Disappointing play in S.I. league trial

Press, 28 April 1980, Page 3

Disappointing play in S.I. league trial

By

JOHN COFFEY

It is unlikely that the South Island rugby league trial at the Show Grounds yesterday would have greatly assisted the New Zealand selectors in their quest for a test team to oppose Australia in June. The match, won by the Probables, 31-29, was generally disappointing and it would be scant compensation for the southern trialists that similar games in Auckland on Friday and Palmerston North on Saturday were also inconclusive. The selectors, Messrs Ces Mountford, Bill O'Callaghan, Bill Sorensen, Ossie Butt, and Harry Walker, and the panel convener, Mr “Snow’' Telford, met after the match to choose the 30 players to attend the national coaching school at Hamilton next month.

However, the composition of the squad will not be known until after it is approved by officials of the New Zealand Rugby League in Auckland today.

Undoubtedly the most unsatisfactory aspect of the trial at the Show Grounds was the tentative tackling, particularly by the opposing forward packs. Some la.'c of understanding and positional play would be expected from two composite sides but many of the 12 tries were scored with too much ease.

Stronger defensive measures are applied at club level. Far too often players were able to stand in attempted tackles and release possession. Unhappily, though, seldom were their supports running on to those passes with any pace or purpose. There were also prob-

lems in the scrums, causing the referee Mr Don Wilson, to award penalties on 13 of the 28 occasions that the forwards packed against one another. The outcome of the others provided neither team with any advantage, John Griffin winning eight and Alan Rushton seven.

Some of the handling was below the expected standard, partly because of the greasy conditions. Fumbles would be fatal against the Australians, who are very professional in their use of attacking opportunities resulting from loose play by their opponents. It is unlikely that any of the younger trialists made their marks sufficiently to earn rapid promotion hut one or two may have given the selectors some thoughts for the future. Michael Williams

was in this category, claiming a fine try on the right wing and later moving smoothly into the fullback role.

Injuries took their toll before the match, forcing the withdrawals of Tony Coll. Ray Baxendale, Bruce Murph\. Robin Alfeld, and David Soster. That list was lengthened when Wayne Wallace, after an extremely promising start, severely twisted an ankle and had to be carried from the field in the eighteenth minute.

One of New Zealand's most pressing rugby league problems is to find a reliable goal-kicker for the national team and Lewis Hudson considerably boosted his chances by kicking seven of his nine attempts. Three of his successes were from sharp angles, while Michael O'Donnell also

goaled a side-line conversion.

The conditions were hardly conducive to open football and the towards carried most of the workload. But the strapping Papanui wing Russell Seaward provided one of the individual highlights when he fielded a kick-off and left two defenders sprawling on a 70m run for his second try. side-step was hardly hampered by the slippery sutfaee.

Bernard Green, who also touched down twice, Williams, and O’Donnell, who was responsible for quite a few incisive breaks from full-back, were other outside backs to stand out. Chris Menzies took the honours among the halves although Gordon Smith. Murray French, and David

Field all had an active afternoon. The ability of Rushton and Mark Broadhurst to draw the defence and slip passes would have helped their causes, while Paul Iruscott. Wayne Dwyer, Kevin Franklin, and Barry Edkins had more than satisfactory matches in the opposing pack. Rushton and Truscott won their respective “player of the match'' awards. Scorers: Probables 31 (M. J. Williams, J. C. Griffin, P. M. McCone, W. Dwyer. K. A. Franklin, B. R. Edkins, M. D. Vincent tries: Edkins two, J. R. Tapiata 2. M. W. J. O’Donnell goals). Possibles 29 (R. V. Seaward 2, B. J. Green 2. D. C. Field tries; L. E. Hudson 7 goals).