SATURDAY'S TRIAL MATCH.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 165, 14 July 1902, Page 3

SATURDAY'S TRIAL MATCH.

The trial match "between the ",V and 'B -, team's took place at Potter's Paddock oh Saturday, and a fairly interesting game resulted. As is always the case in trial matches, the teams chosen by the" selector, Mr F. Murray, did not cooio out in full, there being several aosentecs. Both the front row men, Tyler and "Fut" Brady, were absent, Tyler being indisposed and Brady, who has an injured hand,-not desiring to play in. the rep. matches. Alex. Wilson was. also absent, and Harp had to be played in his stead. Dunning and Handcock were played in the front row of the "A's," and Neville, ' MacConuick, and Long filled up the gaps in the "B" forwards, while W. Tyler took D. Pillenger's place at fullback. . Eaton and Bake-well, in the "B" ■team, were both absentees. With the progress or the game tnere was little interest, the performances of the different members of both sides being the' principal matter. The "B" side rather surprised the spectators in the first spell, and left the field three points ahead, but in the second the "A's" asserted themselves in better style, and ran up fifteen points (5 tries). As is always tne case, there was little combination on eit'ior side, the forwards especially playing ca»h for himself and without regard for nis neighbour. The. backs did better. In this division 'Scobie" McKenaie, who played centre-threeq.uarter for the "B" division until injured in the leg, was in splendid form, playing up to what has often been called "the game of his life, ' the game he played when he made a draw of the Auckland-Otapo match in 1900. He was all over the field, whenever there was anything to.be done, and played brilliantly alike in attack and defence. If he makes a complete recovery from its injury he cannot well be left out of the rep. team. Peter Gerraru, who was fiveeirhths in the "B" division, played so sterling a game that in the second half thr selector gave him his place in the "A" team. He played a sound and solid o-ame right through, handling the ball well and running fairly straight. Dick .McGregor, the other five-eighths, was a long way beio.v his best form. He did not take the ball anything like so well ps last season, and many of his passes were toe low. Kiernan played his usual •\r*ady" game ar? half for the "A's, ' aiul of the remainder Thompson was probably the best. He kicked well, ran strongly, and was always ready to back up nis confreres. McPike made one- or two slight mistakes, but on the whole nis game was a good one. his kicking being particularly effective. Asher was not many opportunities, and he had ; careful attention from his opponents. I Sutherland, at fullback, did not play up to rep ' form, for he failed to take the ball cleanly many times, a fault whusn is likely to prove disastrous when tne following-up is keen. Stuckey, who has acted as five-eighths for Suburbs all through the season, was tried at wingthrecquarter, but did not prove a- great success, as he could not hold the ball. This failing conquered, he would he a very dangerous man, as Tie is very fas.. I and tackles with great determination. In, the forward division J. Brady shone very prominently on the wing, being the best of a good quartette. He has a tendency to off-side play, but is pretty quick at getting back to his place if the referee is on the look-out. Doran played well, and Stephenson was also very good. Of the pack none played better than Bod. McGregor Pie followed up well, and handled the ball in good style. He scored on« try, gave the ball to two other scorers, and another would have been scored "| he had been properly supported. Bonella. i who was played in the "B's," also showed sterling form, oeing in the thick of the fray from start to finish. Nicholson was not as prominent as usual, but played a sound game. The place-kicking was the worst feature of the match. Six tries, some of them in comparatively easy positions, and not one converted. Francis had three shots, without mailing a decent kick. Cunningham had two, \ both lacking in direction, and Young had one. | It is a pity that tnere is not one foot- j bailer in Auckland who will take the trouble to go out for a morning or two with a ball and have a few hours' practice. With combination, '-this vcar's rep. team should be able to as worthily uphold Auckland's honour as its five immediate predecessors have done.