LEAGUE TEAM’S TOUR

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 2 May 1927, Page 4

LEAGUE TEAM’S TOUR

CAUSES OF ITS FAILURE. By Tdlegra-.lh—Press Association. AUCKLAND, April 30. The executive of Ihe New Zealand Rughv League made public part of the report of the managers of the League's touring team, who gave reasons for the financial failure: (1) The coal strike in England. (2) Adverse Press criticism at the beginning of the tour. (3) The prices charged for various games. . (■}) Internal troubles in the team. The joint managers summarise the causes of the defeats as follows. (1) Lack of a hooker. (2) Failure of the forwards to pack properly and put weight in the scrums. , (;-j) Failure of the forwards to adapt themselves to English conditions by remaining as forwards, breaking up too quickly, being too eager to function as backs. (4) Failure of the backs to adapt themselves to the’English conditions, particularly in defence, due to the formation.

(5) Bad goal lacking. (6) Failure to secure the hall from the scrum. . (T) Lack of a keen team spirit, due to internal trouble. . . The had goal kicking was principally attributable to the very bad selection of halls at the team’s disposal. Many matches were lost owing to kicks under the goal posts being missed. At one stage of the tour eighteen successive tries were scored, and not one goal was kicked. AUCKLAND NEW ZEALAND 1 REPRESEN jIA 11\ Eb. AUCKLAND, April 30. A League match between Auckland representatives and a team of Auckland members of tho New Zealand team which toured England, was placed before ten thousand spectators. A fast and interesting game resulted in the Auckland representatives winning by 21 to 21. THE DUNEDIN SQUABBLE. By Telegraph—Proas Association DUNEDIN, May 1. A meeting of about 70 members of tiie Otago Rugby League tfas hold on Saturday night, to give further consideration to the dispute which has arisen in the ranks of the local governing body, and to endeavour to reestablish harmony. . A motion was passed expressing disagreement with the action of the chairman, Mr J. T. Harper, in not allowing a full discussion to take place at last Thursday’s meeting, and a further resolution was adopted, expressing no confidence in tho present executive, and asking tho Management Committee to carry on the functions of the League. Mr E. Longworth presided over the meeting, at which the proceedings were quite orderly.