LIVELY LEAGUERS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 420, 31 July 1928, Page 14

LIVELY LEAGUERS

ENGLISHMEN STRIDE OUT AT PRACTICE FAST WORK ON SLIPPERY TURF . “Throw it about, boys—keep moving!” With this crisp injunction, Mr. E. Osborne, alert team manager of the visiting English League footballers, started off a brisk work-out at Victoria Park yesterday afternoon. It was the Englishmen’s first practice on a New Zealand ground, and in spite of the cold, wet day and a slithery turf underfoot, everybody seemed glad of the chance to stride out again on terra firma. The stars of the side were soon sorted out. “There’s Ellaby,” sang out one of a nondescript crowd of spectators who had quickly gathered to see the Englishmen at practice. “The Scoring Machine,” as they nicknamed him in Australia, proved to be a hefty sixfooter, youthful-looking and with the long, loping stride of a football greyhound. It was easy to picture this young Englishman in those shattering bursts of speed which made him famous on “the other side.” PRINCE OF GOAL-KICKERS Sullivan, the goal-kicker, was another rangey six-footer, wearing a thick sweater, which came right down to his finger-tips, over his football harness. A magnificent stamp of a man this, powerful legs, bespeaking the tremendous driving power which has made him one ©f the finest placekicks in the world to-day.. OLitside these two there are not many six-footers in the team. But there were big men aplenty—solid, girthy chaps, of about sft. lOin. in height, and, at a rough guess, ranging between 13 and 14 stone in weight, with some heavier than that. Slowman, ranked by the “Sydney Guardian” as the finest second wingforward England lias ever produced, is a real “Morrie” Brownlie type, big, fast and powerfull. HEAVY, BUT TRAVEL FAST Weight they have, but they carry it with an almost deceptive speed and mobility. The ball was flung round in short, sharp bursts up the paddock with an apparent reckless abandon, which did not disguise the fact from expert watchers that these Englishmen can use hands as well as feet. Australian fans marvelled a.t their footwork on wet grounds, but given dry-weather conditions they will show New Zealanders something in the art of cleverly conceived attack, with the reverse pass particularly in evidence. There was more variety in the togs worn at this practice than in the latest fashion parade. Blue Australian jerseys were much in evidence, showing that the ban on the All Blacks “swapping” jerseys has not been applied to the League code, at any rate. There were English club colours galore, and two or three were out in running togs, even to spiked shoes. Jonathan Parker, skipper of the side, was not at practice. Tlie Englishmen's brilliant leader broke a thumb earlv on the Australian tour, and had another smash-up later on, which lias put him out of action for the time being, at any rate. “THE MEN BEHIND THE SCENES” Standing beside his chief, Dave Murray, hard-bitten trainer of the side,

chewed reflectively at a cigar, with a keen eye on his charges and their equipment, occasionally exchanging a word with Manager Osborne, who saw t 6 it that the boys stepped lively and got the full benefit of a rousing series of gallops up and down field. Finally, and apparently well satisfied with the afternoon’s work, the team manager gave the word to close down for the day, and the last sprint was a “free-for-all” to a waiting bus, and a welcome half-hour at the Tepid Baths.