, which Auckland Grammar won last season, is an extremely handsome trophy, well worth winning. The match' should be one of -the most attractive of the series of Moascar Cup competitions. The members of the New Plymouth High School team will arrive at Auckland on Friday with the members of the Taranaki representative team.

Auckland was unfortunate in losing Gregory, at fullback, early in the play in the match against Southland on Saturday, En going down to stop a raking Southland forward rush, the Ponsonby player received a knock which prostrated him for a time and prevented .him " carrying on." Malloy, who had been playing on the wing of the threequarter line, was transferred to fullback, and Thomas filled the vacancy on the Wing. Later in tho ;ame Koene, the University forward, was forced to; retire through an injury, and was subsequently replaced by Helandor, of Grafton; Keary, the young Grafton forward, was also injured, but played to the finish, under trying conditions. Southland, too, was unfortunate in losing the services of Brown, . who :was forced to re-tire-i with an injured shoulder,, Cosgrove replacing him at five-eighths.' _ '•'■'; Contrast in the Backs. On the run of tho play, Auckland was distinctly the superior bide, the - backs and forwards, against comparatively weak defence, playing right up to the top of their form. Southland was completely outglassed, out-played and out-paced by the Auckland team, which, having had such a season of wet weather football, quickly adapted itself to the conditions, rising superior in brilliant combined passing rushes by tho backs, and determined raking rushes by the forwards. : The high score, however, scarcely represents accurately the merits of the opposing forces. The Southland forwards played fine football, excelling especially in the loose dribbling rushes, but were; not supported by the back line, which failed to combine m passing rushes, faulty fielding being a pronounced weakness, and finesse on attack lacking. In marked contrast to the swift, crisp passing and accurate fielding ;of the Auckland backs, the Southland rearguard was slow and sluggish in action, thoir movements being severely handicapped in the heavy going and their fielding frustrated by the slippery hall and the close attention of the opposing pack. i The Auckland backs never showed to bettor advantage, Lucas, Badeley, and Cooke standing out for brilliant execution in ; attack, in concerted passing rushes, which penetrated the defence to the final line. The Southland "rear-guard contrasted :. unfavourably: with the opposing back line, Shand at half, and Haslott ■• at fiveeighths, alone showing fine form. The forwards were ; a dashing, willing iiack, and Aghew stood out as rover, and White was the bear forward in the pack. Vic Badeley. the Auckland Grammar Old Boys' centre, and Auckland representative threequarter, played his best game of the season on Saturday. work throughout was /good and he showed a sound knowledge of Rugby requirements in the passing rushes when he adopted the Welsh system of reverse and in-field passing to ;a- delightful degree. 'Badeley was in great scoring form securing three tries and kicked' four goals total ?of 17 points out of the team's total of 37 a fine performance. - - ( Charjie Fletcher, the well-known Auokland representative forward, is playing in fine form thin season. Vln a match on Saturday Fletcher plaved one of the best games ever seen in Kaipara. Banfurly Shield. , The Now Zealand Rugby Union has notified that no ur;ion possessing the Ranfurlv Shield need accept challenge unless 14 days' notice has been given, after such union has become possessed of the shield. Hawke'e Bay, the present holders, are hot likely to accept challenges, under these conditions, with a touring team. The" New Zealand Rugby Union, has definitely decided not to accept the suggestion that'a match between the best representative Maori - team against New South Wales should bo played. Mr. Parata, manager of the Maori team, which recently toured New South Wales, was anxious for tho match to take place as he could select a Maori team to meet New South Wales which would/ in r«s esteem, bo worthy of the event, and with the possibility' of beating the Now South Wales touring team. ; . . The centenary of Rugby ; football is to be celebrated . in , the season of 1923-24, in connection with the British Empire Exhibition, when international teams from New Zealand. South Africa, France", Scotland. Ireland, Wales and England will assemble in London to compete in the world's Rugby championships 'on the famous Wembley Stadium in tho English season of 1924. ■■/■ j The stadium, ! will seat. 125,000 specta- ! tors. It is only one of tho features of the great Empire Exhibition in which New I Zealand wil|}:tttko a prominent part. ;/'■;;: PUKEKOHE V. WAKERE. ; The following will represent : Pukekohe in a match with' Wftlkevo.at Te: Kawhata next Saturday:—Wright, Blake, Brown, Jepson, Lewis, Leathevland, Dazely, W. v Reynolds, ' Marshall, Wilson, 'Perkis, Goldmg, Perry and Lucas. Reserves. Yates,, L. Reynolds, Moly, J, Woods.-

UNDER LEAGUE RULES.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

iPEOPOSED; ENGLISH VISIT.

