LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19903, 24 September 1926, Page 9

LEAGUE FOOTBALL

THE NEW ZEALAND TEAM. ENGLISH CRITICS DISAPPOINTED. (Press Association— By Telegraph—Copyright.; LONDON, September 22. The critics declare that the New Zealand League players must alter their tactics if the tour is to be a success. “The positional play against Rochdale was all wrong,” says the Daily News. “The passing was primitive, and there were too many mistakes in fielding the ball. The one half-back and the two five-eighths formation may suit the stylo of football in their own country, but it will have little chance against the solid work of the English forwards. So far the back formation has been a failure.” The News adds: “The English test team did not surprise the critics, who point out, i anticipated, that the council is relying on the old brigade. All arc old internationals except Taylor and Fairclough, who toured Australia in 1024. The Daily Mail explains that the New Zealand League team arrived in England prepared to play their games according to the rules of the English Rugby League, but now they find that the game is played practically on all fours with the New Zealand Rugby game. These changes left the team in a quandary. Moreover, the forwards do not yet push in a body as they should. The second row docs not not always stop in the pack, and the front row is not kept under the opposing scrum. Owing to the forwards particip 'ng in movements with the backs, they often spread over the field. These facts contributed to the moderate staat. Possibly the New Zealanders are not acclimatised, but many of the members of the team are disappointed to find the clubs so strong. England should find victory in the tests well within her powers—Sydney Sun Cable.