LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19421, 1 September 1926, Page 16

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

NORTHERN UNION CUP HELD

SUPERIORITY OF AUCKLAND.

VALUE OF TEAM COMBINATION. "The Auckland representative team has withstood two successive challenges for the Northern Union Cup, and it is hardly likely the South Auckland team will be strong enough to lift the trophy when it meets the local men next month.

The Northern Union Cup, emblematic of the provincial championship of New Zealand, has been held by Auckland since 1914, and has been won by only one other League-nSouth Auckland —during that long term. Many stirring, contests were witnessed before the Great War, when Auckland had visits from strong teams representing Wellington, Taranaki, Hawke's Bay and Canterbury. The great fight Wellington made at Victoria Park in 1914, when the Southern team just failed % to lift the cup, only a bare point separating the teams, Eitill lives in memory. Since the war ended Auckland has shown marked superiority over all visiting teams. It was expected that this season would find Canterbury in a position to place a strong teara against Auckland, but the absence of five players with the New Zealand team, together with the inability of three others to travel to Auckland, weakened the Canterbury team's chances considerably. Ignorant of Finer Points.

In both the Otago and Canterbury teams there are many young players who, with a little more experience, should develop into fine footballers. There is no denying the fact that the true League game is not played by some of the Southern teams. When opposed to Auckland visiting teams have been handicapped by a lack of knowledge of the finer points of the game. Reviewing the two games played against Auckland, it is evident the individual player from Otago and Canterbury is as good as most of the Auckland men, but the finish to team-work is absent. The benefits derived by the players on the trip to England should greatly assist the Southern Leagues and put their football on a par with Auckland. The controllers of the League game are fully alive to the wants of the Southern Leagues and, should finances permit when the touring team returns, the council should seriously consider the employment of English or Australian coaches. Auckland, for the time being, is in the happy position of being able to look after itself and Auckland players have had a better opportunity of learning the" finer points of the code, but attention is urgently needed in the South, and it is to be hoped the council will take a step in the direction suggested.

Auckland v. Canterbury. Superior pace and more finish to the attack gave Auckland a good win against Canterbury on Saturday. The challengers, while they made a great fight in the first spell, could not sustain the pace sat, and the local men dominated the game in the second spell. The visitors have yet to learn that possession and ability to keep the ball form the outstanding features of League football. In the first spell at least three more .tries should have been scored, but on each occasion a back elected to kick, and therefore'gave the Auckland men the ball. The local thirteen is not invincible, and Canterbury had a great opportunity of running up a good number of points had the visitors passed more and kept possession, for Canterbury had a big advantage in winning the ball from the scrums.

The selection of Raynor at fullback was justified, and the Grafton man gave a good display. His fielding was clean and he showed good judgment in kicking. Wade gave a fine display cn the wing, and again proved a good scoring back, obtaining tour tries, the last being a particularly good effort. Littlewood, on the other wing, got few opportunities, but played well.

Fine Display by List. List was the outstanding back on the Auckland side, and his straight running and strong fending were very impressive. Coached on the right lines in the value of co-operating more with the wings, List will develop into a brilliant attacking centre-threequarter. Prentipe and Wetherall, as five-eighths, have worked up a fine combination and on Saturday perfect unison was witnessed when either made a forward move. Both were the pivot of the attack, and on defence were just as solid. Owing to injuries Peckham was unable to take his position behind the scrum, and Ghent was selected in his stead. The City man played a fine game, doing a lot of work in good style.. Auckland's forwards were not as good as usual, and there is a growing tendency with some to play too much hack football. Fast forwards in the open are essential, but there is a lot oil work to do in the tight rucks. On Saturday this phase of the game was and on many occasions the forwards were performing in the threequarter line. Dixon was perhaps the best of the Auckland forwards. He was always in the limelight, tackling resolutely and fol-lowing-up fast. A. Scott also . played well, and in his position as back-row forward he gave invaluable assistance to the backs. O'Brien (Devonport) again proved a fine forward in the open, and he handled the ball with the ability of a threequarter. Payne was Auckland's best forward in the scrums.

The Canterbury Players. For Canterbury, Blazey, at fullback, was inclined to be sluggish, and although his fielding was excellent he was caught out of position on many occasions. Mackie, behind the visitors' pack, made some splendid openings, and the five-eighths. Mundy and Tonkin, both showed up well. The latter was particularly impressive, and with more experience should develop into a fine attacking player. Warr made some great openings, but was inclinded to kick too much, and at least two tries could have been scored had he elected to pass. Warr, however, is reported to have shown excellent form at home, and is one of Canterbury's most promising players. The wings, O'Malley and Batchelor, had few oportunities. Batchelor was perhaps the better. The visitors had several very fine forwards, all being young players who have a promising future. Spencer and Dawkins were perhaps the best. In the open Burns' was an outstanding figure, and was of great assistance to his backs. Lp Warne as hooker had a great day, and got the ball from the scrum very cleanly and consistently. Club Championship Games.

The game between Devonport and City next Saturday is likely to cause an alteration in the position of the club championship. Intense interest is centred in the match. City holds the leading position, but has only one more match, namely that against Devonport, 'to play. On the following Saturday City has the bye. On present indications City will have to defeat Devonport in order to obtain a play-off with Ponsonby, which will win the championship should Devonport defeat City. City's team lias nor been up to full strength since the New Zealand team departed, and the juniors ■who have been tried in the vacant positions have not been a success. It is rumoured, however, that the ranks of the City team will be considerably strengthened to combat Devonport, whose recent form has made it a firm favourite for Saturday's game. The writer is indebted to a correspondent for a correction in last week's notes in the list of names of New Zea landers who were members of the Australian and New Zealand team which toured England in 1911. In addition to Savory, Gillett and Francis, F. Woodward was also a member..