Owing jto the f H postponement of the League fixtures last Saturday, matters relating to the club competitions remain unaltered. ;■: League supporters i are ; still looking forward to the meeting between City ,' and Marist Old Boys, which promises to be one of the most exciting games of the season. i Given a fine day and a firm turf ; the contest should be waged at racing speed from start to finish. Marist. Old Boys have a well-balanced team with scoring ability both forward and back. The (Sty players depend ; chiefly on team work and pace among the backs. It is sure to be a spectacular gamo a3 both sides throw the ball about freely. Week-end weather this season has not favoured football, and Saturday last must have proved a trying time for members of the Auckland League. When there appeared to be no prospect of the weather's clearing some time after mid-day it was decided to postpone all League games. An hour later the sun was shining and conditions on the various grounds were much better than had been experienced on several previous Saturdays. : ■ . ' V The City senior team has experienceo. some bad luck in the temporary loss of the services of two of their regular playters, E. Mackie and J. Mitchell. The former had the misfortune to severely _ injure his arm through a motor back-firing. Mitchell is laid up with influenza. The victory or the Canterbury League representatives against '.;■ Wellington on Saturday by the substantial margin of :29 points to 6 indicates v that the Canterbury side is a strong one this , season. The result of the game will lend additional interest to the meeting between Addington, the champion club team :of Canterbury, and the, winners of the Auckland* club /championship. • ..< ' ■',-, ■'• ' The Wellington League representatives are coming to Auckland this month. They will meet South Auckland at Hamilton on August 18 in a match for the Northern Union challenge cup, and will play the Auckland representatives on the following Wednesday at Carlaw Park. It seems a pity that such, an important fixture could •not have been arranged for a Saturday, but, of course, South Auckland, as holders of the cup, have first choice. Eoope Booster Competition. ; The Roope Rooster knock-out competition, for which entries dose :on August 15, should provide some exciting contests this season. Seldom has the form of the various clubs been .so oven, and if the initial round sees the three leading teams in the championship survive, the semifinal and final games should be worth. going a long way to witness. The uncertainty as to the date on which the North Sydney team will arrive at Auckland is making it difficult for the Auckland league to arrange fixtures with other outside leagues. The Canterbury champion club, Addington, is desirous of meeting the winners of the Auckland League,championship, and has applied for a fixture. Other games also will have to be arranged very shortly. North Sydney has been battling hard to win the Sydney club championship, being in the lead with two other teams— Sydney and Eastern Suburbs. Auckland League supporters should; see some sparkling football wlien the best' of Auckland.; meet the visiters at Carlaw Park. , . The South Auckland League will be able to field a strong side again this year in defence of the Northern Onion challenge cup. By defeating Auckland last season the Waikato players showed themselves* in a very attractive light. They have mastered the fundamentals of the League code and make pace a feature of their game. The Auckland side will be a strong one and the contest for the coveted trophy should furnish a memorable struggle. -

