LEAGUE TEAM'S TOUR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19076, 22 July 1925, Page 13

LEAGUE TEAM'S TOUR.

FIRST MATCH IN SYDNEY. VERY NARROW DEFEAT, A GAME OF LOST CHANCES. GOOD IMPRESSION CREATED. Bl' ERNEST E. BOOTH. SYDNEY. July 13. Tho very narrow margin by which the Now South Wales team beat Now Zealand in the initial match of their tour over hero (7 points to 4) is not a true indication of the run of the play. Tho much-quoted saying that " the best team lost was never better exemplified or more truly applicable than on this occasion. Ihroughout tho whole course of tho game the New Zealanders were tho better and could seemingly do anything but score. 1 hey were bare of finosse and simply had no successful finality in their strenuous efforts. On general points of play they showed a pronounced superiority in stamina, speed, determination, and infused more variety into their game than New South Wales, and especially with some outbursts of fine old-timo dribbling. Perhaps only to a certain extent were tho blues better even in tho matter of concerted action. Certainly they passed and repassed mote among themselves than the Blacks. Had this New Zealand team only handled as well as the last Rugby Union team did in tho mud they would have won by 20-odd points. Very earnest in their play, without being rough, they seemed to possess no finesse whatever. Quite, eight or nine chances of scoring wero lost either by sheer clumsiness, over-anxiety or want of understood method. New Zealand maintained a great, territorial advantage throughout, especially in the second half, when play hung consistently on the blues' line. While the Blacks only sought relief in forcing down on two occasions, Now South Wales were obliged to do so six or seven times. Tho gamo was one of lost chances to New Zealand, and the national trait of seizing opportunities was not. sustained. Two of the easiest possible kicks at goal failed, and on quite six occasions, with the defence utterly beaten, tho ball would lie flung forward or knocked on. or thrown indiscriminately anywhere. Bad Passing at Start. llic forwards-were the greatest offenders in this respect. Tho passing of the backs was wretched for a start, but improved gradually. The greatest weakness of the New Zealand back attack was the bad handling and slow fielding by Laing at five-eighths. He knocked on repeatedly, had no understanding with his half, and wns too slow off the mark. Thus, for a long time the New Zealand attack lacked sting and speed and effectiveness. The play of tile visitors was fairly correct, in fact more so than that of New South Wales. There were 56 penalties during the game, 21 of which were sgainst New South Wales. The bulk of theso penalties against tho Blues arose from scrum infringements. Tho number of scrums amounted to 61, and from theso the Blacks got possession to a proportion of about threo-fifths. Both played "ho 3 —2—l scrum formation, and on several occasions four, and even five, attempts had to be made to get tho ball in properly. Webb, tho scrum half, still has tho old mode of putting tho ball in tho scrum, throwing downward. Tho recognised stylo hero now, and, I understand the legal way, is for the ball to be slung in almost horizontally or delivered at least lower than the knee. Roth teams played their smallest forward in tho centre of tho front row, Lowry being most successful in hooking. This mode is in striking contrast to England, cipher in League or Rugby Union, where the middle man is usually the strongest and most brawny, and built on similar lines to a New Zealand "lock" man. Honest Work in Scrums. Tn actual scrummaging the Blacks were the greatest workers, each one evidently putting in his quota of weight while some of the Blues appeared to be what are usually termed "shiners;" good in tho loose only. Tho game all through was never exactly exhilarating or even brilliant, but it was decidedly interesting. The standard of New South Wales was certainly much below its usual, but one reason for this was the splendid vigorous tackling, by tho. Blacks. Tho New Zealand team, by their showing in this m:iteh, would seem capable of" becoming a fairly strong combination if thev get more tuition in some points of play. They are, however, tho worst set of handlers 1 have ever seen in representative jerseys, and until they improve vastly in this respect they cannot hope to iiejninvc much. The forwards aro undoubtedly the best division of tho team, and their reserves in this department have vet to be tested. Taking the backs as a whole there seems to be a want of dash, pa< e and weight. A distinct want of variety in movement shows a want of penetrating power. Dufty and Nopia. Dufty gave a fine display in his position at fullback, o:'ten joining the threequarters in their passing movements. His long, accurate kicking was reminiscent of N'epia in England. His tackling was not put to the test much. Brown on tho wing shaped \v -II and accounted for Wearing ' all through, and once, getting him from behind. Delgrosso did well until be retired. Kirwan was sound. Wetherall was the be«t back, making most opening.-!. Laing, playing in front of him, was mulling badly and passing erratically. Webb shaped well at the scrum, but was often caught ia possession. In the forwards, the most prominent were Mouatt, Avery. Hendrv and O'Brien. Tho greatest weakness of the team is want of scoring ability arid unless thin is quickly rectified they will go down on the smallest off-day.