THE LEAGUE GAME.

Waikato Times, Volume 96, Issue 15061, 7 October 1922, Page 16 (Supplement)

THE LEAGUE GAME.

{■. (By "Verax.")

■The Hamilton League will officially bring its season- to a close with .a smoke concert at. the Town Hall this evening. . The various trophies won during the season Will be handed over this evening to the successful teams, players. : . -■. ?- " • "What object thp Australians in the combined team could have in not trying is not. discernible. The entire atmosphere of this match is inimical to the interests of real sport. Better to cut out tours of this sort altogether if they are not to be carried out in a friendly spirit than that pictured in the cable messages.” —Comment by ‘The Cynic’ in the Referee after the exhibition game at Auckland. .The South Auckland team, which has had a very successful season, will ring the curtain down with the game at Waihi this afternoon. It is said that the prospects for the game in tne goldmining centre are good. v Of Queensland’s recent victory over New South Wales the Referee says:— Queensland demonstrated on Saturday that their best players are of the right type and quality. New South Wales downed the Northerners 22 times in succession; hut ab last the tide has turned.' There was no element of fluke about it, for the football of the victors was probably the best ever shown by Queenslanders ;n Sydney. Queensland sent down a fast, nippy team, solid and gingery in the forwards and slippery in the hacks, which showed good combination and excellent individualism. The home team, measured by club form, was not impressive. And that which most people anticipated happened, Queensland securing their first win in the Rugby League against the Mother Slate after many years of defeat. It was highly merited. A few members of the home team showed first-class form, but as a team they were outplayed, the main difference being in the forwards—in scrummage, ruck anil open—and in the centre threequarters. In these positions New South Wales was a bad second, and Queensland’s win by 25 points to 9 was no untrue reflection of the game, taken from start to finish. Moreover, they played for a big portion of the second half one short, half-back Connell having to retire injured. The heartiest congratulations are due to the Queensland team on their win. In it they disclosed not only keen- allround team work, but bright individualism, excellent handling of the ball, and most excellent backing-up in both attack and defence. In the forwards they showed better team tactics than one can recall having seen from any other Queensland team under the League. To Skipper N. Potter much of the credit for this team machinery is evidently due. lie has the additional satisfaction of knowing that in loading |hr> forwards lie played a very fine game himself. There was a crowd of 8000. \vliV> left the storm-drenched ground highly pleased with the football of the visitors.

The Quensland total of 25 is the highest ever recorded for them in this series, and the New) South Wales 9 Is, likewise, their smallest. It is the first time New South Wales has failed to score a goal.