FOOTBALL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12636, 22 May 1919, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

THE HAGUE GAME NOTES ON SATURDAY’S PLAY. /I he various competitions were continued on Saturday under conditions timt were all in favour of players. Though the grounds,are still very hard iboro is a good spring in tho turf on tho majority of the playing grounds. To enable the iNow Zealand team selector, Mr A E. Powell, to witness the senior players in action both first grade games were played at St Albans Park, which ground was in fine order, and though tue active participants have yet to improve thoir condition and combination both games wore a decided improvement on previous displays this season and interest was maintained right up to tho final whistle. SYDENHAM, v. FEDERAL. This game attracted principal interest, and though there was raggedness about the play of both teams the prospects of. Federal beating last year’s winners looked very bright. The’ Yellow and Blacks were unlucky in getting beaten, though it was simply bad play on the part of tho Federal backs that enabled Hill to obtain tho hall and score the winning try 'right on time. At least three of tho losers’ backs should have secured the ball when Hill got control, and the Sydenham player must bo commended for his following up, and probably the same movement will bo tried again with success. I here is yet time for both teams, to improve, especially in their passing and fielding, and no doubt tho winners will show marked improvement in. the next few weeks. Included in the winning side were S. irudgeon and T. Kirton, who have recently returned from active service. The latter only readied homo on Thursday, nnd he lost no time in turning out. Both teams were very evenly matched, and the good spoiling tactics adopted by W. Mitchell and his confreres prevented the Sydenham backs from passing. „ K. Marshall, the Sydenham scrum half, was uhfortunato enough to injure his knee and had to retire, and Sydenham were one short during the second spell. This, of course, handicapped tho team play. The Federal forwards showed to more advantage than their opponents, and at times put a lot of vigour into their efforts. F. Kidd and W. Murray pinjed well and led some solid rushes, but the forwards were severely tested by long badly placed kicking on the part of their backs. It is hard to understand the tactics indulged in by backs kicking indiscriminately and tl creby running the forwards to a standstill. Yet this goes on week m and week out, and to all supporters .the lack of judgment in this respect makes one wonder why the forwards do not have a heart to heart talk with someone, • Ooomber played fairly well for the winners at full-back, but a speeding up policy by him would improve the side a lot. The three-quarters’ line was by no means impressive, and the plavers in this department need to Show a deal of improvement. J. Young got through a lot of work but was up against a hard proposition in facing Mitchell. P. Hill, S. Trudgeon and T. and W. King showed best form for the forwards. Of the Federal hacks, Mitchell, Kruse, Weston and Thaokwell were most prominent, and W. Murray, F. Kidd and J. Childs strove hard in the forwards. LIN WOOD v. ADDINGTON. This game was noticeable in that both sides made every effort to keep the play fast and open, and though the passing and fielding at times were patchy and not well directed tho game was played at a solid pace all the way, and it was tho case of the survival of the fittest. The Addington backs are speedy and endeavour to play the passing game throughout, and it required safe tackling by the Linwood backs to keep the Black and Whites from scoring. Both sides will improve, though, in this respect; probably Addington will show to best advantage as they endeavour to adopt team play. Some of the Linwood backs show a decided preference for solo efforts, and in this the men behind the scrum half are the worst offenders, though at least three forwards also forget that there are other men in tho team. The quicker the team cuts out the selfish tactics the better. Wright, Murray, Pease (backs), and Bateman, Harris and Baker (forwards) were prominent for the winners, and Locke, Sanders, Lloyd, Kerr (backs), Symister and Moffatt (forwards) played well for Addington. THE NEW ZEALAND TEAM. The selection of the New Zealand team to tour Australia has been the subject of discussion amongst Leagueites during the past few days, and opinions expressed suggest that the team is a very solid and fast combination. I understand in tho opinions of the selectors it is the best Dominion team that has yet been placed in the field, and should success in the test fixtures come their way the -result of tho tour should improve tho progress of the code throughout the Dominion. No doubt there are supporters of the local men who will be disappointed that not more than two Canterbury players were selected,, but it was generally understood that only W. J. Mitchell and W. King would be chosen. According to a northern exchange the selectors also discussed H. Moffatt, of Hornby, but want of experience in big football was against his selection. The backs, with Mitchell as custodian. are a fast and tricky lot, and it will be interesting to peruse the reports of the games across the Tasman and watch the career of “Desert Gold” Davidson, the Auckland crack threequarter. W. Wilson, with Ifwerson, Davidson and G- Bradley, arc a speedy and tricky combination. Though both Lning aud Cloake are new to first-class football, both have been selected on this season’s play. The extra backs are D. M’Cartny, of Hawke’s Bay; A. Matthews, of North Shore; J. Stewart, of City; and W. Walsh, the Ponsonby half. The forwards are a hefty set. Rukutai is tho veteran of the team, and Walters and Somers, the front trio, are proved hookers. Waddell, the exHawke’s Bay forward, who recently returned from England, played for some time there and was a member of tho successful Army Service team. Tancred is the big Wellington forward of last year, and will probablv make a reputation at the game- Parker is also a big, powerful Wellington forward, and very fast. Haddon is another fine forward. and the physique of the forwards will no doubt create a favourable impression on the other side of the Tasman. J. Brown, of the West Coast, is a. forward who will improve a lot in the company, and J. Clarke is known to local plavers through being here with tlie Ponsonby team last vear.