FIRST TEST MATCH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22221, 23 September 1935, Page 12

FIRST TEST MATCH

NEW ZEALAND PLAYERS COOKE AT FULLBACK THREE SOUTHERN FORWARDS Tho first Rugby League tost match between Australia and New Zealand will bo played at Carlaw Park next Saturday. The following players have been chosen to represent New Zealand : Fullback. —A. E. C'ooke (Auckland).

Throoquartors.—L. Brown (Auckland), G. Tittleton (Waikato), E. Mincham (Auckland), l'ive-eighths.—C. Kay (Auckland), S.

Prentice (Auckland). Halfback.—R. Powell (Auckland)

Forwards.—J. Calder (West Coast), L. Unit (Auckland), J. I.aird (Auckland), W. Glynn (West Coast), C. Srtherlex (Auckland), J. Anderson (West Coast).

Considerable interest is being taken in the match. A fine trophy, presented by Mr. R. Courtney, of Christchurch, and now resident in Australia, will be competed for by the teams for the first time. The trophy bears the inscription. ''The Courtney Goodwill Cup." and is mounted on a kauri base. Included among the ornaments are a silver football mounted on a boomerang and two large silver fern leaves. The figure of a Maori chieftain, an Australian aborigine, a kiwi, and a kangaroo also adorn the trophy. With the exception of three South Island forwards, the vanguard selected to represent New Zealand is the same as that which played tor Auckland against Australia in the first match. The forwards have undoubtedly been strengthened and should give tho Australians strong opposition. Calder is >till a fine forward and can bo depended upon to assist greatly in the hooking of the ball. Glynn is a good type of forward, fast, "and a good tackier. Anderson is one of the most promising forwards in the code. Ffe has only played two seasons of League football.

The Now Zealand backs, with Tittleton as centre-threequarter, should have speed on attack. Tittleton has frequently shown good form and is a fine attacking player. It is expected that Lilburne, Wellington, will be available fpr the second test match.

WEAK TACKLING AUCKLAND DISAPPOINTS CLEVER VISITING PLAYERS One of the most disappointing features of Auckland's play was the weak tackling of some of the players. This came as a great surprise to many enthusiasts, as in previous matches Auckland's tackling has been of a high standard. The cleverness and thrust of the visitors are undoubted, and they executed several brilliant movements. However, they were greatly helped by the persistence of local players in going high, and easily being eluded.

Possession of the ball from the serums was gained by Australia throughout and this big advantage gave the backs every opportunity. They showed plenty of speed and changed their method on attack splendidly, and often brilliantly. In this direction the team was well served from the base of the scrum bv Thicknesse. who was one of tho outstanding players. Norman, five-eighths, did some brilliant work on attack and cut through with great dash and pace off the mark. Thicknesse and Norman are an insido combination which will prove very troublesome to New Zealand teams. Brown, centre, fulfilled the good reports which preceded him here, and showed that he is an ideal type for the position. A very strong runner, ho makes many openings, which appear simple. Another player who impressed was Ward, fullback. His positional play, handling and kicking were excellent, and he is quick to seize any opportunity to set his backs moving. Good Forwards

Australia fielded a good set of forwards, who wero superior all round to tho Auckland set. They covered on defence well, besides always being handy to take up an attacking position. One of the outstanding features of the Australians' play was their sound defence, and there was always someone handy to help a player in troublo. Curran and Gibbs are equal to any international forwards yet seen at Carlaw Park.

As they were beaten regularly for the ball tho Auckland backs were not seen in action often, but they appeared dangerous on one or two occasions. The try scored by Mincham gave an indication of the ability of the rearguard with reasonable opportunities. However, the tackling of some of the backs was not up to standard, Kay being an exception. Cooke did not place some of his kicks to the same advantage as in the past, but ho nevertheless played a sound game. The fact that some of his kicks failed pays a tribute to tho fine positional play of the Australians. Brown's Fine Play Brown was Auckland's star back and ho played a very heady game on the wing. Outsido men like Thicknesse, Norman and Brown, tho local player would be a very dangerous scoring man. Powell did good work behind tho scrum, but Prentice was not so prominent as usual. One would have liked to have seen Kay get more chances, but his tackling could have well been followed by some of the other players. Hall shows promise, but he is not yet up to the standard set in the game. Tetley and Satherlev were the best Auckland forwards, who played well in the second spell and narrowly missed scoring on a few occasions. The Australian team, which is. staying at the Commercial Hotel, will leave for Wellington by train to-night. They will meet a combined team next Wednesday, and will return to Auckland next Thursday.