Backs Shine In Final New Zealand Trial

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30129, 13 May 1963, Page 18

Backs Shine In Final New Zealand Trial

(Aew Zcaiana Press Association) WELLINGTON, May 12. The final Rugby trial at Athletic Park yesterday proved once and for all that there are backs in New Zealand who can score tries by dint of enterprise and exuberance, and that they can be used with rich dividends. The overwhelming impression of the forward work from the trials is that there has been an emphatic return to concentration on hard, basic endeavour.

If there was one particular point of concern about the forwards it was that the value of swift possession by intense rucking has been underestimated. Too many so-called rucks disintegrated because hands were used initially instead of feet. The game resulted in a win for W. J. Whineray's possibles over I. J. Clarke's probables, 30-21. For Whineray’s team tries were scored by B. A. Watt (2). D. M. Connor, W. J. Nathan, and T. R. Heeps. D. B. Clarke converted three and kicked three penalty goals. Tries were scored for the probables by R. W. Caulton • 2), I. N. Uttley. and D. W. Clark. W. F. McCormick converted three and kicked a penalty.

Mighty Kicking After his indifferent showing on toe first day of toe trials, D B Clarke reasserted himself yesterday. Except tor a couple of blemishes as the result of sheer casualness, he gave a first rate display Added to his general sharpness, he kicked some mighty touch-finders from most improbable positions, and his goal-kicking was splendid W F McCormick shrugged otl the gremlins of uncertainty which plagted him on Thursday, and he. too. gave a fine display of the full-back game His running with the line was assertive and clever, and led directly to one try Heeps. Uttley, and Caulton were unquestionably the threequarters of the match Heeps ran with the verve and determination to make his pace a paying proposition. Uttley grasped the Initiative early in his personal duel with Little. He scored a try after wafting through defenders close to the line, and throughout gave a performance which demanded recognition. Caulton added two tries to the three he scored on Thursday. and this pin-pointed one of his main strengths—when the try is “on” Caulton is a nononsense scorer of it. He hunted work and made play, and

he sought always to keep play alive when halted in a run. Morrissey More Direct The other wings. D. W. McKay and P. J. Morrissey, had moments of ascendancy. but they were fleeting. Morrissey was .much more direct in his running than McKay. The second five-eighths were a study in contrasts. P. T. Walsh was steady and strove to cushion the game tor his centre; T. N. Wolfe made some brilliant play and tackled Walsh with leech-like persistence Walsh had distinct problems with some rather laboured service from inside, and rather than have Uttley receive the ball under pressure he took the tackle if there was the glimpse of a black jersey outside. Wolfe had another Impressive trial, and this position is one which will most vex the selectors One thought is that Wolfe never missed his tackle, and in that respect at least was as solid as Walsh Watt Big Success The Canterbury first fiveeighths, B A. Watt, was a resounding success outside D. M Connor. He received superb service from a half-back who made his poor form of Thursday a memory of something that might never really have happened. Watt lapped up the opportunities created by Connor, and had a much better match than M. A. Herewini. Herewini had problems For

some time he faced a barrage of poor passes from C R. Laidlaw-. Then he had difficulty with his own hands. Yet he was able to impress himself on the game to some extent: his grubber for a Caulton try was a beauty, and he found some nice touches under uressure The Otago No 8. D W. Clark, must have a fine chance of wearing D J Graham's jersey in the first test. W. J. Nathan and K. R. Tremain probablymade their first test positions secure, but only with B. J Lochore and K. A. Nelson breathing hotly at their heels Lochore. particularly had another fine trial. Stewart Outjumped I. N Mac Ewan. in his best form for years, should hold one lock position. A J. Stewart, the Canterbury took, found the

going much more turbulent than on Thursday. C. E. Meads got up above Stewart in some line-outs, and cancelled him out of others. It will be a tight argument between these two. althought Meads might get the first test. W. J. Whineray will certainly have his propping position safe. He had good matches on both days, especially yesterday. The difficulty of the selectors' task is illustrated by the claims of the other props—J. M. Le Lievre, I. J. Clarke, and B A Thomas. Perhaps Thomas, tremendously powerful and a lineout blockbuster, mav be in at the kill. The hooker. D Young, will probably keep J. Major out of the All Black jersey—in the meantime, anyway. The selectors will announce their team for the first test following the Wellington-England match on Saturday. It could be: D. B. Clarke. R. W Caulton. I N. Uttlev. T. R. Heeps. T N. Wolfe, B. A. Watt. D. M Connor, D W. Clark, W. J Nathan. I. N. Mac Ewan. C. E. Meads. K R. Tremain. B. A Thomas. D Young, W. J. Whineray.