BETTER TEAM WORK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21249, 1 August 1932, Page 11

BETTER TEAM WORK.

POSSESSION OF THE BALL VISITORS' FINE PHYSIQUE HOME FORWARDS DISAPPOINTING Better understanding, team work, superior speed and clever handling were the main features of tho English team's victory. There was no doubt which was the better team and tho visitors deserved every ono of tho fifteen points margin in their favour. From a spectator's viewpoint more was expected of tho English team, owing to tho great reputation which preceded it here. However, it seemed tho side could have scored more points in the second spell had the occasion warranted it. Possession of the ball from tho scrums was the great factor in England's favour. In the 50 scrums in which the ball was hooked cleanly England gained control 38 times and New Zealand on 12 occasions. It was a great pity to see the home backs literally starved throughout the match as tho fow times the rearguard did have a chance, Brisbane, Cooke and List always gained good ground. Cooke's try was tlie gem of the match, when ho received tho ball from Brisbane, and cut the defence to ribbons. Had New Zealand gained an even share of the ball from tiio scrums Cooke would havo caused the opposition much more worry. Twenty-eight penalties were awarded, 20 of these going to tho home team and eight to the visitors. The English players proved past masters at what can bo termed "silent" obstruction, and tho penalties against them for these breaches were quito justified, although members of the team did not seem to approve of the referee's rulings. The team has also got tho passing game down to the finest of margins. There were times on Saturday when the official in charge could have held up attacks for forward passes. Visitors' Advantage

What impressed about the English team was tlieir fine physique. In this respect they held a great advantage over the New Zealand vanguard. They were also much faster and gave their backs support, which was generally lacking in the New Zealand side. In spite of the fact that the English backs had a monopoly of the ball, they should have scored more tries, even allowing for the fact that some of the New Zealand backs did valiant work on defence. Evans, the scrum half, was very clever on attack, and changed his play well, but one fault was a tendency to run across the field. Against speedier breaking forwards and sound tacklers, this would have got him into a great deal of trouble. Evans was not the only back with this fault, it being a tendency among several others. The one exception was Atkinson, at centre, whose straight and powerful runing and general all round play stamped him as the best English back on the day. Smith showed pace on the wing, but was lucky to be awarded a try when Cooke chased him and pushed him into touch-in-goal. where the three-quarter grounded the ball. An Extra Back Everyone was looking forward to see Sullivan in action again. In the first spell his kicking was not so accurate as usual, but he made amends in the second half by showing all his old-time form. With England gaining possession from the scrums, Sullivan, later in the second spell, often came up and made an extra back. On one occasion in the first spell the English captain, instead of forcing the ball kicked it as hard as he could behind him into the Domain. He was loudly hooted by the spectators for his action.

The New Zealand forwards were faced with a very difficult task in standing up to their more clever and weightier opponents. The visiting vanguard had an advantage of over a stone and this naturally helped them in getting the ball from the scrums. On the whole, however, the New Zealand pack was disappointing. They lacked the speed and combination of the opposition and it will come as a surprise if tho selectors do not make some changes for the next test. Calder was the best New Zealand forward. Hutt twice passed the ball out foolishly and cost the team two tries. One of these, just after the start of the second spell, was at a critical stage of the game and gave England the lead. The other forwards battled gamely, but the pack was obviously outclassed in all departments. Poor Tackling Laing did not fulfil expectations at fullback, although lie shows promise of developing. His positional play was not good and his tackling was well below standard. His two efforts to stop Ellaby were weak in the extreme. Neither Scott nor Smith could bo classed as New Zealand threequarters. Masters had a hard time behind the New Zealand scrum, but he was below standard. When he did get a chance he ! was far too slow in sending the ball out i to his backs. His handling was not always j up to the mark and on two occasions he would have scored had he gathered the i ball cleanly. ! Credit for a fine game must go to A. E. Cooke. Whether on defence or attack he was always handy and his clever kicking repeatedly found gaps in the defence. He did not have many chances on attack, but when a reasonable opportunity came I his way he left the opposition standing. ! His fine defence saved New Zealand many i points. j Brisbane was another player who stood ' out for good play, his tackling being splendid and in this department other players could have well followed the lead ! given by the captain. The combination of j Cooke and Brisbane suggested that this ■ pair with the same opportunities would ! have done equally as well as the Englisii players. They ran much straighter and always gained ground, whereas several of the English passing movements went almost straight across the field, j List has never played better, but he too suffered through lack of opportunities. However, he did splendid work on defence and with Cooke and Brisbane can take the honours among the New Zealand backs. The English team went by motor-cars to Rotorua yesterday. The next, match is against South Auckland at Taupin on Thursday. TEAMS FOR COMING MATCHES NEW ZEALAND AND AUCKLAND Sixteen players have been chosen to practice with a view to selecting the New I Zealand team in the second test match against England, at Christchurch on August 13. The team will not be definitely chosen until after the game between Auckland and England next Saturday Mr. A. McClyrnont, one of the ISew Zealand selectors, said it was possible for players in the Auckland team to be chosen for tho New Zealand side. The players selected for training arc:--Backs: Delgrosso, Hart, List, Smith, Brisbane, Cooke, Abbott; forwards, Calder, Stephenson, Hutt, Hall, Timms, llambcrger, St. George, Laird, Glenn. The team to represent Auckland against ' England at Carlaw Park next Saturday is 1 as follows-.-Fullback, Campbell (Manst); i threequartcrs, List (Manst), Davidson (City), Median (Marist); five-eighths, Cooke (Richmond), Brisbane (Manst) ; halfback, Hassan (Marist); forwards, Ilall I (Newton), Clarke (Marist), Lawless ■ (Richmond), Clark (City), Campbell (Marist) and Hutt (Ponsonby). Reserves: Seagar (Devonport), L. Scott (Devonport), St. George (Newton). _ The team is requested to practice each day at Carlaw Park from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. under the charge of Mr. H. W. Kelly.