FOOTBALL

Hokitika Guardian, 8 October 1929, Page 1

FOOTBALL

THE LEAGUE TEST. PRAISE FOR AUSTRALIANS. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright). LONDON, October 6. “ The Eclipse of England,” is the newspaper definition of the Hull test match at Rugby League football between England and Australia. Mr Trevor Wignall, in the “ Daily Express,” says: “England not only were beaten, but they were crushed, and almost overwhelmed. Never in my life have I seen so many specimens of physical perfection as the Australians. By comparison most o*f the players in England are weeds. England lost because her team was over-slow, and ill-combined, and there was over-mutch individualism. The Australian stars are Shankland and Treweeke. The latter is a flying forward as big as Phil Scott. The second line, as a body, are weak, not knowing how to pack. There is not a hooker apart from Treweeke. The Australian forwards had nothing to do with the victory. The. Australians’ combination is neither better nor worse than that of others who have visited England, but they are extremely fast, and all are playing excellently together.” In a further paragraph, Mr Wignall adds: “Gorman’s generalship in outpointing Kinnear, the former Scotch Rugby Union international, was favourably commented on by many of the veterans after the game.”