Ellwood Likely To Be Kiwi Centre

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31676, 11 May 1968, Page 15

Ellwood Likely To Be Kiwi Centre

(By Our Rugby League Reporter)

A continuation of his fine trial form might assure J. D. Ellwood (Auckland) the position as H. R. Sinel’s centre partner in the New Zealand Rugby league world championship series team to be announced after the final trial at Auckland this afternoon.

Because of his versatility—he can cover any position from stand-off half to fullback Ellwood could hardly be left out of the 19-man squad for the series.

In addition to his playing ability, Ellwood also has the capacity to spur his fellowplayers on, a vital factor in New Zealand's wins over Southern New South Wales and Riverina in Australia last season.

Then, Ellwood. as captain, played a very shallow game and led the tourists to victory from full-back. COACH AND PLAYER

His knowledge of Sinel’s play is undoubted; Ellwood is the captain-coach of Sinel’s Auckland club, City-Newton. Another useful utility back, P. J. Schultz (Auckland), has been paired with Sinel in the final trial in preference to W. White (Waikato), who appeared to have a fine chance of selection when he played

with Sinel for Northern Zone twice and New Zealand Maoris. R. W. Bailey (Auckland) remains an enigma. He has played many fine games for his country and is its leading try-scorer in international football. But the New Zealand Council would be lacking if it went on its hands and knees, bearing a gift of extra expenses, to a player who demands as much immediately he qualifies for an overseas clearance. And Bailey’s form in Australia left much to be desired. SELECTORS DELAYED The closure of Christchurch Airport on May 1 might have cost M. P. Brereton (West Coast) a Kiwi jersey. On that day he scored two fine tries against New South Wales Country but only one national selector, Mr D. L. Blanchard (Canterbury), was present because of the disruption to the air services. Brereton has been placed in the reserves today. The New Zealand pack today—B. E. Castle (Auckland), J. K. Dixon (West Coast), A P. Krileticb (Auckland). 0 G. Danielson (Auckland), C. E. O’Neil (Wellington), and H. Ta tana (Auckland)— should win selection in the 19. The former All Black, V. M. Yates (Auckland), will press strongly for one prop position in the team proper. The playing of E. Wiggs (Auckland) on the wing has all the hallmarks of desperation. He played one test in 1964 as a prop, his second in 1966 at loose forward; hardly, sufficient qualifications for a test wing. MINCHAM ON WING

Goal-kicking will be a vita) factor in the series, but R. B. Tait (Waikato) has not been found wanting in the preliminary trials this week, and Ellwood, Yates and Ta tana are able supports, R. A. Mincham, who scored a try in his only test two years ago, appears certain to be one wing; Brereton and the high-scoring Auckland wing, B. Gascoigne, will dispute the other position. Canterbury and Papanui could fill the two half-back positions, with G. H. Clarke

and J. A. Bond. However, Clarke will be tested by E. M Carson (Auckland) today and, with Schultz to cover any scrum-half injuries, only one scrum-half should be included. The selectors (Messrs Blanchard, W. L. O’Callaghan and B. E. Robertson) will name a team of 13 and six reserves The reserves will play in the later tests only if injuries or loss of form dictate such a move.

The probable 19 players are: Tait; Mincham, Ellwood, Sinel, Brereton; Bond, Clarke; Castle (captain); Kriletich, Dixon; Tatana, O’Neil, Yates. Reserves: White, Schultz, Gascoigne, Wiggs, Danielson, B. S. Lee.

Girls' Hackey.— Malvern beat Ashburton, 3-2, in the final of the New Zealand primary schoolgirls’ hockey tournament in Nelson yesterday. In the semi-finals, Ashburton defeated Whangarei, 1-0, and Malvern beat Hawke's Bay, 2-0. The North Island defeated the South Island, 5-1.