FOOTBALL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 294, 25 September 1935, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

LEAGUE OFFER REFUSED. HAAHLTON, September 24. W. H. Carlson, the Alatamata Rugby player, who at various times has represented Wanganui, Waikato, and the North Island, has refused an offer by a representative of the Northern League (England) for a three-year contract at attractive terms to play for a London League club at centre threequarter. Carlson figured prominently in the All Black trials.

CHANGE IN NORTH ISLAND TEAM WELLINGTON, September 24. Edwards, of Taranaki, will replace C. Smith in the North Island Rugby team. Cresswell and Rae will join the Wellington team at Wanganui, replacing Kilbv and O’Connor.

ENGLAND VIEW’S ALL BLACKS.

WHERE ARE THE MAORI PLAYERS?

Sport is full of surprises just now, and the New Zealand Rugby selectors have supplied another by' scrapping all the fancied Maori players from the All Blacks’ team to tour England next winter a writer in the London “Daily Mail”). George Nepia, one of the greatest of all full-backs, was almost bound to be dropped. He is over - 30, and while his limbs are as good as ever his wind is not.. But no one expected C. Smith, the tall, powerful Maori, whose determined running got him described as “the find of the year,’’ to be passed oyer. Smith must have slumped badly in the tidal games, and J. Hemi, another possible Maori full-back, must also have found the ball running badly for him. The selected full-back is G. Gilbert, and he is the only recognised! player for the position in the party' —which seems a decidedly risky decision. Nepia played in every match of the 1924 tour, but he was a man and a half. The feat is not likely to be repeated by Gilbert—and there is always the risk of injury. C. Oliver will be the star of the three-quarter line, and lie will be welcomed here. He made many friends when he came over with the New Zealand cricket team. Incidentally, he will be the first to play for his country at both cricket and Rugby in England. The omission of F. D. Kilby, last year’s captain, has caused the biggest shock in New Zealand. But Kilby is getting on in years, and I suppose that’s the reason. He also had, a poor time on the South African torn*. In fact, it w’as the failure of that venture w'hieh created the belief that the All Blacks of 1935 will be much below their famous predecessors. As to that, judgment must be deferred.