RAGGED TRIAL AT NAPIER

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28906, 28 May 1959, Page 5

RAGGED TRIAL AT NAPIER

9-6 Victory For Probables (New Zeatana Press Association) NAPIER, May 27. Little individual brilliance imd un-co-ordinated teamwork marked the third district All Black Rugby trial at McLean Park, Napier, today, when Probables beat Possibles, 9-6. Players from East Coast, Poverty Bay, Hawke’s Bay, Wairarapa and Bush took the field. M. Parker, of Bush, hooker, and A G. E. Rowlands, of Poverty Bay, and R. C H. Blake, of Wairarapa (in the line-outs), gave the Prob-, ables plenty of ball, but the backs on both sides were generally ineffective. The only backs to rise above mediocrity were M. English, of Poverty Bay, a busy, quick-moving first five-eighths B. Neale, of Hawke’s Bay, whose passing was crisp, and R. Eames, of Bush, second fiveeighths, who slashed through anything that looked like an opening. Of the forwards, Rowlands worked hard in the rucks, and R. Sharplin, of Hawke’s Bay, may be given a further trial. T. Johnson, of Hawke’s Bay, and formerly of Waikato. a virile No. 8, covered astutely Parker’s excellent hoking and adequate tight play, left a good impression.

The star ot the loose play was L. Cooper of Hawke’s Bay, a huge Maori lock, who twice burst for the line and on one occasion ran 50 yards before he was downed. L. Karaka. of East Coast, a fast No. 8, did not live up to his reputation. For Probables, K. Karaka, of East Coast, kicked a penalty and a field goal, and F. Reedy, of East Coast, scored a try. L. Cooper scored a try for Possibles, and P. Cowan, of Poverty Bay, kicked a penalty.