WEAK TACKLING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22233, 7 October 1935, Page 16

WEAK TACKLING

BRILLIANCE OF NORMAN CLEVER VISITING BACKS INJURY TO L. BROWN After making a good showing up to half-time the New Zealand team fell away badly in the second spell and Australia scored tries at one stage almost at random. L. Brown, the New Zealand captain, was injured early in the second spell and this appeared to have a detrimental effect upon the play of the team as a whole. From this stago there was only one team in the picture and the Australians thrilled the spectators with many brilliant movements. Weak tackling was again costly to tho Now Zealand side, some of the players persisting in going high and being easily brushed aside. Prentice, first five-eighths for New Zealand, was suffering from an injured leg and owing to this handicap he could not move up fast enough to smother Norman, the brilliant Australian, who was the outstanding back on tho ground. Norman made some great openings, changing his tactics so cleverly that he had the defence completely baffled. Much of his good work was shown to advantage through the excellent support and speed of an outstanding backline. D. Brown again showed fine form and one rarely sees a player with such a keen sense of anticipation. His positional play and leadership have given New Zealand something which it is to be hoped will be carefully studied and followed. Thicknesse had a hard day at half and played right up to form, whilo all tho other backs proved dangerous in clever runs. Ward was very safe at fullback, in strong contrast to Hunt, New Zealand, who proved weak. His positional play was bad and his tackling not nearly up to the standard expected in international football. Among the Australian forwards Stehr, Prigg, Curran and Pearco showed out in good play. Prigg did a lot of clever work and was always in support of his backs. Tho New Zealand backs were never a happy attacking force, but one of the most pleasing features of the game was the form shown by the two colts, Kay and Riley, probably tho most promising players in Auckland at present. Of tho Now Zealand forwards Tetley, Calder and Laird were tho most prominent. The Australians again monopolised the scrums, but in the first spell tlie.v lost possession through over-kicking. It was noticeable that a change of tactics ■was made in the second spell, when kicking was rarely attempted. The Australians won tho second and third test matches by 29 points to 8 and 31 to-8 respectively. New Zealand won the first test by 22 points to 14 The visitors left for Rotorua yesterday and will return on Wednesday to play tho final match of the tour against an Auckland side at Carlaw Park. SUCCESS OF TOUR CODE'S GOOD PROGRESS References to the success of the tour were made at a smoke concert tendered to the players of both teams on Saturday night. Mr. H. Sunderland, co-manager of the Australian team, said that they could look back on tho test fixtures as undoubtedly marking the definite progress of the code in New Zealand. The tour had proved successful beyond all expectations. He was proud to bo associated with such a fine teani and he was particularly impressed with the remarkable progress of the game in New Zealand and the efficiency of the officials in control. Mr. C. A. Snedden, president of the New Zealand Rugby League, who presided, paid a tribute to the Australian Board of Control for its assistance. He thought that the board would now realise that the New Zealand League had carried on in the face of great difficulties and after the present tour that New Zealand was well worth assisting. The code would continue to thrive in the Dominion, particularly with the assistance of the Australian Board of Control. Mr. Snedden eulogised the efforts of Mr. Sunderland in the interests of the game, not only in Australia, but also in England and France. In presenting the Courtney Goodwill Cup to D. Brown, captain of tho Australian team, Mr. Snedden congratulated tho visitors on their success and referred to the. foresight of the donor, Mr. R. Courtney. He said that tho competition for the trophy marked the beginning of a new era for the code and better co-operation between tho New Zealand and Australian Leagues was sure to result. The Australian captain expressed appreciation of the hospitality extended to the team. There was no doubt that tho standard of play in New Zealand had shown a marked improvement. In replying to the toast of the New Zealand team, A. E. Cooke and L. Brown both praised the visiting players on the high standard they had sot. Cooke 'said that ho had now definitely retired from the game, and Mr. Sunderland referred in glowing terms to the excellent record of Cooke as a footballer. Messrs. W. J. Chaseling, co-manager of the Australian team; G. Grey Campboll, president of tho Auckland Rugby League; J. A. Lee, M.P.; A. Letta, a New South Wales referee, and tho Rev. Panapa, on behalf of tho Maori Advisory Board, also spoke. During tho evening all stood in silence as a mark of respect to the memory of tho late A. H. Baskerville, D. W. McLean and James Carlaw. On behalf of Mr. H. Walmsley, Mr. Chaseling handed to Mr. Snedden _ a trophy for interprovincial competition between schoolboys.