ALL BLACKS.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 116, 17 May 1924, Page 12

ALL BLACKS.

WANGANUI V. WELLINGTON. HOW THE PLAYERS SHAPED. SOME FINE BACKS AND FORWARDS. (By Telegraph—Special to WANGANUI, Friday. The trial match between Wanganui Combined and Wellington Combined, to assist the All Blacks, played to-dnj-, resulted in a win for Wellington by 15 points to 13. The first thing to recognise about the match is that the match itself was not the great consideration. It is doubtful if even the bare result mattered. What mattered was the individual play of the men engaged. Roughly, the question was, can half a dozen first rate men be found in to-day's match? The answer to the question is yes. And tbe selectors have the rest of New Zealand to take for the balance. The game was good, and it was hard and solid all through. Combination was not present in any great degree, but it wag not expected, so let tbe individuals be discussed without further remark. To begin with, there was no forward who stood out as West, of Taranaki, did. v No i»fant in the game, he brings his years of experience to combine with a physique and a fitness second tp none. He spent so great a percentage of the afternoon on the ball that he seemed to be the oval's appendix. His display was rarely of the flash order, purely for the reason that he did everything with the ease of the master. Next to him among the men of the scrum came Pringle, of Wellington; in fact, he may have been the equal of West so well did he play, but one cannot dispose of the stern fact that West is a man who has stood the test of time, whereas Pringle i 3 yet proving his worth. Pringle's advantages are several. He has height, reach, weight, and enterprise, and given the others enterprise is the greatest of all. Porter was in the limelight all day, and beat Bellis soundly. The playing did not go much the way of the .former tiger of Taihape, but in any case Porter beat him on the day. Usually Porter is everywhere; to-day this--wag not so much the case, but he was sound and dashing from end to end of the game, and his speed, accuracy, and activity were excellent. One cannot long discuss the forwards without saying Carroll, of Manawatu, is a first-class man. He placed well throughout, and has the and the ideal physique to fit him for a hard tour. A sturdy block of country manhood, he was going strong when many were feeling the strain. Bellis was no spent light, but ho did not shine as usual, and might have been more at home had he been placed in the pack. Robs, a Wanganui forward, showed up in patches, and at his best was very good. Swain and Q. Donald got few opportunities in the open, but as hookers they were a success, and easily beat the other pair. Moynihan, of Horowhenua, a baldheaded player, covered himself with credit, though he Was not quite in the first flight of the backs.

One may first compare. the full-backs. Both played well. Walters was safe all day and so -was Sinclair, but .on the •whole Sinclair showed to the greater advantage. He looks frail, and perhaps this will be weighed against him, but on the day he outshone Walters, and , his friends say that he was not in his ibest condition. The best threequarters eeen"out came from Taranaki, and they were Brown and Hart. Brown is young, 'ibut a fine build of player, brainy and qualified in every way. He is a" natural centre-threequarter, who funs hard and true and will take a lot of stopping when near the line. Hqp dashee into a passing rush like an army I corps sweeping up the field, but unlike men of his stamp he does not unduly go alone. He is among the most promising men seen out for years. ,Hart is a iind. He shoots off the mark with meteoric swiftness; in a flash he* is making for the enemy's goal, and nothing will stop 'him but the deadliest of tackling. Yet they_ say that his club mate, Ennis, outplays him. Ennis was : tried in the second half to-day, but was i played out on the wing and got few chances. He is a centre man, but in any case there may be better centres about, Hart, a? a winger, is the superior of Ennis. Bailey, of Manawatu, was. a wash-out, and so was Potaka. Byrne made some good openings, but at times appeared to be dazzled Iby his own brilliance and stood still while chances flew by. Baddeley, the Wanganui half, was good, but below All Black requirements. The Wairarapa wing . threequarters, R. Booth and - Carson, were worth trying, but neither • are quite first flighters. A much better I man from the same country is F. Booth, ( whose, star shone from time to time throughout the game. However, one cannot even take X Booth as a finished five-eighths. He is not of the clans of Cooke, of Auckland, or some- of the best Southern five-eighths. Mark Nicliolls .was not at his best, and in the early portion of the game he sent Sverison some execrable passes, but on the whole his play showed a finish that may stand to him when a selection is (being made. Svenson, though hampered by some of Nicholls' shocking passes, played a good game, and his is just the haTdy, well-trained kind of man that is wanted for the big tour, provided helms the other qualifications. He collared like a demon, and in this Tespect was rivalled only by the" Taranaki contingent, all of whom tackled with uncanny accuracy and-demon-like deadliness. 11. E. Nicholls played just a fair game at half, and if there is a good one about the Petone man may have to give way to him.