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Rough Footballers Must
Be Steadied
By "DROP OUT"
nnpby I^eapue football seems to b*
dropping l.aik to the standard of a
ti'udSne.
It is a i.ity, for earlier in
:
the winter there was evidence
that .
there was an upward trend, and that ]
the bright davs of a few years ago !
were about 10 return.
1'
However, :t is probably only a tern-
V-orary lapse. \Vitli referees doing
their work fearlessly, and with their •
actions supported by the controlling .
body, the rou^li player will be el;-
i-iinated, and the clean footballer will
be able to give of his best.
.
With six of their regular thirteen '
away with the N.S.W. team. Souths
maintained their winning run by <ieioating
Norths by 10 to 2. The stan-
j
!
dard of play, however, waa not very
hish, there being far too much illeps!
i
Interference,
A
forward
from
each tide received marching orders .
from the referee, and tw-o of the 'İj\
Northern men mutt have sailed pretty
close to a similar fate. The game itself
was mainly remarkable for the
inability of the Southerners lo ncore
In the second half.
It is usually in
the concluding stages that they assert
themselves.
Even allowing for the absence
of
the stare. Souths were far from their
usual impressive selves, especially in
the backs.
Certafnly, Norths kept the
i.-amt pretty tight, and
tackled
like
demons, but we have often seen
the
champions rise superior to such
obstacles.
The trouble seemed to centre
largely round
Erogan deputising
for
KadwelJ behind the pack.
Brogan was as sound as ever, ar.d
did a tremendous amount of
work,
out was v ery slow in getting the ball
tw-ay from the pack.
Seeing that his
team were getting a far greater share
of the ball than
is customary
for
them, his lack of speed was
doubly
unfortunate.
This gave the fast moving
North backs ample time to
set
to Blair, who had often to take
the
ball
standing.
Nevertheless, Blair put up a good
ismt.
Early, he-made a sensational
dash through the thick, side-stepping
five opponents within
a few yards,
with the goal line looming only ft fewyards
ahead.
When
looking dangerous
"Smacker's"
progress was effectively stopped
bv someone tearing his knickers
oft.
It was very jnuc-h in the nature
of an anti-climax,
Blair amply
demonstrated
his
genius for
being in
the best position for hie aide.
He !e
unexcelled at
that,
A DAT
OFF
Quinlivan did as extraordinary
thing. Getting the ball within 15
yards of the line, right In front of.
the posts, he made for the corner, but
suddenly turned and went lor the line
himself, with Why and Wearing
alongside, the last-named completely
unmarked. Quinlivan was brought
down, «cd a simple try was thrown
away. It was Oscar's off day,
B« tried out bis tumping runs, but
never got away with it. However,
toe did not seem to throw himself into
the play with his cumotnary eathiuia»m.
Without his feeing at all weak,
U was bl« worst display of the eea-
M .
Th» New South W»les selectors de-
. prlved the Australian team of a. most
useful. member by not taking., biro
to Brisbane, as it Is unlikely be will
met jwleetton now. as he has not had
la ottmrtonlt} of performing before
Am'jSSS*Man selection committee. It
- hai4 ie snderstand how be and
:
fititir''iiMfcfl*ea- paswed over.
mStlj^ aooonirted on.
od iin
oni
line It seer.-.e.l Impossible for him to
score
but
he got
there
uith
West
and a comrade hanging on.
Another of the lower rank In Tatt
was perhaps the best of South"? thro*.-
quarters.
Tait
has always been
a
t;r.'at man for 1:1s club in the reserves.
but or. the occasions
he has
been
tried out with the firsts, he wa* pot
•nearly so impressive.
Tli:s time
lie
rose to it in fine style, being
very
slippery over the ground, while
his;
tackling was better than many of lits •
mates, some of whom quite astounded
by going high for the man and at
time;; simply bumping- hliu.
It is strange, but lliis Idea periodlcally
arises with South. When it
,-omes off It is ali risht. but the oidfashioned
tackle is better and surer.
Once or twice a North man was
solidly bumped a?:d knocked ya
but still retained his feel to continue
on his merry way. He would have!
i stopped liad a tackle been employed.
IT'LL BACK
I.AI'SIJS
Righton was not so good as Usual.
With a useful wind I11 the first he
did not exploit It. runnlnp wit I) the
ball instead. It speaks volumes for
Righton's condition he is able to keep
it going. This time he seemed to
tire. B^d in the second hall wa* not
nearly so fast as usual.
He was caught In possession In positions
in whit h he should not have been
trapped. He realised it quickly, and
then went in for more punting. Some
of his line kicking was extraordinary.
Righton went very close to letting
his aide down by passing, for sometimes
he forgot a first maxim, and
transferred to men in far worse positions
than hlmselr.
Owing to the incursions of the State
selectors. Souths had only two of their
pack in action, and lost one of them
before the game was over. Alf O'Connor
seemed unfortunate to be sent
off. He was engaged in a mix-up in
front of the referee, who promptly
sent the North man off. hut while
watching his progress to the pavilion,
Mr. Wales was interviewed by the
touch judge and O'Connor reported.
He, too. hod to ieitve.
Norths were unfortunate in losing
Reynolds. The crack oarsman had
played a fine game against Newtown
a week earlier, and was just swinging
into his best when he was injured.
There was no doubt about the Injury.
though it all seemed very simple.
Righton sailed along the side line,
and, when opposed by Reynolds, kicked.
He left the kick very late, and
was tackled by the Mosman man. who
instantly fell and lay there without
moving a muscle. It was some considerable
time before he was brought
round and after having his head bandaged
he bad to leave the field.
NEWTOWN'S
CHANCE
Though their football was not very
entertaining against North Sydney,
New-town won, and followed this with
a very good victory (21-11) over Balmain,
who. freed of internal dissension,"
appeared to be on the up
grade. Newtown will meet South
Sydney In the coming round. With
Bouths weakened through the N.S.W.
team being absent, the Blues bave a
chance. Fourth In the competition
table, they may reach at .least the
seml-finaifl. It (s time the district
produced a good thirteen.
The question of elimination of
tea ma which have been weak over a
long period will probably be contidered
by Qk* League before next wln-
ter, so Newtown, Glebe and Balmaln
bave every reason to brighten up.
Other contests next Saturday do not
promise to be sparkling, though some
may be stirring m other ways. They
are—Balmaln ». 6t, George, Eastern
Suburbs v. Western Suburbs, and
North Sydney v. Glebe.
Aealn T. Kills played well for the
Blues, his judgment hi finding open
At least six New South Wales players
will be Included In the team lo
meet the All Blacks in Melbourne.
It will be termed an Australian
Fifteen.
$