Rugby League

Another heavy defeat for the New Zealand Rugby League team at the hands of the Australians. But was there anything that one could optimistically look forward to for the future? Certainly there was room for improvement, and I believe that it there was a sharpening up in some of the basics, this present team could become a competent international side.

Firstly, in tackling, New Zealand was given an object lesson in the art of tackling. Time and time again the Australians would be able to tackle the ball carrier before he could build up speed. More often than not the Australians would require just one man to put a New Zealander on the ground. In the case of the New Zealand side - though they allowed the Australians far too much room to move and distribute the ball, and when the tackle was made, two or three men were required to make the single tackle. Not surprisingly large gaps were left in the defensive line to be exploited by the speedy Australian outside backs.

Another aspect of the play that was disappointing by the Kiwis was the backing up of the ball carrier. There were many times when Coll, Kurt and Dave Sorrenson made hall breaks, only to lack support in the movement onwards. I thought generally the forwards played well even if at times they lacked imagination in attack, and the need for tactician to d'rect play from dummy hall.

The same couldn't be said of the backs though. Apart from being yards slower than the Australians, the most disappointing aspect of their play was the pedestrian manner in which the ball was moved through the backline. On several occasions, quick passing through the line would have produced potentially good attacking situations, but poor passing ruined these opportunities. Unfortunately poor passing is an infliction of rugby itself as well, yet it is a simple art that can be improved upon through practise. In most cases the Australians made the breaks down the wing, and it was a simple case of our players being outflanked by superbly quick long passes.

Certainly there is much work to be done before the next match in the World Series, but the potential of the forward pack with the sharpening up of some of the basic skills by the backs could yet cause a surpriserresult against Great Britain.

Rugby

Well the Lions go marching on. In the end they had too much height and scrummaging power in the forwards, and too much pace and skill in the backs. The play of the tight forwards was impressive but it was the loose forwards more than anything that impressed. The speed to the loose ball and the constructive manner in which they made use of this advantage bode well for the future, particularly given that Mourie and Fraser, two of New Zealand's loose forwards, were opposing the Lions. It was interesting to see Irvine overcome his problems with fielding the high ball, but I am not convinced that Irvine can reproduce this brilliance consistently. One remembers his superb displays against provincial teams when he was last out here with Scotland, but his performance in the test at Eden Park was a shocker. Still there was sufficient in the Lion's performance to give them real confidence for the test matches.

Racing

The winter racing season is upon us again, and lets hope that we have as successful a winter season as last year. For surely there must have been been more good performers around last year than for many years. Shifnal Chief, Van der Hum, Cattle King, Optician, Oranmore were producing performances week after week that seemed to out do their nearest rivals performances the week before.

Already Shifnal Chief has found the winning way, even if with his apprentices allowance, he had the apparent luxurious weight of 57.5 Kg. However. I am sure that we will see Royal Cadenza back to form - if anything he may well be fitter and stronger than when he won the Auckland Cup. Given the wet springs that Melbourne has been having in recent years, he may be an ideal prospect for this year's Melbourne Cup. Noone has really shown out in the jumping scene yet, although I imagine that Koiro Scott, Owhata Chief and Evelyns Choice may win their share of the hurdle events this season.

A pity about Balmerino in the International event at Hollywood Part this week but he certainly sly was not disgraced. To give a horse just two weeks and no adequate lead up racing, to tackle some of the world's best gallopers at 2400 metres is really asking the impossible.

— by Inside Rail.