REGIONAL TRIAL AT DUNEDIN

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27132, 31 August 1953, Page 6

REGIONAL TRIAL AT DUNEDIN

RUGBY FOOTBALL

Promising AH Black Material L. HAIG OUTSTANDING IN BACKS (From Our Own Reporter) DUNEDIN, August 30. The first 15 minutes’ play in the All Black regional trial match at Carisbrook yesterday looked like providing a very ragged game of football, but after the players on both sides had settled down to the big task of developing some semblance of combination, many bright moves helped to show that New Zealand has footballers of the right type to make an All Black team which will play a bright open game of Rugby. The weather was well nigh perfect, and though the field appeared to be in grand order, mistakes made by players in losing a foothold in ambitious moves suggested that the going was not as firm as it looked. There was not a great deal of interest in the game, as was shown by an attendance which did not exceed 6000. As is usual in trial games of this standard, there was too much individualism instead of team effort, a feature that would not be lost sight of by the selectors. The result of the game. 1613 in favour of the Probables, did not represent the true merits of the teams, for a number of lucky breaks gave unexpected tries. At one stage of the game Probables led by 16 to 5, a score which did not give any indication of the play. It was only in the last quarter hour that fortune favoured the Possibles.

In the second spell the Possibles suffered when K. Stuart received an injury to his back, and M. Dixon had to retire with a bad shoulder. The Probables team was weakened when A. L. Wilson retired. Their places were taken by L. Smith (Otago). D. E. Collins (North Otago), and P. B. Vincent (Canterbury) . Haig—“The Master”

The star performer in the backs on the day’s play was the Otago first fiveeighths. L. Haig, who was the master mind in the Possibles team. Passes of all kinds he took in his stride in such a manner as to make the half back. W. J. Coulter, look like a good player. Haig is not generally credited with possessing much speed, but yesterday some of his bursts through the opposition were brilliant. Even when tackled he always appeared to have his hands free, and to get the ball away with speed and precision. When he did kick, which was not often, the ball was always well placed down the line or into a gap. which gave his speedy wings a chance. His tackling was sound, and more than one opposing back found the folly of trying to sidestep “the master.’ r Haig is a great player.

In the position of first five-eighths, the young Canterbury player, D. D. Wilson, for the Probables, was set a big task when opposed to a player of the calibre of Haig, and in the early part of the game he failed to make a good link with the half-back, J. T. McKenzie, some of whose passes he took flatfooted. Later, however, he raced in a top speed, and got his passes away before a very lively side-row man in R. Darracott could get to him. Early in the game Wilson was barracked for his kicking, which was poor and illdirected. His brilliance, however, was recognised by the crowd, which gave him full credit for scoring three bright tries, for his excellent backing up, and his quickness in sighting an opening Wilson must come into line as an All Black prospect, for his style of play is one that will appeal to overseas critics. Dixon in Form The most colourful player on the ground was the Canterbury wing threequarters, M. Dixon, who had the crowd on its toes with his electric dashes infield. Elusive as he has proved, Dixon excelled himself this time, and he had the opposite wing, E. S. Diack (Otago), in a quandary. In the early part of the game he and Elsom made ground when the latter, after passing, doubled round to take the extra pass. This worked well until Dixon whipped infield, and opened up to/his inside men. These clever moves did not bring results, but they bred a wholesome respect in the other side whenever Dixon was in possession. He provided one of the big thrills of the day when he chased and tackled D. D. Wilson, who had been left with a clear field to the goal line. Elsom’s form was not so impressive, for though he did many brilliant things when associated with Dixon, he dropped a number of passes that should have been taken.

Neither of the half-backs, McKenzie (Southland) nor Coulter (South Canterbury) impressed as All Black prospects, but in Gilson (Southland) are the makings of a champion wing-three-quarters. He showed plenty of speed when he scored the first try of the game, and his handling, strong running, and tackling were right up to standard.

T. R. Gallagher (Mid-Canterbury), full back for the Probables, was overshadowed by K. Stuart for the Possibles. although Stuart was obviously suffering from injuries received in earlier games. He was not in his best form and his line-kicking was not up to his usual standard. One mishandling and a loss of foothold on a slippery patch ended in his being caught in possession when he should never have been in difficulties. It was not Stuart fit his best, although some grand tackling brought the applause it deserved.

