REPRESENTATIVE FIXTURES.

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 140, 14 June 1924, Page 18

REPRESENTATIVE FIXTURES.

Wclliasloira cis-raj'Eiiicuis and special .Hatches tv be played in Wellington are as

July 18—v. Wairara.ia, at Wairarapa. Asigrat 3«—v. Tas-anaki, at Wellington. August 27-v. .Nekou, at Wellington. September <i— v. Arc-kkmd, at Wellington. September is-v. Marluorough. at- Wellington. Roi;te»:'.icr !7--v. Southland, at Invercargill. sjjiteiiilier ia—i-. ota'to, at Dunedin. .September 20—v. limi Country, at ■Wellington. Si) tcraber 23—v. Canterbury, »at Ohristchurcb.

Same o[ t&e a'jove matches are subject to ■cniiiirmatiMi, am! the dates of those from the CtlrScp'.cir.bcr arc subject to alteration.

"Those of lbs 1924 All Blacks who are making the trip to Sydney are to leave Wellington' on the 26th inst., and they will'return about the 22nd July, in time to' connect • with the Remuera, by ' which, the 'complete party will proceed to England, " leaving Wellington about the 27th July: The itinerary of- the wholo tour is -as follows (subject to minor alterations)'? — _'3uue'2U—leave Cor Sydney. •Suly&=-v; -X.S.W. (First-lest), at Sydney. .July'!)—v. Metropolitan, at Sydney. July .13-r-v.-X.S.W. (Second Test), at Sydney. July 10—v. X.S.W. (Third Test), ..at Sydney. July 22—Due back ill New Zealand. July 27—Leave Wellington lor England. . September 13—v. l>evon. September 17—v. Cornwall. Seutember 20—v. Somerset. September 24—v. Cliiucestershire.. September 27—Match in Wales. October I—Mate!-, in Wales. October i— v. Leicester. ..Qttfitef.Sr-v- Sw-h HidUimls. .October it—v. .CLe-ilure. -October 15—v. Uurita.n. October 18—v.'Yorkshire October 22—v. Ccrabsrland. October-23—v. Lanc-.c-liiro. November I—v. Ireland (Test). November s—v. North Ireland. November B—v. Sorthnmbciland. November IS—v. Cua'oriage University. ..November 15—v. London.' November 20—v. Oxford University. November 22—Matob in Wales. ■■Nbvemher 2a—■».-Wales (Test). < December B—Match in Wales. Deceroher o— ■;. East Midlands December 30—v. Warwickshire. December 11—v. Warwickshire (second game). December VJ —y. Combined Services ■December 17—v! Hampshire. December IS to 20—Two matches in France, December 20—v. London (second game). .January 3—v. Er.gland (Test). Application was made by the New Zealand Union to have the Test with England put forward to the 13th December,, but no intimation of any. alteration his been received from the English Eugby Union.

'"Now 'that: the All Blacks have -been chosen, there are many followers of the game who would like to see them in action ac a team before they leave for England. The authorities are considering the idea, and a match may eventuate. It is realised that the team is faced with a strenuous tour, but such a • match would serve at least one good purpose. It would be used to give the tourists a try-out under the rules in' force in England. The suggestion was thrown out by the' Management Committee to tho last annual meeting of delegates that the All Blacks might be ■given an opportunity of playing under .the old rules before setting out on their bif; tour, and that idea was generally endorsed. „ So far, however, the AH Blacks, have not received the opportunity^ to play according to.the rules ■ at Home. While recognising that no risks -of injury should be placed in the way of the Alt Blacks, it would surely ■not be asking too much of them to step out in one game before leaving for England. They are to play in Sydney, and the conditions there may be found to be more severe than those under which a match would be played here. Tile original All Blacks, it may be mentioned, played several matches in New Zealand, as well as in Australia, before leaving for England. Their first matc-h was against.Auckland, and they won by only 9 points to 6. Then they played three matches in Sydney, two being won ea3ilv and-the other resulting in a draw. • Returning from Sydney to New Zealand "the side.met a combined Ota_E;oSouthland team, this game also being drawn. Then an easy win was gained over Canterbury, but on coming to Wel'iin'Ecton ;the tourists suffered defeat by 3 points to 0. This match created jrreat interest, though the wenfhei' was bad. Dodd .scored a try for Welliivftoii.