j The decision of the League to provide a • Saturday fixture: at Carlaw Park * for the Wednesday representatives is meeting with general approval;- By:; matching them with the junior representatives they should be well tested, i There are some very capable players in the ranks of the juniors, many of whom are? up to senior form. The Wednesday players have given some excellent displays this season and if at their best on the day will extend the junior players to their utmost. ■ ''\, •'"" ; '''■;'' Benefit of an English Tour, ' : The New Zealand League council will not have , a very strenuous season this ? 'ear, but next season the visit of the Engish - touring team will engage the activities of the council. The ) visitors will tour Australia before coming to the Dominion. rbey are expected to reach j. New Zealand in August. The New Zealand council intends to leave nothing undone in the way of selecting the best possible teams for the test matches, and judeina: by the standard of play in the League code this season there should be a great struggle for the ashes. It is to be hoped that the visit of tho English League team will \ pave the way for a 5 return visit. of a • New Zealand team to England. .There are some very promising players in the Dominion whose: football education will ;be ,; considerably assisted by meeting the visitors here. With the careful cultivation of team work, 1 they would be thoroughly prepared to undertake a tour of England, and would certainly establish a creditable record. The material is ready to hand, and it is to be hoped the s New Zealand . League authori-! ties will use it. Such a tour would be! something for • players to look forward to, and the - general results could not : fail • to be : of immense benefit to the code throughout the Dominion., There would, be no danger, as in the past, of the best players being tempted to remain in or" return to England to '■ play in that ; country since the .British League baa re-imposed the residence qualification." After all the | project is no . more ambitious than a tour of ? Australia. ' j Notable Australian Player. The services; to League football in Australia of the great Sydney forward, Frank Burge. are ; to;; be :-. suitably ■ recognised. Burge retired , from the game this : season, but donned the jersey for Glebe in a benefit " match between that club : and South Sydney: on July 21. The match attracted ;a crowd of about ; 12.000, and Burge is said to i have [shown all his old [ ability as a player, though his team "was j beaten. The l ' amount: received on behalf I of the testimonial fund from the -takings at the match "should lay ;the foundation for . a : substantial presentation \to which the other League clubs of Sydney are contributing. A thrilling finish took place in a mateh in Sydney on .July. 21 ; between North Sydney, one of the leading teams in the championship competition, and St. George. The latter were leading by ;16 points to 16 within 'five- seconds of ?timo ; being called. A scrum was formed in midfie'd near the touch-line, and .:,.. the North : Sydney halfback, Thompson got \ through "on the blind side, which had been left open. He was ,; ' supported tby Horder, and the latter only had to accept a pass to; score under the? posts. It was a dramatic finish and one that stamped the rvalue of : initiative and pace in the League game. ;

THE ASSOCIATION GAME.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

BROWN SHIELD MATCH.

j ! Those responsible,- Messrs. Banister, Campbell and Harper, have every reason to be proud > of : the very efficient manner in -which the Auckland representatives de-: fended the Brown.Shield against the challenge of Wanganui on Saturday. When . the team was first announced the centreforwardvand; left-fullback : were criticised as : likely -weak spots, ; ; but ;/ on ■ their /form on ■■■ Saturday ; : : these players v thoroughly justified their inclusion ; and; : ; the confidence of the selectors. 5A meriiber of the Selection Committee -: stated after the match that ! there ' was ; :little '■■ likelihood of any ■; change being made h: v.forS the ':'■- game against Wellington on August 18, unless vacancies are caused by illness or injuries Time was '; when one looked for nothing else; than to see the Auckland '■ representative eleven made tip of -players not long

