PLAY AND PLAYERS.

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 1, 1 July 1922, Page 14

PLAY AND PLAYERS.

On the Petone side Mark Nicholls undoubtedly played,the game of the day, and must now, on his improved form, an improvement ori that, of last year, be considered for any representative honours for which he is eligible in the Dominion. When, all is said- aild done, there is perhaps no better five-eighths available, and in addition' there is his place-kicking, which is seldom at fault these times.

' Eddie Byan made a welcome reappearance for his old club, remarkably soon after hi? return, to his old town, arid there was no little comm-ant from the line, but why press technical points of law? Everybody knows that thei Ryan family belong to Petone, and when they are away it is only, as it ■were, on tour. Eddie played full-back in place'of Cowie, who is ill, but he was not thoroughly afc homo in that position, anddnade several mistakes. Physically he looks as if he had gained a good deal of weighty One would like to see him back in his old place in the three-quaartev line. Riggs 'throughout the Pebone-Orienial game was disappointing, and might- have got dow» to^the job on the wing with a little more 'enterprise. Gilchxist played quite a satisfactory game at half, and gave his side all the chances it deserved. A. Gilchrist and J. Moffitfc were missing from the Oriental pack last week. The former has received; a transfer, and is now assisting the juniors. Scott (Oriental) is a good type of forwai'd, and in Mbffitt's absence: he is looking the scrum very weD. He displayed good form; with the -representatives which toured North- last season. E. King (Poneke) was not fit enough for play last week,,and,.F. Tilyaa'd was. also absent from 'the Red and Blacks' team which met Wellington at Lower .Hutt." Poneke were kept on the move by Wellington,'but they appeared1 at some stages to be content to go alpng smoothly. The backs- -^made play • open, and similar; measures by Wellington' ;»dded to the brightness of -the, game. ■ .-'■'■ To make up a full. team. last. week, Wellington, accepted the .services of a Hutt boy. Both 'Varsity and Athletic were, capable of better "football than that which they provided for the big crowd in waiting for the Soccer Test at Athletic Park. The back play on either side was faulty, mishandling of the leather being far too ndticeabto a fault. There was no combination, and the few bright pieces of play were of the lone-hand type. The forwards were perhaps somewhat better, but much of their work was of the ragged order. Athletic, however, gave the- impression that, they are going to do good things when it comes to forward clashes in future matches. ''■-.'

\- The presence of W. Ryan seems to make a big difference to the Athletic pack. It is a y,7onder that he has not caughfcVthe eye^of the selectors, as he does a lot more useful work than Duncan. M'Carlie, :tboj has been playing consistently we 11...-.,. [ .--,'. '„ ■ ■■: Brunsellis-a'Rafter behind the i sci'uni, and he earned the try which he obtained last week, even though he- got a start on the ball before it was kicked across the line. There was only one outstanding player in the 'Varsity team last week, and that was Aitkeri. - He worked hard all through the game,; but received little support. It is unfortunate that. Aitken was unable to assist the North Island team to-day. Aucklafiders would have found him a much improved player than. when; : >;:h'o';:captained." the New .<Zealand team' last. year. As Aitken. is'to* leave for England next month, he will-.'pro-Imblyi-bevunable, if selected, to make the trip to Australia. The default of Berhampore last Saturday was ,a stroke of good 'luck' for Selwyn, who were likely to have been without the services of a number of their usual players. :..... It'is reported that Smith (the 'Varsity wing forward) is to take up his :res"idence in the.Hawkes Bay district. : F. M. ''Hanson,, 'the 'Varsity forward, was not in the team loot week, although ,he v/as presant at the match. He'is en-, gaged at Mangahao, and last week he was not; certain whether he could get into town for Saturday's match. Jackson was also not playing. His absence ,was due •to an. injury to one of his knees. ' ' Although Siddells has not played as.a three-quarter this season, the local selectors have given him a place on the wing for the Tnranaki match. Standen deserved a place in the team to play, Taranaki. Old Boys are a side from whom mora should be heard later on. They have some excellent material in their ranks, and play a clean, attractive game. In Malcolm they"'iave a full-back who is a very fine kick, as well as a cool and collected player. Malcolm is young and extremely promising. Harris, who plays on the wing for Old Boys, is a. three-quarter of a handy type. As a. matter of fact, he is a danserous proposition. With, the ball under his arm and a reasonably clear field, it would take a, Deeri'oofc to overhaul him. Hn played a dashing game against Marist last Saturday and deserved to score. Gibson is another Old Boy of an excellent all round type. He has a strong boot and a clean delivery, and as a fiveeighths showed plenty of resource. Youth is .on his side, and he gives every, indica- |

tion of laving a good football career ahead of him.

The Old Boys' pack is a strong combination, jind they had the best of things against Marist last Saturday. In tlie scrum wark they ; were very good, the hooking "oi: the ball being all that could be desired.

A. policy of laissez faire which Marist adopt on occasions is likely to prove dangerous unless remedied. The.forwards sometimes display a disposition to take things too easily, and it would not infre<juently lead to trouble were the back division found wanting. It is unwise to treat an opponent lightly until he is safely placed beyond the chanco of victory, and even then he should be regarded as a potential danger iintil he is actually down and out. A little more "pep" in the work of the .Marist vanguard would be useful. The rearrangement among the Marist backs after Carmody retired last Satur.day gave un insight into the possibilities attaching to a reorganisation of the G-reen back division. -Murphy is a redoubtable full-back, but as a five-eighth, to which position he went on Saturday, he h not: a whit inferior. ~ He is capable of dashing short spurts which are somewhat surprising for a. man of his weight, but which make him a force to be reckoned with all the same. Tancred on. the wing and Mahoney in the centre, seem to be: a better disposition than ' Marists' customary formation. Griffin played'as full-back after Carmody went off, acid gave a good display, and it might be worth while trying him with the seniors for a game or two, although there are {some who consider that he is not so,reliable as .Murphy. Hopkins: deserves a word of praise for his. fine work for Marist last Saturday against Old Boys. He was in the thick of the fray the whole time, and justly earned the two tries he scoi-ed. His luck was out to a Certain extent, for 'he should have scored two or three.more.