Evidence that-a-match with this wear's team would crests great interest is apparent everywhere, nartionlarly by the discussions n? to whether there are players among the unelsct who would make up a team good enough to inflict defeat ■upon the elect, of the Dominion. One experience which the writer had on '3 recent occasion when dropping into one of the many Rugby "schools" which assemble about the town, might be pnt forward as an example of how a chance of 'seeing the. All Blacks in action would -be -welcomed. "What do.you think of the team?" was the question which was met upon entering tli3 "ecliool." An opinion having already been framed, a, reply was given unhesitatingly: "It is n ftood team :it conld have been better; but a good fifteen can bo obtained from the twenty-nine." Tho questioner ■a^roed :-but was evidently not altogetheiv satisfied. "You cannot pick a 'better team," he challenged. The challenge was. accepted in the following . terms :" "You may choose whnt you con--,-eider-to-b'e the best fifteen in the twenty-

nine, and I wilf endeavour to pick a team to beat it.'1 With that the following was offered as the best fifteen of the twenty-nine chosen players : Fullback, Nepia; th.tee-quarters, Steel, Lucas, Hart: five-eigiths, Cook, Badeley; half-back,- Mill; wing-forward, Porter ; forwards, Irvine,' Munro (hookers), Masters (lock), C. Brownlie, M. Brownlie (supports), Richardson and White (back row). . All were agreed that it was a very fine side. The next problem was- to find a, team to beat it. The. remaining fourteen All Blacks were offered in order' to obtain a solution, but the offer was not accepted—all fourteen could be used as emergencies for the team chosen. The team from the players who are to remain in the Dominion was then -put forward in. the following manner : "Put down Sinclair as full-back; Morgan and Stewart, Snodgrass or Storey as wing-threeciuai'-ters; Murray, who in form is, as you know, a splendid player, as centre-three-quarter. Now, for five-eighths : Ifwersen (here there was an objection from the challenger, but it was ruled out on the voices), and, of the other 'fiveeighths I will pick F. Tilyard (the challenger was a strong Poneke supporter). Bryne, Dickinson, Perry, or Johnston would suit. For .the half-back position put down 'G-inger' Nicholls or Wright. 3. Donald will do for wing-forward, and the forwards "will be : Carroll and Lomas, honkers; Jim MofStt, lock; Knight and Pringle, who were unlucky in the trials, supports; and for backrankers, Belliss and M'Leau. There are other good forwards, but those will do." The team actually jotted down was as follows : Sinclair; Morgan. Murray, Stewart; Ifv/ersen, F. Tilyard; Wright; J. Donald; Carroll, Lomas, Pringle, Moffitt, Knight, M'Lean, and* Belliss. And it found just as much favour as that chosen t'rom the twentynine players who are to represent New Zealand. Which team would win if both were to meet on the field of play ? It would be a great contest, but it is Drobably top much to expect of the Eugby authorities to "stage the match. It is hoped, however, that the ' All Blacks will be seen in action, even against a weaker team than that stated. Perhaps the Wellington Rugby Union' may agree to a match with its representatives. ' ■ SENIOR PLAY AND PLAYEES.

The star game last Saturday was unquestionably the notable encounter of Oriental ■ and Athletic at the Basin Eeserve. It constituted, in the opinion of the writer, the best club game so far of the season, and probably the best exhibition of real football of any played in Wellington this year, not even barring the "all-star" displays of North Island Possibles-Probables. Any old football follower will .understand what is meant by "real footbalL" You will get it oftenest in club games where there is keen rivalry, as for example, the famous Po-neke-Petone meeting of the past, and later Athletic against' Poneke or Petone. Now the rising star is Oriental, after long obscurity. The shades qf Fred Eoberts—as a famous footballer one means, for he was very visible in the flesh as a spectator of his old team's victory on the Basin—must have smiled on the white-and-blacks on Saturday. Somebody in the crowd yelled out when Hume scored his first try: "What do the Press think now of Ories' backs lacking polish?" In the old catch phrase: "They don't think." Ories gave as good a show of passing with a wet ball and over a heavy turf as one could wish to see, and they have introduced the high-speed game' irith great success. It was real football in the sense that Ories were determind to win and did win. It was the will to win that won.

■ Of course, it will be said that Athletic lacked the services of Porter and Svenson and Sutton—three of their best men. All the same the Blues would have been hard pushed even with the trio back in their places. If either side had hard luck, it was certainly not Athletic. Ories were knocking at the door again and again in the second part of the first spell, even if they sort of stumbled on the step a bit. When men go down on a strange ground to make the necessary contact between hand, leather, and ground for a try and find themselves inches short, it is hard luck. An extra push would have given them the try. That was what happened twice to Ories before they scored. The credit for much of the fine work which gave the "Magpies" their well-earned victory must go to Smith, who, in this writer's opinion, has long been worthy of the attention of the selectors for representative honours. Both in attack and defence he is an inside back of the greatest promise, and one would have liked to have seen his performance in such company as was assembled during the' recent trials. Juno is another man who played a great game for the winners, while Hume topped off the good work by two fine tries."

With Athletic weakened by the absence of Porter and Svenson, and Petone, with Mark Nicholls and Corner away, and Poneke what they are this season, what about Ories' chances for the championship this year?

