TOO ONE-SIDED.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 532, 15 August 1932, Page 11

TOO ONE-SIDED.

League Test Match was Disappointing.

BRILLIANT ENGLISHMEN

The thousands of people who crowded to Monica Park on Saturday to see an exhibition of the League code by international players came away disappointed because the match was so one-sided. New Zealand were scarcely ever in the picture; when they were it was generally the result of mistakes by the Englishmen, who had command of the situation at virtually every stage. The New Zealanders did not exploit their chances at all. They repeatedly punted foolishly back to Sullivan, probably the best and surest kicker in League football the world over. In addition, the losers were often caught out of position. Tricky inside Backs. The visitors were a brilliant combination, with inside backs who could sidestep anyone with e? — ~ J and Risman were m nuggety and absoli dancing- and dodging:. They had an almost uncanny knack of interception, as the New Zealanders found to their cost. Evans, who played behind the scrum, is the only one of the three who were on the 1928 League tour of New Zealand. He has lost none of his trickiness since that date, and the three men combined to B. Bv&m fill the gap left by (Tricky 'Half). Jonathan Parkin, who, as an inside back, kept liis fame high as captain of the previous English team to visit these shores. The English forwards were altogether too heavy for the New Zealanders, who were pushed back off the ball in almost every scrum in the first hcClf. In the second Campbell managed to get a fair share of the ball, but the combination to make the full use of that advantage was not there. The New Zealand forwards worked well, and Hutt, Stephenson and Calder were particularly lively. Hutt was the best of the bunch. He tore into the tight work with a will and tackled like a tiger. Much High. Tackling. The high tackling, which was a disquieting feature of the game, was effective only in the case of the Englishmen, whose weight allowed them to grass their opponents. It was not unusual to see an English forward, or even a back, get past two or three of the lighter New Zealanders who attempted the neck embrace. Cooke and Watene were the only New Zealanders to use the low tackle at all consistently. The tempers of certain of the visitors, and occasionally one or two New Zealanders, were somewhat frayed at times. Glaring evidence of this was given by Hodgson, who was concerned in three or four ugly “ incidents.” Hodgson had other specialities, however, for he was probably the best forward on the ground. He broke away fast from the scrums nnd showed surprising pace for his weight of over fifteen stone. Thompson is a big English forward who can put on the pace when required. He opened up the play in great style, and he and Fildes combined with the backs very effectively. Silcock was often in the picture in loose rushes. Ellahy and Sullivan.

Smith, on the English left wing, was another trick artist of the Evans type, and List was on the slow side in his defence. On the other wing. the famous El la by lost no laurels. He is a hefty player of wonderful pace, and the manner in which he and Atkinson combined in clever passing rushes was a treat to watch. The occasion on which Evans let out to him on the blind side of the scrum as the New Zealand

backs were moving up on the other side was a brilliant

Sullivan had a picric day of it, though ha was bustled at times. He appreciated the New Zealanders’ thoughtfulness in kicking right into his hands, and thereupon found the line well down. When the English attack was hot he came into the three-quarter line as an extra man, and ths move, and the general play of the visiting backs, deserved more tries than came their way. Brisbane Off Sis Same. Brisbane, the New Zealand captain, was off his game. Only occasionally did he rise to any brilliance, and appeared to do better when closer to the scrum with Cooke. The last-named was playing splendidly until he suffered an injury to a leg which caused him to leave the field for some time. He returned, but as more or less of a crock. Abbott had a hard time of it behind the New Zealand scrum, but he stuck to his guns gamely and was one of the best of the backs. His fast following up had the Englishmen in trouble occasionally, but he bad not sufficient weight to bring them down. Hassan played a dashing game all through, Hist was at times sloto and hesitant on the wing, and Davidson, who, when In England some years ago, was described by English critics as a (lashing played, brightened Hart’s chances of inclusion in the third test team by his mediocre showing. Watene, the full-back, was an inspiration. Never daunted in the face of hard rushes, he went down to them all and tackled low and hard. His linekicking was well-directed. Mr A. Harlock, of South Auckland, refereed. JTe was in control also of the test played at English Park in 1925. BRIGHT CURTAIN-RAISERS. The test was preceded by two willing curtain-raisers, provided by the Canterbury and Mawheraiti, West Coast, third and junior representatives. Owning to the late arrival of the West Coast train, full time was not played in the third grade game, which resulted in a win for Canterbury by 14 points to 0. Canterbury won the junior game by 14 points to 10. WEST COAST MATCHES. (Special to the “ Star.”) GREY MOUTH, August 14. Two surprises were in store for League patrons to-day when the two leading teams in the senior competition were defeated. Following were the scores: Brunner 25. Runanga 8; Blackball 7, Marist fi. Third grade: Kunanga 11. Punollio 10; Marist 1 !>. Pirates 6. Fourth grade: Runanga 3, Marist 3. IN OTHER PLACES. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, August 14. City 19, Tlevonport 13; Ponsonby 20, Richmond 11. DUNEDIN, August 14. City 39, Athletic 26; Christian Brothers 10, Pacific 0.