LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19111, 1 September 1925, Page 6

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

IMPROVED DOMINION TEAM. SPEED AND METHODS. Auckland followers of the League code have seen New Zealand teams in action many times but seldom has such fine form been shown as when the present representatives outpaced and outplayed Auckland at Carlaw Park oi) Saturday. A high standard of football was attained by the Dominion thirteen. The unorthodox movements by the back division showed tho League gamo at its best. The coach, Mr. E. H. Mair, has worked a great improvement in the team.

The players showed more pace and improved form individually as compared with their performances before the Australian tour. The absence of kicking was the striking feature of the winners' display, the players having learned in Queensland the lesson that possession of the ball is of paramount importance. The material in the New Zealand team is excellent and the side should develop into a high-class combination. Gregory at fullback for New Zealand Kave a sound display. He ran and fielded the ball in good style, and as a last lin'c of defence proved solid. Wilson-Hall showed perhaps tho most improvement ot any of the tourists, and his consistent good play behind the scrum gained the admiration of all. He was most unorthodox in his methods and opened up the game well for his backs, while his defence was good.

Zealand's Best Back. New Zealand's most brilliant bade was Wetherall, who gave a high-class display. He was a thorn in the side of the Auckland team and, both in attack and defence, was always prominent. Kirwan, too, did well, being in tho thick of the play all the time. He made some great openings and although he did not score himself ho paved the way for a couple of tries. Saunders proved a good centre, hard, straight running being a feature of his play. The wings, Parkes and Delgrosso, did some good work, and the latter's goal-kicking was of a high standard.

New Zealand's forwards played as six backs and threw the ball about in pleasing style. They excelled in supporting their backs. Avery was easily tho most outstanding forward, showing rare dash and excellence in handling. Ho scored three tries. Herring, too, played well, his pace in following up bustling the local backs.

Green, as hooker, was not a success, and in this department New Zealand will need to show considerable improvement, The Local Thirteen. The Auckland forwards, battled hard against great odds, and held their own, particularly in scrum work. A feature of the game was the excellent display given by the Devonport forward, O'Brien, who was a great worker and must have impressed the New Zealand selectorsSinge, McDonald and Bass were always prominent. The local backs were not impressive as a combination and it was left to individuals to stop the many attacking movements launched by the Dominion team. Herewini would be well advised to remain in his place when at fullback. His playing out of position gave New Zealand two tnes.r ■ .= Cole, at five-eighths, was disappointing, and gave his supports very little chance of getting into their stride. Peckham, behind tae scrum, justified his inclusion and did his best to open up the game. Davidson was perhaps the best of the local backs, speed and straight _ running being a feature of his play. Riley was the* better of the five-eighths, but had very few opportunities. Owing to the inability of several of the players to make the trip South, the Auckland team selected for the Southern tour has been considerably weakened, and it is to be hoped the Auckland League will give the selectors power to add other names, even if some ot the New Zealand team have to be included. To make the tour successful from a playing point of view only the best should go, and if the team is not considerably strengthened the trip might as well be abandoned. Preparing for Saturday's Test.

Ths names of additional players to go into training with a ' view to playing against Queensland next Saturday have been announced by the selectors of the New Zealand team. Fifteen players were chosen at the week-end. Brisbane is not available owing to injury and his place will be taken by B. Davidson. Two forwards, Peterson (Canterbury) and O'Brien (Devonport), have been added to the players to train. The former is a fine player who came over to the code last season and played for New Zealand against England. There seems little doubt of any of the backs who played against Auckland on Saturday being left out, but it is bard to understand why Cole has been included in the number chosen. Auckland's best inside back was undoubtedly Riley, who has played consistently good football. It seems as if his high-class form in club matches has not been considered. He has greater claims to inclusion than has Cole. The players will train each morning at Victoria Park under the supervision of their coach, Mr. Mair. Amendments to the itinerary of the Queensland team were agreed, to by the S resident of tho New Zealand League, Jr. J. Carlaw, m conference with the manager of the visiting team, Mr. H. Sutherland, yesterday. The arrangements as Co dates of matches arer—Play New Zealand in Auckland on September 5; Auckland, at Auckland, on September 9; New Zealand, at Auckland, on September 12; South Auckland, at Hamilton, on September 16; Combined Team, at Wellington, on September 19; West Coast, at Greymouth, on September 23; Canterbury, at Christchurch, on September 26; and Otago ait Dunedin, on October 3. The team will return to Auckland and play a match against the local representatives oj, October 7, leaving her 6 for Australia cn October 9. The Queensland team was officially welcomed by the New Zealand League yesterday afternoon.

ROTOWARO JUNIORS. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Hamilton, Mor.day. In the junior League match at Hamilton on Saturday between Rotowaro and Frankton, a clean, fast and spectacular gamo was won by Rotowaro by 15 points to 14.