Impressive Form In Provincial Trial

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29827, 21 May 1962, Page 14

Impressive Form In Provincial Trial

A fairly large and appreciative crowd was entertained by some unusually bright soccer—and 11 goals—when the final representative soccer trial was played at English Park yesterday. Players who had not been Included in the team which beat South Canterbury were given another opportunity to press their claims before the Canterbury sole selector (Mr V. Smith). Most impressed and the team to play Wellington at Christchurch on Queen's Birthday should be a strong one. The teams were:— Green Team.—D. Smith, P. Flynn A. Ross. B. Chee, K. Clarke. P. Frost, A Bishop. T. Haydon. G. Verwoerd, P. Renhell B. Newsome. G. Donaldson replaced Chee in the second spell and I. Laby replaced P. Flynn. Red Team.—K. Flintham, D. Scrobble, A. Westwood. H. Taylor, D. Simmonds. K. Hendy, D. Anderson. P. Kay. B. Rumbold, J. Price. J. Killick. In the second half Chee replaced Rumbold. who was Injured. While Mr Smith may have decided upon his inside forward trio already—and it was obvious yesterday that Haydon. Verwoerd and Rennell Were vastly superior to their opposite numbers—the wing positions may still be a problem. Killick and Bishop on the right wing both had good days with perhaps Bishop's ability to combine with the Inside trio giving him a slight edge. However. Killick showed that his speed could run him into scoring positions. With the absence of W. Logan, the left wing of the previous representative match, Anderson played well enough for inclusion in the team. First, for the Red team, he was the only forward to penetrate the defence of Flynn and Ross, and in the second half when he changed to the Green team, his understanding with his colleagues made him dangerous on the flank. Newsome was adequate in the position but his play lacked the variety which Anderson was able to produce. Of the two centre-halves. Simmonds' height gave him an advantage over Clarke. Considering that it was the stronger forward line which converged on him. Simmonds must have improved his chances of retaining the centre-half berth Frost, who was surprisingly omitted from the team which played South Canterbury, was again constructive on attack and determined in his defence. He looked an obvious choice for the coming match, but his commitments in the national squad mqy rule him out. Chee and Hendy worked well, but it was Taylor who stood out as the other wing half. Donaldson appeared in the second half for the Green team, but was no more than an average wing At full-baek, Flynn, until he retired at the end of th* first

half, and Ross did everything asked of them. Their clearing was purposeful giving those in front of them every chance to resume the attack. Their marking, too, was seldom faulted Scrobble allowed Bishop too much room, while Westwood was more of a negative defensive player, rarely combining with his halves and forwards. The goal-keepers changed at half-time and the statistical analysis show that Smith conceded five goals to Flintham's six. This, however, does not indicate the better anticipation and more confident approach evident in Smith’s performance. Scorers were:— Green Team.—Haydon (4), Bishop (2). Verwoerd and Rennell. Red Team.—Hendy from a penalty. Price and KiUlck. The referee was Mr I. Bllcliffe.

N.Z. TEAM Inclusion Of P. Frost

Canterbury is represented by one player, P. Frost (Western), in the 14 who have been named to represent New Zealand in the flr»t test against New Caledonia on June 2 in Christchurch. An Englishman who arrived in Christchurch soon after the start of last season. Frost was* also in the trials for last season’s national side, but sustained an injury which kept him out of the game for several weeks. Frost’s inclusion in this New Zealand side, although well merited, is surprising,' because he was not chosen to play in last week’s final trial in Auckland. In club and provincial football he has given consistent displays at half-back and full-back. The team is;— P. L. Whiting Wellington); A. Evans (Wellington), P. Frost (Canterbury), A. Leong (Waikato): D. Wallace (Wellington), J. Kemp (Auckland), K. Armstrong (Auckland, captain), J. Rae (Otago); R. D. Ormond (Poverty Bay), G. P. Eccles (Auckland), A. Inglis (Wellington), T. J. L. Pugh (Poverty Bay), D. McVey (Otago), D. Ritchie z(Wellington).