PREPARING FOR WELLINGTON

NZ Truth, Issue 1293, 18 September 1930, Page 14

PREPARING FOR WELLINGTON

Taranaki Reps. Have A Try-out (From "N.Z. Truth's" Taranaki Representative). Though Taranaki 's challenge for the Ranfurly Shield missed sole selector W. A. Guy is determined that Charlie Mullaney will take a strong team to the Metropolis on Saturday week.

FOR the dual purpose of keeping his team m form and of giving likely aspirants a chance 'to make good, Guy staged a trial match Possibles v. Probables at Stratford on Saturday. It served its purpose, too, for a fast game which found some players already short of a gallop did a lot of good It speaks well for the interest taken by players that of the thirty-eight men chosen by selector Guy, thirty-two made the trip from all parts of Taranaki and all were given a^game. The possibles, who were actually the reps, that cleaned up Manawhenua and Hawkes Bay, were minus K. Fookes, wing three-quarter, Tubby Owen, first five-eighths, and Baldwin, forward, but Medley, Mace and Richards, who filled the bill, did it nobly. The possibles got all over their opponents m the first spell. Hohaia * opened "the account for-the probables, i but thereafter receiving the ball, the possibles seemed\to score when they liked, and at lemons led 17-3. Early m the second spell they added live more points, but -thereafter there was only one team m it, and tlie probables,

adding four tries and converting three, left the field only one point down. This match showed what a great player Darky Robinson is, and also what a leader m the pack will do. Jack Walter was m everything until the cows called him home. *Darky Robinson, who had been sitting m the stand frothing for a game, went on for the probables. Playing like a tiger, he was just the leader they wanted, whilst his hooking kept the ball away from the other- backs. He scored his usual following-up try. Priar, the probables' full-back, had only to repeat his Cup final display to step straight into the reps., but he* had his first day off this season. Galbraith, at first five-eighths, takes a lot of chances, and makes some mistakes, but he is frequently brilliant m In P. Bourke, of Patea, there is a splendid second string as rover. PTe is full of dash and uses his foet nicely. With AYalter, AYiUs, Bond, Clarke, Robinson, Young and Lusk, Taranaki has a great pack. Pelty should be taken as a spare part. He is very quick off the mark, tackles like a Trojan, and can play anywhere.