RUGBY LEAGUE

Evening Star, Issue 22144, 26 September 1935, Page 4

RUGBY LEAGUE

AUSTRALIAN TOURING TEAM BASKS GIVE FINE DISPLAY [Pm United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, September 26 : In a high-scoring game the visiting Australian Rugby League team to-day defeated the combined team from Wellington, Hawke’s Bay, Taranaki, and Canterbury at Wellington by 45 points (11 tries and six goals) to 31 (seven tries and five goals). The ground was hard and dusty. The Australians overshadowed the combined team in every department of the game, and at one stage a win by a much bigger margin looked likely. Renewed vigour on the part of the forwards in the late stages brought results for the home side and made the scores closer. The Australian backs _ demonstrated that they are one of tlie_ finest rearguards ever seen in action in Wellington. The backs all possessed pace, speed off the mark, and combination which in both orthodox and reverse passing was a revelation. The ball was passed snappily and the backing up of the inside men enabled tho team frequently to have two or three .nen to spare. The visiting forwards showed similar high combination and several of them were unusually fleet for forwards. Australia secured the ball from the big majority of the scrums in the earlier Stages of the match, and it was not till the local side learned to adopt the Australian tactics that their share of the bail was more nearly equalised. In contradistinction to the_ visitors, the combined team was weak in combination both back and forward, although credit must be given to individual players lor fine displays..