FOOTBALL.

Hokitika Guardian, 3 October 1927, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

FEATURES OF THE MATCH. [by TELEQKAPTI—FEB PItESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, Oct. 3. There'- were two disquieting features in the North v. South match which the New Zealand Union ought to take seriously in hand. One was the inordinate number of penalties, especially against the Northerners. These really lost them the game and caused them to be beaten by a slightly inferior side. The infringement of the rules by North Island sides had been most noticeable in Wellington this winter, and none were greater offenders than Wellington itself. Quite a number of penalties on Saturday were for breaches which either displayed great ignorance on the part of the players or deplorable carelessness. The Union should stamp tnis out forcibly before the team goes to Africa. 1

The other feature was the extraordinary weakness in defence revealed by the enormous score of 01 points, although two picked sides of cracks were engaged. Some of the backs appeared too light and too weak to stem the rushes of 14 to 15 stone forwards, and constant gaps were opened. Football critics are laying stress on the necessity of a rigid medical inspection this time, which led to several men going to England who should never have been allowed to leave, and thus kept others, who had better claims, out of the team. It also is urged that the whole of the places should not be filled up at once in order to leave room for competent men wh may be selected if available, and who later may find they can go after all.