LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19379, 14 July 1926, Page 16

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

TOURING TEAM CHOSEN. COMMENTS ON SELECTION. STRENGTH IN THE FORWARDS. After exhaustive trial games played in both islands the members of the New Zealand League All Black team to tour England have been selected. Tho task of picking 26 players for such a long tour proved no easy one, and much credit must ! bo giver! the selectors for their exhaustive I efforts to find the best players. Thf) backs chosen are not very strong j.collectively, but although they may not I be of international rank as far as standard j goes, there is no reason why the best thirteen cannot be moulded into a very strong combination, capable of winning games against the strong club teams of j England. | Among tho backs are some very fine players with real football ability, and with judicious attention to team training, the prospects may be' brighter than they appear at present. The coaching of the . team will be controlled by Mr. E. H. Mair, Two Good Fullbacks. It was generally expected that Dufty and Gre gory would be tho chosen fullbacks, and no fault can possibly be found with their inclusion. Dufty usually performs best in big football, but his form is j not consistent, and he is liable to give patchy exhibitions. His reputation will, no doubt, precede him, as many Home writers, after the conclusion of the 1924 English tour of New Zealand, claimed that Dufty was one of the greatest fullbacks in tho world. In Sydney last season Dufty was classed with J. Sullivan, England's brilliant player. Gregory, on this season's club form, is the more consistent fullback and his ability to rise to tho occasion has often been demonstrated. Gregory is a brilliant defensive player. Moreover, he possesses the faculty of turning defence into attack. Wing Threequarters Weak. The weakness of tho team lies in the wing threequarters. Among tho four chosen it is difficult to find any outstanding merit. In club games L. Brown gave some splendid displays, but ho failed to reproduce any of this form in the trial matches. Brown, however, is very speedy and there are reasonable prospects of his doing well. Tho form shown in this season's club competition by G. Gardiner has been very poor, and his inclusion comes as a big surprise. Gardiner has, however, all the qualifications essential to a great player. He is fast, and he can use his weight to good advantage. Coaching should develop his ability, in which case the Ponsonby player should be the most successful of the wings, but only in that position. J. Sanders has had much football experience,:' and ho is the best of the South Island backs. J. Parkes is a weak link, and the inclusion of List, of Kingsland, would have been preferable. Strength in Defence. Both Davidson and Desmond showed good form in the trial games, and their positions were always assured. While Davidson lacks size and weight there is no question of his ability, and he should do well in England. The five-eighths are all Auckland men,whose strength appears to lie in their defence. Cole is the speediest of those selected. Kirwan, Brisbane and Webb are a trio from whom good football is expected, and the coach has excellent material to work upon. Wilson-Hall and Delgrosso have earned their positions as half backs. While Peckham was also considered, it will be generally recognised ? that the better players have been chosen.

First-class Forwards. New Zealand can be justly proud of the forwards chosen to wear the black jersey, for they are all up to international standard. The forwards are fast, and all are good at handling the ball. They are of two .different types. . Those from the South are clever scrummagers, and the Auckland men fine players in the open. It will be recognised that in Menzies and O'Brien two-very good forwards were omitted, and both are a little unlucky. Menzies showed first-class form in the trial games. He and Mouat were the best of those seen in action. O'Brien was always conspicuous by his dashing play and he is equal to. "any of the front-row forwards chosen. However, the selectors must have experienced considerable difficulty in arriving at a final decision, as there are at least 16 forwards of practically equal merit. Omission ol Townsend.

The surprise of the selection is the omission of Townsend, whose hooking has been most consistent throughout. Several reasons have been advanced why the Auckland man was overlooked, and rumour is current that his style of hooking would be questioned in England. This seems incredible, seeing that Townsend has been allowed to play in every trial match arranged, and it must be a keen disappointment to be told at his eleventh hour that his methods would be questioned on the tour. Carroll may be a useful hooker, but whether he is better than Townsend was never proved in a game. To include both would have been a wiser plan, and the team's strength would not have been in any way weakened. As no second hooker has been mentioned, it is evidently intended to school one of the other fox-wards selected. Big Task Facing Team, * Those who know the high standard of League football in England will .realise the magnitude of the team's task. Whether successful or otherwise, from a matchwinning point of view, it is to be hoped the players will obtain a sound knowledge of the true principles of the game, and will return to New Zealand ready to impart the experience - gained to, their clubs. The team is "booked" to sail by the Tainui, which will leave Wellington on August 7. Although the itinerary,of the tour has not been announced it is almost certain that 30 games will be played. Private advice received in Auckland confirms a report that the English Rugby League has arranged for two exhibition games to be played in Paris. During the stay in England the team will be quartered at Harrogate.

AUCKLAND ACQUISITION. DR. GWYNN OF SYDNEY, _ Dr. Gwynn, a vice-president of the New South Wales' Rugby League and a member of the referees' aDpointment board, recently resigned in order to take up his residence in Auckland. Dr. Gwynn was captain of the. first .University League team in Sydney and one of' the prime movers in the change from Bugby Union to League. As a Rugby player he represented New South Wales.