LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2189, 30 June 1914, Page 5

LEAGUE FOOTBALL

COMMENT ON FIRST TEST. By Telegraph—Frees A~sodation-CoDyright<

Sydney, June 29. • The papers olfor.no excuses for Australia's defeat in'.the League football match against England on Saturday. They admit that this. Australians were solidly trounced by a team that excelled in every department. Tho Englishmen held their own in tho scrummages, bunched together excellently, and supported their backs consistently. They were equal to the Australians individually and infinitely superior collcctively.

There will bo several, alterations in tho Australian-team for to-day's match. The Englishmen will play the' same team. SECOND LEAGUE TEST. AUSTRALIANS WIN". (Rec. June 29, 8.30 p ; m.) ; Sydney, June 29. In the;second test Australia reversed Saturday's dofeat. Thero wag brilliant

weather, and a hard ground. The home team was strengthened by the acquis:* tion of six new players, and opened tho game with determined rushes into tho visitors', territory, but were unable to break through the solid defence. Even play followed until Australia wa.i awarded a penalty kick close to tho opposition goal, from which no scoro resulted. By clever tactics the Englandcxs swept down tho. field. The locals were penalised, and Rogers placed a goal to the credit of the visitors. Tho solid combihatipn and speed of England's forwards again outclassed the Australians; they were'.awarded a penalty and Rogers scored. In spito of tho alterations in tho team tho Australians were not handling the ball with the same facility as the visitors, who came through the homo defence with a machine-like precision,' Coldrick further increasing the score by a try, which Rogers failed to convert. Eager and determined tackling led the visitors to be penalised in mid-field, from where Messenger scored. Within tho last few minutes of the first half there was an exciting melee in front of England's goal, which resulted in a try for tho home sido to Frazer's credit; Messenger converted. ■ At halftime the scores were seven all.

In the early stages of the' second half the Australians pressed hard, but the* visitors saved wonderfully. At this stage Robinson dislocated his arm and retired. Playing a man short at this critical stage tin; Snglandcrs were continually being-penalised, biit managed to hold their' own in face of tho long odds. The. visitors' defence was cveattually broken down by ■ persistent rushes, Burge scoring a splendid try,' which Messenger converted. With the gamo against them the. English pack Began to lose their dash and resourcefulness,' and tho concluding stages of the game were uninteresting, but marked with' occasional spurts. Tho Australian forwards were only saved from scoring by the'solidity of England's backs. Tne final score was: Australia, 12.; England, T. The attendance at. the football match was fifty-two thousand. ' . • GOAL-KICKING COMPETITION. (Hec. June 29, ; 9.0 p.m.) • . Sydney, Juno 29. The goal-kicking' competition was won by Australia. ■ Out of four tries Messenger landed three and Ilorder two: for the Englanders, Guerin and Wood one dach. THIRD TEST IN MELBOURNE. : Sydney, June ,2a. The third football test match, originally'fined for • Saturday next, will bo played:in Melbourne on a later date. (By Telosrraph.—Presa Association.^ . Auoklantlj June 29. The Council of the Northern Union League lias extended the' tour of d the British team, and allotted July lo to' Canterbury and July 18 to Hawke's Bay. ' . MEETING OF WELLINGTON •'. EXECUTIVE. ; A meeting of .the executive of the Wellington .iviigby league was held, in Petono last evening, tnero being present: Messrs. Kerr. (cnairman;, Murphy, Beale, -Bnce, ;Barber, butuerlanci, .Webb,. Aiartin, and Leatiiam. it was decided in order, that the selectors may be- enabled' to pick the best team . to, represent 'Wellington' against Jiiigjand on July 11 at iNeWtown Park, a trial game would be played at-i'etone on Saturday next. 1 Players are to be notified tnat the final selection will be made only from those in good form, and wili take place immediately after -the match. I'ne following are tho teams:— A Team (colours black).—Full-back, Warring ■ ntafc-.Wte \vliitley (ketone), parker- .(bub.urbs) Murdock .(NewtoWn), ! W. Wilson (Athletic) ; live-eighths, Bradley (Athletic) ; half, Barber (Petone); forwards, Childs (Petone), .Sullivan (Newtown), Bensemann (N'ewtoivn), Lawler (Athletic), J. Parker (Petone), Scott. Emergencies: Backs, Toomey, Marshall; forwards, Beere, Rodgcrs. B Team (colours).—Full-back, G. Parker (Petone); three-quarters, Ford (Suburbs), Mitchell (A'thletie), George .(Newtown),'., Strickland (Newtown); fiveeighth's, lUtiku (Athletic); half, Russell (Suburbs)'; forwards, Donaldson (Suburbs), Spencer (Newtown), Campbell (Suburbs), Ashton (Petone), S. Sullivan (Suburbs), Manning . (Suburb's). Emergencies: Backs, Parker, Goodman; forwards, Ferris; Ho a re. Mr. K. Barker will bo the referee.