LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 163, 12 July 1928, Page 13

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

THE TRIAL GAME.

SEARCH FOR REPRESENTATIVES.

PLETHORA OF CANDIDATES

Trial matches are notoriously ineffectual. It was so at Carlaw Park yesterday, when the Possibles v. Probables match was staged to assist the selectors to separate the League cream from the League milk, in view of the big matches ahead. It was one of those casual, scrappy games that proved literally nothing, and probably neither spectators nor selectors Mere much wiser at the cnil of it. Some of the players were on a par with their usual fenn. some various degrees of shades below it, and ill at least two instances the form was convincing enough to-day; here are two players who cannot be left out of an Auckland representative team at the moment. Quite candidly one might remark that the two real stars of the match were Dclgrosso and Wetherill. Back in his place where he won recognition as a New Zealand representative to tour England in the lJ>2fi season, Ponsonby's "Dully" positively starred with clever alternating defence and attack, and on the day made his selection quite sure for any representative games ahead. Wetherill was just Wetherill, the outstanding back in the land on his day. and on this occasion playing at his very best, defending ably, and in attack flitting in will-o'-the-wisp fashion through the opposition. In .fact, he played a casual, carefree game at times, and merely trotted when speed would have been more impressive, but he was ever an outstanding figure, and his finesse wan one of the great features of the game. True, there were times when his unorthodox ways baffled both opponents and supports. Like one James Hunter in days long before him, the mercurial City player is in a clas9 by himself for brainy play, and it is not his fault if others cannot reach the standard that he has set for the edification of young League players who may follow. After one has named, quite impartially. the two real stars of the game, it is possible to measure the others'in the. vis-a-vis order as far as possible. The full-backs were Dufty and Hanion. The Richmond player did well, and played light up to the sound standard which has marked his displays in cup matches, but he was out-starred by Dufty. For one thing, the Newton mail kWk# the gre*tw!tr tenjfth - «vei seen on a New Zealand football ground —that is. if one bars his historic namesake of 1906 or thereabouts —and in that way he renders wonderful assistance to his forwards. In the trial game he gave an exhibition that was practically free from fault—much better than his colourless display in the ma.cli against Ponsonbv last Saturday and showed undeniable cleverness in linking up with the attack.

The wing three-quarter honours were fairly well divided between Hardgrave, List and L. Scott. Hardgrave was the most spectacular of the bur.ch, and his lirilliancc as n scoring three-quarter is undoubted. List played solidly and well, while L. Scott played his usually unobtrusive yet essentially sound game. liongville. a" B representative player, pave a very good display up to the time he was hurt, and for that matter no fault could be found with Moore, who was the replacee.

Neither Brisbane nor Beattie quite reached the highest plane in centre threequarter plav. but on the day the honours went to Brisbane. He was not convincing in the early stages, but gradually came on his game, and gave a commendable display of straight running, licattie was more brilliant, more patchy, with a penchant to bore his wings on to the side-line.

Wctherill was easily the best fiveeighths. Gregory was very sound, with first-class tackling, while Prentice played his usual sound game, although physically, as the result of injuries during the season, lie is anything but sound. Wilson did some very attractive things with his sudden stop, lightning cut, and superb pace, but he does not impress as an inside back in the manner that he did when tried out as a wing three-quarter last year. It does not seem probable that he will catch the selectors' collective eye for the big games immediately ahead, but the fact remains that he Jias Kughy gifts far above the average. It is quite a possibility he will be in a wing berth when the next New Zealand team goes across to Australa, and should that be so it might be that Sydney-siders will think that the mantles of Ilorder and Frawley had fallen on the 'other side of the Tasman Sea.

Delgrosso was the better half-back, yet Peckham played cleverly, and must be well in the running for rep. selection. The forward play was even, and in parts excellent. There was not a great deal between St. George and Campbell as hookers on the full run of the day, but the Devonport man was a shade the best, and has better physique for the middle of the front arch. Likewise the loosehead forwards were equally matched, and, alt.houph Jenkinson played one of his best games, he did not reveal as much cleverness as A. Scott in linking theplay with his barks. Clarke, Hall, Moisley, and Hiitt played right up to the rep. form that they are capable of, while Voisey and -T. Hadley left little for criticism. Should form in this particular game be the sole guide for selection in the representative team, then Hartley won a place fairly and squarely, as he excelled in every branch of forward play.

HIGH SCORING.

There was an attendance of about 1500 at Car law Park yesterday afternoon for tlie trial match, Possibles winning by 24 points to 11. For Possibles. Hardgrave, List, Hall, Wetherill, and Prentice <2t scored tries, Delgrosso converting two and kicking a penalty goal. Jenkinson, T. PeckhEin, Moore, and J. Hadley scored for Probables, Gregory converting one of tlie tries.