out from England or Scotland. A pleasing feature of the present team/ 1 and; one tnat speaks volumes for. the: wonderful advjince of the ; "soccer" code in New Zealand!, «,«';■ -■ that no fewer than six of the Auckland players who took part in the match against Wanganui are colonial born. They are ? Braittnvaite, the ftDacre brothers, Innes, Tremain and Williams. The latter & play is all the more remarkableft when tit is known that he is a 'deaf; mute. ft How _he performs "so well : under such an unfortunate handicap is little -: short ft of marvellous/ '2' _ « , , ■ The referee, Mr. L. C. H. Dawson, bad the rather 'unique experience of being congratulated and thanked by the members of both teams at the complimentary dinner on Saturday evening.". The referees task is «'■ ever a thankless \\ one, and the action the teams was most thoughtful and encouraging. Auckland's win oh; Saturday- was rl a triumph for youth and ; dash ■; against age and experience. Many of!: the Wanganui team are married men with children. Mit- ! chell, their centre-half, is the father of | seven children. The' victory of the local i eleven was a most complete one. They ! were- superior in every department, while their machine-like, concerted . action was a, I delight to watch. Every player kept his place, and was there when needed to back up his team mates. A noticeable feature on Saturday was the number of ft times that an :j Auckland player, when badly pressed, turned ' and gave \ the ; ball to the man behind. The support never failed. Considering that they nad never before played together as a team, their fine combination must be ascribed to perfect unselfishness and a high order of intelligence. As at present constituted the team is also a very happy family, a real essential ;to a successful team, which unhappily, is not always realised even, among clubs. ft Where ftWahgahui really failed was in the forward line. Poor snooting and lack of understanding was the weakness. 'Also one could not help thinking- that in the first quarter of an hour a certain amount of stage-fright existed, and Auckland, playing with confidence oh their home round, were three up before the visitors ad, become used to the new conditions.. Outstanding Auckland Players. Coming to individuals, Knott, ; Auckland's inside left' was outstanding in a forward line without a weak spot. His pace and nippiness, combined ' with firstclass shooting ability, left nothing to be desired y. The ; New Zealand standard of play is., of , course, not as high as that among professionals 1 in: England, but in Knott Auckland possesses an inside forward second to none in this Dominion. How he ' was overlooked •by the selectors who recently sent an "All Black" team to Australia, passes all understanding. His outside man, Williams -was not overburdened with work, but did % all that was asked of him in a most efficient manner, scoring an excellent goal. <' >: Tremain, at centre, was a decided success. He is quite all right. when he curbs a tendency to dally with the ball. This weakness was never in evidence cm Saturday, and he scored three excellent goals. 0. Dacra and Ihhesft inside right and right wing respectively, were responsible for many of the successful forward moves, and played in perfect harmony. Playing together on ? the? tour with ft the - "All Blacks" in ■ Australia j has been a big advantage, and both - have improved out ;of sight. ' i Dacre was always a good shot, but now he has increased his pace considerably, and the two assets combined make him a far more valuable man. It is easy to understand from the aisplay femes gave that the unstinted praise accorded him in the Australian press was. thoroughly merited. '."'.. , A very sound half line indeed are Buchanan, Corbett, and Neesham. ; /,; All did well \ both on .attack -, and; defence Some there were* who- doubted the wisdom of playing three club centre haJyes. but here again the selection has ; survived criticism with /a -vengeance. In the '•■-■' back ■ r line " Braithwaite w was perhaps a • little % superior ; to ,- ■L. bacre, -",' but both ft. played ft faultless football. Oraxton, ■: in , goal, was as brilliant as ever. ;y He was tested; on at. least half '•& h dozen ' 'occasions % with % good ; shots, ; and his sterling defence was no mean fac- ; tor in the large margin of goals in Auckland's favour.

The YlßHing Team. For Wanganui the outstanding player, -was Webster,, the \ left-fullback. His dis-. play was well 'up to representative standard, and it was extrmefy unfortunate for. the visitors that an injury : received not long before half-time /severely. handicapped him for the rest of the game. His partner, O'Neil, is also a player of merit, who showed to greater advantage . in • the second half. Wimstanley, in goal, although frequently beaten/ was responsible for a number of*' very good saves. The halfbacks were good at spoiling•; work/, but their placing was often at fault. Critics among v the team's supporters state that neither McGorram nor Mitchell were upto form. ; Glover, replacing Sheridan, //Wa. ; nganui's star halfback, who ? was unable to make the trip Jon account of illness, supported his wing man i well. Cooper, outside-right, was the pick of the forward lino. His centres were good, while some of his- fast ground shots had Craxton fully extended. ' Stoddart, on the other wing, did hot appear, to have enough confidence in himself. / As .soon as he got the ball he Invariably returned it to centre without attempting to make any head* way. The : inside men, McDougaH McKechnie and Beckett, all tacked finish in front of goal, and had great difficulty in keeping their/feet and controlling ; the greasy ball.- • / Next Saturday ; will see a .break in the programme of representative matches, , ; but by no means a lull in the interest attach/ ing to local "soccer." The final play-off for the championship, between :; Northcote and North Shore, sure' to be a great attraction. / It wilt" be a splendid contest, and one worth ; going a long way to see. / /. It is | extremely unfortunate that/Northcote, who have ;. won all their matches in the second round/and;; thought they had the championship honours assured, should be called upon play again.- However, the rule regarding defaulting teams; which | makes the play-off necessary, is a very old one, and cannot bo ignored. . ' '■=•.■.- ,<*«<;. ■ ■