LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19397, 4 August 1926, Page 16

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

NEW ZEALAND'S DEFEAT. AUCKLAND WIN DECISIVELY. INSIDE BACKS SUPERIOR, There was no disguising the disappointment on Saturday of the thousands of Aucklanders who paid a total of £550 at the gates in anticipation of a convincing display of the League code by the New Zealand touring team and instead saw it soundly trounced by the Auckland thirteen. It was generally recognised that the strongest New Zealand team was not available, but a much better showing was expected from those engaged. It cannot be conceded that the Auckland team possessed better individual players, but one thing is certain—Auckland's inside backs. Peckham, Wetherall and Prentice, are equal to the best in the touring team. These three players were in their element on Saturday, and played brilliant football. Peckham gave but another display of his usual form in club football. He has played great football this season, and it appears that both Delgrosso and Wilson-llall will need to show much improvement to be better than the diminutive Auckland half. Wetherall Will Be Missed. The loss of Wetherall's services owing to his inability to travel will be severely felt in England. It is to be regretted such a brilliant attacking back will be missing from the five-eighths position. On Saturday the Auckland captain gave a splendid display and always his mind was focussed on the game. He started movements from all manner of positions, and beat the opposing backs time and again. Prentice very ably assisted Wetherall, and some of his openings wei'e brilliant. He ran swiftly'and straight, and drew the defence with the ability of a player with years of experience. He is one of the great "finds" of the code. List well deserved his selection and, like Prentice, is one of the most promising backs seen in action for many seasons. Wade got his chance in a good team and the fast- winger made good. One of his tries, secured when he raced from near half-way, was a particularly convincing effort. Littlewood, on the other' wing, played well, but got few, opportunities.

Auckland Forwards Shine. Auckland's forwards gave a high-class display of clever passing, and at times they played with the ability of threequarters. The local team can still boast of many fine forwards, whose form is up to New Zealand representative standard. Dixon played a gceat game, always assisting the backs, while his speed in the open sorely troubled Dufty. Both the O'Briens were in great form, and their fine passing and excellent support accorded the player with the ball, were features of the game. Payne justified his inclusion, and his good tackling was a contrast to the feeble efforts of the opposition. Scott showed a good knowledge of back-row forward play, and gave Peckham all the assistance possible. St. George has on many occasions proved himself a capable hooker, but on Saturday he was at his best and outplayed Carroll, his vis-a-vis. Auckland gained the ball from the j ncrums with monotonous regularity. j . Carroll's Method of Hooking. The selection of Carroll was criticised i at the time, and on Saturday his play was never that of a good hooker. Carroll has a style' of hooking all his own. He prefers to heel the ball back as in Rugby, and does not swing on the supporting front-row men. He will be severely handicapped if his style is not altered and, without the ball, the team will find winning matches a more difficult task. It is to be hoped special attention will be paid to Carroll's hooking, as the success of the New Zealand team depends a lot on the attack, the bucks, generally, being not nearly so good on defence. The New Zealand forwards did not at any stage of.the game show the form seen in the trial matches and it was clearly apparent that they were not taking the game seriously. On many occasions the front division got control of the ball, but when an Auckland man attempted to secure the New Zealand forwards would not make any effort to tackle low. Mason was easily the best of the touring team, and he played well. Always on the ball, the Canterbury man gave glimpses of real fobtball ability, and he is sure to make good before the tour is over. Carroll worked hard in the open ; and followed up well, but Henry and Herring were very disappointing.

Backs Out of Position. It will bo admitted that the New Zealanders' weakness lay where Auckland was strongest, and it was a fatal mistake to play the inside backs, Hall and Webb, in unfamiliar positions. Never once did the pair show any understanding, and on numerous occasions they were caught playing out of their position, showing they had no knowledge of five-eighths play. The blame cannot be laid so much on the players as on those responsible for the arrangement. If a victory for New Zealand counted for anything, a complete change should have been made early in the game. Hall behind the scrum and Delgrosso and Desmond with Webb at centre would have greatly strengthened the touring team. The wings, Brown and Gardiner, were disappointing and neither showed any inclination to take risks when a few scoring chances came • their way. Dufty had a lot of work to do, bnt he was not in good form. He kicked powerfully at times, but did not support his backs, and his defence was below representative standard.

OTAGO LEAGUE TEAM. FIRST AUCKLAND VISIT. The first challenge match for the Northern Union Cup held bv Auckland will be played at Carlaw Park on Saturday, when the Otago League team .will meet the Auckland side. The challengers, since coming into the League game, have made good progress, and their representative team has on three occasions defeated Canterbury. In the Otago team likely to take the field here are many well-known players, including Hickey, Eckhoff, O'Connor and Vorrath. The Auckland team is likely to be the same as the one which defeated New Zealand last week. Otago's appearance on Saturday will be the first occasion on which a League team from that province has played in Auckland. GREAT DISTANCE RUNNER, HYDE'S FAST FOUR MILES. George It. Hyde, Victoria's great distance runner, covered four' miles in 19m 32s recently. , There has been some criticism of the time-keeping on the course, based on the fact that the time is so much better than the Victorian record of 20m. 15 4-ss, established by H. A. Shrubb in February. 1905. It is pointed out that such criticism takes no account of the wonderful progress of Hyde,, nor of the fact that he was running a "fighting" race—he finished fifth—whereas had be been a winner the same effort might riot have been expected of him.