FOOTBALL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3843, 11 September 1928, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

THE SECOND TEST. NEW ZEALAND (16) v. N.S. WALES (14). A crowd of 16,000 was at the Carisbrook ground, Dunedin, on Saturday to see the second test match between the All Blacks and New South Wales, but the majority must have been disappointed with the play, which was below international standard. It is safe to say that the better side lost and it was only in the last few minutes that the All Blacks looked like a winning side. The N.S. Wales’ team has a set of fast backs who throw the ball about with abandon, even cn their own line. The forwards played the threeßwotliree formation in the scrum and got more than their share of the ball. Alalcolm, the visitors’ scrum half, was the best player on the field and his game throughout was stamped with cleverness. The three-quarter line was very sound and Westfield, the full back, played an outstanding game, fielding, kicking and tackling brilliantly. Of the .forwards, Loudon, O’Connor and Lamb were the best.

The All Black backs did not got many opportunities, but some of them were not impressive and alterations will have to be made for the third test. Holden, Bradanoviteh and Hook were not up to iiw ternational standard. Cooke was well watched,'hut be proved that he is a really classy player. Porter, Freitas and Knight were outstanding in the forwards. For the winners, Robinson and Knight scored, while a try was given for obstructios. Brandanoviteh converted two of the tries and kicked a penalty goal. For N.S. Wales, Gerufti, Loudon, Hemingway and Malcolm scored one of the tries being converted by George. Mr. G. AlcKenzie of Dunedin was the referee.

TARANAKI DEFEAT MANAWHENUA. Playing in boisterous and sho.very weather before an attendance of 2000, Taranaki defeated Manawhenua at New Plymouth on Saturday by 13 points to 12. All Taranaki’s points were scored in the first spell and all Manawhenua’s in the second, this being largely due to the fact that a powerful wind blew directly down-field. On attack the Taranaki backs gave one of the best displays of the season, feeding the ball constantly to Crawford, who was playiris' a fine game. On defence, however, the backs lacked determination and tackled badly.

The Manawhenua forwards, though listless in the early part of (lie game, revived in the second spell and bustled the home team vigorously. They were responsible for all of-their team’s score. The game was not inspiring at first, but brightened as it progressed and towards the end, when only one point separated the scores, there was plenty of fire and dash. Taranaki’s points were made up by an unconverted try by Owen and two tries by Crawford, both of which were converted by Ike. For Manawhenua, Tatana kicked two penalty goals, while Satherly scored an unconverted try and kicked a goal from a mark.

HOROWHENUA FINAL- GAMES.

Saturday saw the final club matches of the season played when Shannon retained the Nash Cup by one point from Weraroa and Miranui won the Licensed Victuallers’ knock-out cup for junior grade from Hui Mai by the same narrow margin., In the thirds championship Shannon winners of the northern end met Otaki the winners of the southern end and were defeated by 20 points to 3. Auckland defeated Wanganui, at Auckland on Saturday, after a ragged display by 16 points to 3. At Wellington on Saturday, Wellington defeated Hawke’s Bay by 11 points to 8. THE LEAGUE GAME. ENGLISH TRAINER’S SCATHING INDICTMENT. Sydney, September 9. Dave Murray, who has trained the last three English Rugby League teams in a scathing indictment of New Zealand League football, says if the New Zealand team was brought to Sydney, it would be playing a curtain-raiser within three weeks. He added: “Do not be deluded by the results of matches in New Zealand. iPlay was bad and the administration worse and the refereeing atrocious. In the first Test, the majority of the English players refused to return to the field, but were persuaded by the manager and captain. The Dunedin Test was a bloody battle. Burgess had his nose smashed to a pulp and to add insult to injury, was sent off the field. The New Zealand team had a free go and they were merciless. There are only four good players in the Dominion. Off the field, the Englishmen were treated splendidly, but on it, they had a dreadful time.”