First Rugby Rep. Side

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 128, 2 June 1939, Page 13

First Rugby Rep. Side

Full-back Controversy — Halliwell Lucky—Curtayne Deserved a Game— Competition Among Good Forwards.

When Dave Solomon went over to the League code he left the Auckland Rugby selector the task of finding someone to fill his place as full-back in the Auckland team. It will be recalled that last season Mr. F. W. Lucas caused some comment when he transferred Solomon from fiveeights to full-back for representative purposes, but his idea that this versatile player would fill the role well was fully borne out. In selectiijjr the first Auckland team for the pi-.\~ent season—tliar to i>lay Waikato on Monday next Ht Hamilton— Mr. Lueae lias fhor»en H. Halliwell a> lull-back, ainl it is a selection which has aroused coiitrnwivv.

Led br AH Black J. G. AYynyard, the forwards, a heavy lot, -will take a lot of stopping. Spectator's Viewpoint. One Rugby supporter, at least, does- not favour the choice of the sole selector. Under the name oi" "Eden Park." he \vi :tes 10 the Sports Editor of the "Star" "Mr. Lucas cannot be congratulated on liis r=CM-i tic'ii i>f ihe representatives to play W.i;k.it(i on Monday next. How he can place (iral'ton men in his team while no pl.u-os < an be found for Marist players is tx\\ on.l i-onipi ebension. '■ Ihe M.uift team has now vron 12 tn.iti hos mi end and has shown itself definiloi.v sujieijor to any senior team. Curlayne i= this year playing better than over and is far and away the best fivein Auckland at the present time. "H:. 1 Mr, Liuas see Grafton'a display strains', Manukau on Saturday? "On that occasion they had a feast of the hall iron] the scrums and were well ?cive,l by Moore, tho halt-back. Vet. iii sp.te nf that, their five-ei?hths did not make one opening during the match. Pearniaii. when he did not kick for the line, was downed ever.v time when making his usual excursion across the paddouk. "But for the referee disallowing a pertectly fair try stored by Manukau early in the i.irao. Mr. Lucas' favourites would pioliahly have been beaten. His full-back .-election is deplorable. The first essential in :\ full-back is ability to tackle, and bnth Hare and Clark are much stronger in this department than the selected player. The shiner and the has-been still are preferred to the honest prafter. Men -riven a raw deal in this selection are Curtaynn. Hare. McGarry and W. Smith—to mention only the mo-»t jrlarinp instances of those who should have been certain of selection."'

H.illiweil, \V. Hare rMarUO and J. Clark (.Training Collcarei have been the outstanding full-bucks this reason and ail were given a thaiue to«how their form on the recent afternoon trial. The best peLl- - on tlir day. was undoubtedly that of Hare, who kicke(l harder and straighter and did not >lnink from difficult tackling. La.-t \ ■>■ the Mai L-t pla.ver further streiifrtlicned .is claim for the position by a nist-dass ].--i fonnante atrainst Poneonby. for wiiom HaL well was playing. Haliiwoll was not in Me same clase.

Halliwe]! has his brilliant days and is determined., to the point of recklessness. in defence. His> spectacular methods seldom fail to catch the eye of the crowd— particularly when he brings off his favourite scoop-up and kick in front of a