FOOTBALL

Hokitika Guardian, 29 April 1927, Page 3

FOOTBALL

[by TELEGRAPH —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] RUGBY FOOTBALL. SYDNEY. April 28. Following the example ol the t ticket Board, the Rugby Football Union has decided that the pmyers composing the forthcoming team touring Uri tain would not ho allowed to take their wives. RUGBY LEAGUE. PART OF REPORT PUBLISHED. AUCKLAND, April 29. The Executive of the New Zealand Rughv League have made pubfic palt of the report of the Afanager of the League touring team who gives leasons for the financial failure: (1) The coal strike in England. (2) Adverse press criticism at the beginning of the tour. (3) Brices charged for various games. (4) Internal trouble in the team. The joint manager summarises the causes of defeat as follows: (1.) Lack of a hooker. (2) Failure of forwards to pack pro--1 perlv aiul put their weight in the scrum. I (3) Failure of forwards to adapt * themselves to English conditions by ro- | maining. as forwards, breaking up too quickly and being too eager to function as backs. I (4) Failure of backs to adapt tliem- ' selves to English conditions, pnrticularlv in defence, due to the formation. (3) Bad goal kicking. (6) Failure to secure the ball from the scrum. (7) Lack of keen team spirit, due to internal trouble. Bad goal kicking was principally attributable to the very bad selection of balls at the team’s disposal. Alany matches were lost owing to kicks under the goal posts being missed. At one stage of the tour IS successive tries were scored and not one goal was kick--1 ed.