LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20007, 25 July 1928, Page 15

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

REPRESENTATIVE FIXTURE. CANTERBURY'S POOR DISPLAY. ATTRACTION FOR TO-DAY. The display of Canterbury in the match against Auckland on Saturday was very disappointing to the large crowd of spectators who expected the visitors to be a much better combination. If the standard of club football in the southern province is to be judged on tho representative players, then that standard is much below what it was four or fivo years ago. The visitors knew nothing about the finer points of the game and have a lot to learn in this respect. Tho passing of the backs would have brought discredit to a junior club team. Frequently the ball was thrown yards behind players and there was no semblance of combined play. Backing up the player in possession and tackling low, in most instances, seemed to bo a lost art with tho visitors. Several times feeble efforts at tackling enabled an Auckland back or forward to penetrate the defence so much that it was only a matter of correct handling to score tries. O'Conncll, the Canterbury diminutive fullback, was not impressive, his tackling being very weak. Spillane showed up well in individual efforts, and in better company would develop into a fine player. Woods, halfback, did some good work, but he seemed to be lacking in experience. Smith, five-eighth, was much too deliberate in his movements to bo of any great assistance in speeding up tho rearguard. The Canterbury forwards were good in tho loose rushes which found gaps in the Auckland defence on several occasions. They, too, however, suffered through lack of knowledge of the finer points of the game. Faults In Local Team. Auckland notched an easy victory and could have scored more points had it so desired, but even against a weak opposition there were noticeable faults which will spell disaster to tho team against the Englishmen if not remedied. One or two backs would not attempt to stop some of the opposing forward rushes. In this department ihe English team is reported to be very strong. The Auckland forwards, held off for the loose play which is only a part of their work. By holding the ball and keeping together Canterbury sometimes went right through. r Jho class of forward wanted to combat the English vanguard is one who will pack tightly in tho scrum, and use every ounce of his weight.

Hardgreave proved his ability as a side-st-epper when he left 0 Connel! standing to score the first of the five tries to his credit. Good work by Wetherill made other tries easy for the fast Auckland threcquarter. Duftv played a fine game at fullback. His great anticipation of the trend of the play enabled him to score three tries —a great performance for a player in the position of the last line of defence. List did not put his usual dash into his running and would be well advised to refrain from "hurdling" an opponent. Although his effort in jumping over the Canterbury fullback was spectacular, tho practice is a most dangerous one. Inter-Island Match. The North and South Island match will be played at Carlaw Park next Saturday, and should prove a great attraction*. Although Canterbury went down badly to Auckland, it is probable tho South Island team will make a much better showing. The South Island team is as follows: Fullback, Blazey (Otago); threequarters, Clydesdale (Otago), Eekhoff (Otago). Davidson (Canterbury) ; five-eighths, Kobins (West Cpast, captain), Spillane (Canterbury); halfback, Woods (Canterbury, vice-captain) ; forwards, Woodgate (Canterbury), Townsend (Otago), Collie (Canterbury), T. O'Connor (Otago), O'Brien and Ooodall (West Coast). Emergencies: W. Stuart (Canterbury), Quinn (Otago). After the match the New Zealand thirteen to meet the Englishmen at Auckland on August 4 will be chosen. The North Island team will he selected this evening. Tho Auckland team will play a return match against South Auckland at Carlaw Park this afternoon. Several changes have been made in tho local thirteen, probably with tho idea of giving tho North Island selectors an opportunity to see other players in action. Two changes have been made in tho local team. Hanlon will replace Gregory, who is indisposed, and S'omors will take the place of St. George as hooker. The following team will represent South Auckfand against Auckland ibis afternoon:—Fullback, G. Ray nor; threequarters, G. Tittleton, D. Hall, S. Raynor; five-eighths, B. Paki, A. Williams; halfback, C. Taylor; forwards, R. Trove ttor, R. Stephenson, J. Menzies, T. Timms, T. Cronin, J. Reserves: B. Jackways, Wilson, Abbott, Hill. Several Changes Made. There are only six of fhe players m the team which represented South Auckland in the last match when it, was defeated by. 22 points to 3. The seven new players are worthy of their places and should give a good account of themselves. D. Hall is a brother to Wilson Hall. Ho is' quite a yojing player, but ho is very clover and has a, good reputation as a goalkicker. Tittleton is another very young player. He handles tho ball very well, has a good turn of speed arid is a good tackier. Trcvcttor is what might be termed a hard player, who is always on the hall and knows bow to stop his opponent. Cronin is a good loose forward, a hard tackier and has a lot of p/ico. Ho played in the team that beat Auckland last year. Taylor, halfback, is a Hamilton player of somo calibre. He is fairly elusive and has been selected to captain the team. The rest" of the team are well known to League followers. The players are determined to give Auckland a good game, as they are not satisfied with their performance in the last match. Everything possible has been done to get the best team out. £n a north and south com--1 petition last Saturday North won by 10 points to 5. S. Raynor scored tho whole of the points for North, two tries and two goals. The team will travel by the early morning train and will return by tho second express. All preparations are well in hand for the match against tho Englishmen and great enthusiasm is being displayed by followers and supporters of tho code in the South Auckland district. The box plan for the English and other matches under the coytrol of the New Zealand Council is now open arid is filling rapidly