AFTER FOUR YEARS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 423, 3 August 1928, Page 11

AFTER FOUR YEARS

Carlaw Park Will be Battleground For International League Game

FIRST TEST PROSPECTS REVIEWED

CAN New Zealand repeat its 1924 record and lower the colours of the visiting: Englishmen where the brilliant Australians failed? That is the question which is agitating League circles at the present time, with the first test at Carlaw Park only a day off.

It is well to examine this 1928 New Zealand team in the light of what has happened since 1924. Davidson, Mason and Brown are no longer with us, and players of the calibre of Lou Peterson, “Phonse” Carroll, and Mouatt do not come along every day of the week. Further than that, the game in the South Island does not seem to have ad - vanced as rapidly as was thought, and the side to oppose the Englishmen tomorrow is practically an Auckland provincial side. FIT FOR ALL BLACK TEAM It may, however, be reasonably argued that Hardgrave, Wetherill, Len Scott, and Delgrosso would find a place in any AM Black team of to-day, while H utt is an outstanding forward, with weight, pace and football ability above the ordinary. The selectors have chosen a wellbalanced side, and the only grounds on which it could be criticised is on the moot points whether Blazey might not have replaced Dufty, and a place been found for Clarke, who was the outstanding forward in the rather unedifying trial game which was played on Wednesday. In the two games in which they have opposed one another so far, Dufty and Blazey fought a wonderful long-range duel. But it has got to be admitted that the fair-haired lad from the South had it on his hefty opponent on Wednesday. On pure merit, Blazey ought to have got the position, but as a question of policy, it may be that Blazey will be Blazey selected in the South Island. In any case, Dufty is an old campaigner, and although a bit on the slow side, is still a great custodian. PLAYED HIMSELF IN List fairly played himself into the New Zealand team by his brilliant display on Wednesday, after the position had been more or less left vacant by Brisbane meeting with injuries on the Saturday. There is nothing wrong with the backs as selected, and if the New Zealand forwards get the ball out smartly, and Delgrosso and Prentice don’t

waste time in getting it along the passing chain, the brilliant scoring men of the English team may be called on to show their mettle on defence as well as attack. For the most part, the forwards chosen are a sextette of genuine toilers, and if they get their heads down and get right into it, the Englishmen will have to be right at their best to beat them. VERSATILE ENGLISHMEN It is hard to say yet what the Englishmen are really capable of. From Sydney files, it is evident that after losing one or two of the minor games, they concentrated on the Tests, in which they played magnificent football. The game at Taupiri on Wednesday showed that they can play the fast, open game as well as the tight, and they gave a marvellous exhibition of keen, thrusting attack, with every man backing up to his utmost. It looks as If the English pack will average round about 14 stone. Sloman and Thompson will be watched with particular interest after the reports that have come from Australia about them, but after seeing the match at Taupiri, one wonders what sort of a team these forwards are when a man like Young has to be left out. Fairclough has a wonderful reputation as a five-eighth, and Ellaby and Sullivan will be watched with considerable interest. Many expert League followers, after seeing a sample of the Englishmen’s quality at Taupiri, predict a comfortable win for them

to-morrow, but it is too soon to hazard any speculations of that sort. The New Zealand team is a good one, and it will keep the Englishmen moving all the time. Birkenhead United. France (2), Hughes, Lang, Organ, Taylor, Wiggle, Burrows, Johnstone, Mitchell, Kendall. Reserves: Burford, Rackett, Kinley. Y.M.C.A. B.—C. Parks, J. Grindrod. E. Martin, T. Hood, B. Roughton, B. Wright, B. Andrews, T. Robertson, J. Cole, J. Stanley, F. Roper. Reserve: L. Brown. Burnley.—Bowater, Boughtwood, Clews, Spry, Ward, Blair, Youngs, King, Gay, Clark, McLeod, Milton. Now Lynn.—Buchanan, Hogg. Russell, Simpson, Low, Smith, Carr, Jameson, Galloway, Howell, Carr. Comrades A.—King, Smith, Kinnaird, Crockett, Hooton, Donaldson, Skinner,