THE REP TEAM.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 204, 30 August 1927, Page 14

THE REP TEAM.

NOTES ON THE PLAYERS

There is no real clement of surprise in connection with the Auekland representative team which has lieen chosen. The fullback is Gregory, whose play this season has been of an exceptionally high level, a tour of England and experience of the best football giving finish to his play, and making him the finest custodian that the code has had in Auckland. Little is a player who thoroughly deserves selection. At the moment he is tho fastest wing three-quarter in Auckland, handles a ball cleverly, and has a nice, appreciation of positional play. Dufty and List arc tiic two best centres in sight, although their methods are dissimilar. List is htc better type of centre, straight running, unselfish, and clever at catering for his wings. Dufty is a better fullback than a centre, although this season he has consistently been in the three-quarter line. Playing with club teams that have leaned heavily on his all-round skill he is inclined to play the solo style at the expense of combination, but on his day he is a match-wiuncr and a big asset to a team. Brisbane is another player that a trip to England has grcatly improved, and whose form this season has been up to the best standard. Usher (Ponsonby) was a player well in tho running, his display last Saturday being of the brilliant order, and one of similar games that he has played during the season. The five-eighth play In Auckland this season has not been impressive, much for the reason that the players do not reach a high standard in team work, although individual skill lias been in evidence. Wethorill is still Auckland's best fiveeighth for the reason that he always plays into the hands of his supports. Kiley is of the speedy dashing type, and were he to go straighter in attack bis play would be better. Prentice got a chance in representative football last year and made good. His play is of a high all-round level, and consistently good.

Evidently the selectors found their task hard when it came to sorting out Auckland's two best half-backs, but few will cavil at the choice of Mclntyre and Webb. Both are clever in launching an attach, and have played right up to rep. standard this season. There are many League followers who would have liked to have seen T. Peckham, the mercurial Ponsonby half, given a choice, and some would have been tempted to pick Mclntyre and Peckham as the halves with Webb in the first five-eighth position, particularly in view of the tatter's versatility.

There is a surfeit of good forwards in Auckland this season, although the play has been of the loose kind, and the front rows have not been packed as solidly as they should be, a respect in which the touring New Zealand team was sadly deficient when in England. Somers has won his place as hooker strictly on merit. On form Dixon, Hall, Clark, and O'Brien (Devonport) were always sure of a place, while Hutt, Payne and Bass have earned a place. It is a tragedy that an accident has put B. Avery out of the game. Had he been available he would have been the first forward chosen.