FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 December 1926, Page 6

FOOTBALL.

THE GAME IN ENGLAND. RUGBY TROUBLE SETTLED. (From Our Own Correspondent.) I.ondon, Oct. 28. The trouble which was threatened to Rugby football, owing to the adoption by Wales of a new rule, under which no player could advance beyond the front row of his own forwards in a scrummage until the ball was out at the other side, has happily been settled by a sensible compromise. As was previously stated, the Maoris first drew attention to the handicap under which teams visiting Wales would play, but, though they withdrew their opposition and have actually observed the rule, English clubs also protested. The result was that the matter was brought before the International Board, and, on the proposal of "England, it was decided that all matches between teams belonging to different Unions should play under the rules of the Board. In suggesting this way out, England were prepared to forego their own rule, which makes it illegal for more than three men to form the front row of the scrummage. This rule was observed only in England, and. though it got rid of what is known as the "loose head,” it has been sacrificed in order Io fall into line with Wales. The Welsh authorities at once accepted this compromise, and the matter was settled. So Wales will be left to carry on her experiment alone, and English clubs will not have the opportunity of confirming or disagreeing with the verdict of the Leicester and Bristol clubs that it made for better and more open Rugby. THE .MAORI TEAM. The Maori Rugby team are still unbeaten here, and they have played two of the strongest Welsh club sides in Newport and Swansea. Against Newport they were unable to score, but the matcli was decided under wretched conditions, rain falling all the time, and making handling a matter of exceeding difficulty. At the same time they had the better of a scrambling game, and were not seriously troubled to protect their lines. The New Zealanders were the more successful in getting the ball from the scrummage, and the backs had ample chances, but the play in the centre of the three-quarter line was weak. Scarcely an attempt was made to go through the middle, and the advances were usually emothered before the wings had an opportunity. Better form was shown against Swansea and also against Yorkshire, the county champions, both games being won, but the tourists have yet to reveal anything like the scoring power of the Al] Blacks of two seasons ago.

NEW ZEALAND PROFESSIONALS. The New Zealand Rugby League team are not meeting with the success anticipated. They were beaten for the fourth time in their match agains Oldham. As was at first conspicuous, they were weak forward, and the fault lias not been remedied. Before meeting Oldham, there was some mystery about the team that would take the fields, and, when the men appeared, it was seen that among the forwards were Dufty, the full-back, and Gardiner, a wing threequarter. There was a good reason for these remarkable changes, but it was not made public. The result, however, was disastrous. The forwards were outclassed, and this led to a defeat by fifteen points to ten. ' Though the industrial depression has not affected the attendances at the New Zealanders’ matches to the extent feared, the tour can now hardly be as successful financially as was that of the Australians in 1921-22. The Australians took home over £21,000, but, with a third of the present programme finished, the' total receipts Lave amounted to only £9,000. It is probable that the visitors will add another fixture to their list. All their matches have been arranged to be played in Yorkshire and Lancashire, the professional Rugby centre, but they have been invited to appear in London, and they will probably do so. The opposing team will, of course, have to be drawn from the counties mentioned, but it is believed that the thirteen aside game would be a novelty for London, and that as such it would make a popular append. The one difficulty will be to find a ground. A Rugby Union ground would not be lent for the occasion, for that would be against the rules, but arrangements will perhaps be made with one of the Soccer League clubs.

DISAPPOINTING SOCCER TEAM. Though there was plenty of confidence in the England Soccer team, another disappointing display was given in the first of the season’s internationals against Ireland, and, instead of the comfortable win anticipated, the result was a draw. Three times England were a goal to the bad, and though they fought on with better spirit than has often been shown in recent years, Irfland fully held their own. It was a match of many exciting incidents, and six'goals were scored, so that it was a popular success, but to have been satisfactory from an English point of view a handsome victory should have been recorded. Irish football is in a very impoverished state. The clubs are not well enough supported to enable them to pay their"men on the same scale that is in operation either in England or Scotland. The result is that all the best of the Irish Players leave home when the opportunity occurs. In these circumstances only one man was taken from Irish football for the game with England, and the remaiaojr made up a side which very ordinary one. Yet they were good enough to draw. If the aim of the English selectors is to get a team together capable of beating Scotland, they will have to start building afresh, and they will have to lay their plans on different lines. Since the War we have tried to match the skill and teamcraft of the Scots by dash and speed, and the policy has l/-en a hopeless failure. The only way to win this match is to place in the field the eleven cleverest players in the country.