League Rugby.

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 421, 1 August 1928, Page 11

League Rugby.

Notes and Comment.

Wetherill, Delgrosso, Hardgrave (backs) and Goodall and Hutt (forwards) are not playing at Carlaw Park to-day. Evidently their form on Saturday satisfied the selectors. Seven country players secured places ln three Australian test team* against the Englishmen. B'g Money The Englishmen played five matches .Sydney, three against New South ''ales and two against Australia. The turnstile register showed that a total ot 213,301 spectators were admitted to the Cricket Ground, and that they paid £19,264. * ♦ * Tribute to a Pioneer When the Englishmen go to Welltugton they will lay a wreath on the grave of A. H. Baskerville, pioneer of tue League gam© in New Zealand. It was after the All Blacks’ famous tour 1905 that Baskerville organised a jour of Britain by a New Zealand League team, consisting chiefly of Prominent Union Rugby players. The earn, which included “Dally” Messenger, the famous Australian player, had a nne run of successes in England, and as undoubtedly the forerunner of the eague tours of to-day. Unfortuately, Baskerville himself did not live ? See Lhe game firmly established in - ustralia and New Zealand, but his me win be remembered as long as League is played. * * * Offside” Tactics T Papers report that in the fpa* ’ *k e Englishmen made a great inn^ re scientific “offside” in con♦K° n witll Sullivan’s kicking. Two \vpli J e ° forwards would be sidft Sf wa the lield standing just out-five-yard limit in respect to thpn ~^ lStralian fullback. They would l?ir/4 Slgnal Sullivan to kick the ball to nicriio**.' Aussie fullback, and imv bad run the requisite five gyd ’ tile y would be on him. The OTj<si««f y crowds demonstrated vigor- \, as:a i ns t these tactics, but realisth ™ a ,_t tbey were quite* legitimate, exhorted their own men to do the \ r~ e : In the fbird and final Tost, the • pastes got a bit of their own back.

Brilliant Fairclough An extract from the ‘Sydney Sun” on tho third Test in Sydney: The crowd cheered Fairclough lons' and loudly. Even the stoical English players, who are not given much to demonstration, displayed their appreciation by clapping this lad from St. Helens on the hack and shaking his hand. Sydney people saw Fairclough for the first time yesterday, and they will always regard him as one of the greatest fiveeighths England has sent us. His nippiness, his handling of the ball, and his anticipation border upon the uncanny. He scored England’s two tries. * * * The Third Test Commenting on the third and final Eeague Test which Australia won 21-14. the “Sydney Guardian” says: "Of the Englsilimen, men stood

out prominently —Les. Fairelough proved himself to bo probably the most elusive five-eighth seen on the historic ground. His try when he came through the. Australian centre, and left Hardy blinking, was an epic. “Bob Sioman, probably the finest second-row forward England has ever produced, was a giant in every sense of the word, and his pace for ore so bulky was a revelation. "it was a glorious game, and will live long in the memories of those who witnessed it. “Jonathan Parkin, captain, and managers E. Osborne and H. Hutchins, were amojig the first to congratulate the Australian team. "All agreed in saying that the better sido won, and all were unanimous in stating that they had never witnesst#l a finer display by a threequarter than that of Ben. "Wearing. ’ __ ARE YOU FIT TO MARRY? ARE YOU FIT TO MARRY? ARE YOU FIT TO MARRY?