E. Shiels, an Otago man, was sound and full of initiative. The Forwards

Of the two forward packs, the Probables seemed the most compact, although the brilliant play of the Possibles in open work had its effect on curbing the activities of the opposing backs. The Probables’ front row, comprising K. Murphy, D. Young, and D. Eastgate, had the edge on the opposing trio, E. Hern, R. Dawson, and A. J. Crooks. Hern, although less conspicuous than usual, was always in the thick of the play, and Eastgate revealed himself as something more than a useful plodder. Often he was in the front of hard passing rushes, and only a brilliant tackle by K. Stuart stopped a certain try w r hen Eastgate and K. Meates broke away together. Of the four breakaways tried the palm must go to R. D. Darracott (Otago), who shot off the side of the scrum like a rocket, and continuously harassed the Probables five-eighths, D. D. and A. L. Wilson.

In the lineouts, Darracott played as No. 8, and this gave his raiding tendencies further scope. Meates and D. Oliver, on the Probables side, kept to the scrum better, and both were competent in securing the ball in the line-out. K. Skinner (Otago) and O. J. Taylor as locks in the Possibles team were better than T. D. Coughlan and J. Gallagher, of South Canterbury, and playing out of his usual place in the front row, Skinner showed up as a polished lock and good handler. Taylor has the makings of a good, fast, heavy forward. He was often prominent in loose rushes. R. C. Stuart, who was last man down in the scrum, did well in the line out. and was always on hand to take a pass, and W. McCaw did some splendid work in leading his forwards and getting amongst the opposing backs. It was quite plain that a good number of those playing in this game were a bit below the class expected in an All Black team, but few made mistakes that will not be rectified when so much is not at stake. The Play Probables opened the scoring from a passing rush started by McKenzie, and after cutting in sharply A. L. Wilson sent on to Moore, to give Gilson a clear run from the 25 yards mark. T. R. Gallagher converted.

After Shiels and Hamilton had made ground and sent an in-pass to Skinner. D. D. Wilson saved his side with a quick kick to touch. The scores were evened when a well-judged grubber kick by Haig was fielded by Shiels. who passed to Elsom with a clear field ahead. K. Stuart converted with a fine kick. J. Gallagher and Eastgate started a

passing rush, the latter making a good run and passing to D. D. Wilson. While Eastgate took Stuart’s tackle, Wilson' outpaced the field to score under the posts. T. Gallagher converted. D. D. Wilson scored his second try with another fine turn of speed, after McKenzie had started the movement. At half-time Probables led by 13 points to 5. Probables went further ahead after McCaw had started a-passing rush in which Moore, D. D. Wilson, Murphy, and Diack handled, Wilson taking the final pass to score. Haig kicked to a gap, and in the following play Taylor and Skinner handled before sending to R. Stuart, who scored. After good work Elsom was left with a good chance to score, but he - was overhauled by H. L. Smith, who had replaced K. Stuart. Then a breakdown in a passing rush of Probables’ backs allowed a break-through to send Shiels over for a try near the posts. Haig converted. Probables won by 16 points (two goals from tries and two tries) to 13 points (two goals from tries and a try). Mr W. Fright (Canterbury) was referee. The teams were:— Probables Backs. —T. R. Gallagher (Mid-Can-terbury); E. S. Diack (Otago), C. R. Moore (Southland), R. W. Gilson (Southland); A. L. Wilson (Southland), D. D. Wilson (Canterbury); J. T. McKenzie (Southland). Forwards.—K. Murphy (Mid-Can-terbury), D. Young (Canterbury), R. Eastgate (Canterbury), T. D. Coughlan (Canterbury), J. Gallagher (South Canterbury), K. Meates (Canterbury), D. Oliver (Otago), W. A. McCaw (Southland).Possibles Backs. —K. C. Stuart (Canterbury); M. J. Dixon (Canterbury), A. E. Elsom (Canterbury), J. W. Hamilton (North Otago); E. Shiels (Otago), L. S. Haig (Otago); W. Coulter (South Canterbury). Forwards.—E. Hern (Canterbury). R. Dawson (Mid-Canterbury), A. J. Crooks (Southland), K. L. Skinner (Otago), O. J. Taylor (North Otago), R. Darracott (Otago), C. E. Robinson (Southland), R. C. Stuart (Canterbury),