LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20019, 8 August 1928, Page 16

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

TEST AGAINST ENGLAND. -SUCCESS OF NEW ZEALAND. BENEFIT TO THE CODE. Tho success of the New Zealand Rugby Leaguo representatives in tho first tost match against England will no doubt do a tremendous amount of good for ( lie code in tho Dominion. Much depends upon the results in the nest two tests to be played at Christchurch and Dnnediu. Should New Zealand bo successful in winning one of the two games the honour gainod by the home team will bo well received, particularly in Australia. In the past invitations to tour tho Commonwealth havo been few and in most cases have eventuated at the request of the New Zealand Council, in spito of the fact that the New Zealand teams have always put up good games against the best in Australia. With the exception of the Dominion representatives in 1921, when the League game reached a high standard in Australia, New Zealand combinations have more than held their own against New South Wales and Queensland. Advice on Standard. It has been reported that one of tho English managers has been requested by the Australian Board of Control to advise on tho standard of play in New Zealand. Apparently this request was given with a view, of deciding whether an Australian team would be sent to tho Dominion next season. It is also possible, however, that the New Zealand authorities will seek u. tour of Australia, as these visits arc usually very financial and money is urgently required to foster tho code in tho country districts in Auckland. Therefore the New Zealand thirteen will fight hard to retain tho rubber it won from England in 3924. The splendid public patrouago at the nrst test match on Saturday was - very pleasing to Mr. C. F. Hutchins, one of the English managers, who sent a cablegram home to the English League authorities that tho gate receipts were reported to be This amount is the largest received by an English team in the Dominion and naturally the financial manager, who is making his first visit to New Zealand, is more than delighted. The large attendance was a big: surprise to the visitors. An Unfortunate Incident. The incident that led to tho ball being Kicked off in tho second spell while six New Zealand players wore off the" ground caused quite a controversy, but the blame can only be attached to the absent players, who had .no right to leave the ground. Certainly the referee was justified in commencing the game. The New Zealand backs who left the ground were all Aucklanders, and thoy must know that even in club matches this practice is prohibited by the local leaguo. It was a regrettable occurrence, and it is to be hoped that the New Zealand Council will express its disapproval. ( There was no excuse, for ilie occurrence, as the referee blew his whistle twice in warning tho players not to leave the field. The English League team will play the third match of its tour this afternoon, when the visitors will be opposed to a combined Auckland Provincial thirteen The selectors are resting the local players who took part in the test match, in view of the fact that Auckland will play the English team on Saturday next. The provincial team, however, is a fairly solid combination, particularly in tho for wards

L. Scott, who scored two fine Tries for New Zealand, is tho only back included in the local sido. The vanguard has shown good form in the trial matches, and it is pleasing to note Stephenson, of South Auckland, is included in the front row. Many thought that the Waikato forward should have been included in the New Zealand team.

Hall and Clark, of Newton, have justified their inclusion. as the Auckland representatives and were also unlucky to be left out of such a powerful pack as that which opposed the English team last Saturday The English team can be expected to show better form to-day. There is little likelihood that its test team will undergo many changes. A Promising Threequarter.

L. Scott's display on the \v.ing for New Zealand was one of the fcatuies of the home team's win in the test match last Saturday. As before stated, the Devonport threequarter is one of the most improved players in Auckland. He excelled at speedy, determined running, and promises, with a little more experience in representative football, to become ono of the best attacking backs in the code. With but three Seasons as a senior grade player the rise of S. Prentice to a New Zealand League representative is regarded by the members of the Richmond Glub with great satisfaction. Prentice first played the League code in 1924 as a third grade player, and ho soon showed outstanding ability. Ho played excellent football prior to the selection of the New Zealand team to tour England in 1926, and was eventually chosen as a reservo back. M. Wetherill, captain of the New Zealand sido, showed the visitors a point when his side wore awarded a penalty kick, which led to his team's opening try on Saturday. The clever five-eighth, instead of calling on Delgrosso to have the shot at goal, observed that the English backs were out of position. In °a flash, he short punted across at the corner for List to gain possession and score.. The fine game of the New Zealand forwards surprised the big crowd who expected the powerful vanguard of the British team to overwhelm the Dominion set. In each rally tho forwards played, superbly and struck grimly to their task It was little wonder they tired badly in the closing stages of the game. Both in the loose and in the tight tho New Zealand pack more than held its own. Before the second test match it is to be hoped every facility will ho given the forwards to get >nto the best possible condition, as another gruelling game can be expected. Brisbane Again Available. H. Brisbane, the Marist centre, has recovered from the injury he sustained in the North-South Island match, and will be available for selection on Saturday. But for his injury Brisbane would in all probability have been in the New Zealand team. Some interesting points on the laws of tho game were debated at last week's meeting of the New Zealand Council. The English managers, Messrs. C. F. Hntchins and E. Osborne, expressed their opinion, on matters of control. Both are well known authorities, Mr. Hutchins being for a long time prominently associated with the code as a referee. It was sool discovered that the interpretations here differed widely from those in England, and a conference between the Auckland referees and the English managers will probably be held before Saturday's giuno*