Oriental are in a good fighting position now, and, if they only pull off in the big games the form they showed against Athletic, thsy should be well on tha way to tho top. The forwards are a good pack

and outplay.cd the Blues on Saturday. Jim Morfitt Aias never played better in club football; Pringie is taking out his disappointment at unjustifiable- non-in-clusion in the All Black tourists in the proper way by redoubled efforts to give his club a further leg up; Brown is doing very well and the younger members are all promising. One should not overlook King at full-back—a real acquisition to the team in strategy, and in long-distance shots at goal. ,

For Athletic it should be said that they played a great game, and were certainly not beaten for lack of effort. The tries were all pulted out of them; there was nothing easy about the scores. Warwick was the most conspicuous o£ the backs with a good deal of strong defensive work, and not a little prominence in opening up the attack. ' Cookson played another good game, and so did the Gibsons, until Bernie had to retire hurt. His substitute was not so good. The forwards were the usual hard-grafting lot, but they were outplayed through the sheer dash of the Oriental pack. Swain was back again and did well.

Suttou has been on the sick ]isfc since the game'against Marist, arid it is unlikely that Athletic -will have his services for some time. The Blue-and-Blacks will also miss Porter and Svenson, who will leave with the All Blacks on the 26th June. With these players away, Athletics chances of championship honours are not now as bright as they were earlier in tho season.

As Oriental are rising from long obscurity, so are Wellington. Last year tho Yellow-aiid-Blacks commenced to see better days ahead, and the success which they achieved in the first round was good enough to carry them into the championship final round ahead of Oriental. _ The outlook was further improved tins season, although their very fine five-eighths combination had been broken by - M'Gregor's departure for Christchuvch. So far, however, all the success they deserve has not come to them, but, while their portion of championship points is small, their performances show that they are heading the right way for better fortune, and this will surely come to them. If any team deserves a high place on the championship ladder it is Wellington.

If there wero any followers of tho game who thought that Poneke would have .a walk-over last Saturday their opinion of this season's form was sadly astray. Wellington are a side not'easy to dispose of, and Poneke had tho hardest part to do last Saturday. Although the gam e at the Basin Reserve proved to be a better attraction, the W.R.U. management committee did not act unwisely in giving Wellington a game on the Park, Wellington put up a splendid performance against the strong Poneke team—there can be no doubt- that Poneke are still a hard nut to crack— and at stages of the game the run cf play Was such as to make Poneke's chances oi success none too secure. What Wellington lacked was finish. Had their movements been more polished in the second spell the result woujd have probably been in-their favour. As it was, the deficiency of points was represented by a penalty, goal. This was a. gift to Poneke, a player being so keen to remove the ball from in front of the Wellington posts that, after getting in an offside position, ho accepted a forward pass from one of his own men without making an effort to get on side. These things which have been said of Wellington may suggest that Poneke were lucky to win, but taking all in all they were the better team, and they would have been unlucky to lose.

With the Shearers and company, Poneke have a solid set of forwards; in fact, there was no room for Slater in the. vanguard last. Saturday until Kennedy retired on account of an injury. Wellington pack was not greatly troubled by tho opposition, and held its oVvn. Poneke probably experienced more trouble than they had expected from Wellington, and this was due in a measure to the study which the Wellington players have evidently been giving to scrum work. The three-two-three formation was tried with good effect, and Poneke at times thought it best to follow suit. In the loose Wellington were vigorous, and in some of their advances there was something of the, old Melrose style. Poneke's forwards also showed good form, and the play generally between the two packs was of the kind that stirs spectators to enthusiasm. More of the ,play such as that for which the old Melrose forwards Were noted would bo welcomed.

After seeing Johnston play last Saturday, and remembering the good form shown by him last season, many followers of the game will wonder why the Wellington five-eighth was not put forward by the Wellington selectors as a candidate for the New Zealand team. Johnston was-mere deserving of a tryout than a number of other players who appeared in the trials, and form such a3 he displayed last Saturday would have njada 121 m a New Zealand representative, probably before M'Gregor, and certainly before Paevvai. M'Gregor played with Johnston last season, and that experience no doubt helped him to get into the New Zealand team. There are other players, some of them in Wellington, who should have also been tried out for places in the New Zealand team. This fact may be realised when the representative matches are played.

Hickey, the . Poneke wing-three-quarter and ex-New Zealand representative, is rendering splendid service to Poneke, and he will be a very good man who beats Hickey for a -wing-three-quarter positio2i in the representative team. F. Tilyard continues to be a strong link in the Poneke back division, and Bennett is shaping very solid; In the Wellington team's back division there are players other than Johnston who, by their performances, must receive consideration when the representative teams are Ijeing chosen. Morgan, from the Johusonville juniors, is a splendid second to Johnston, and when into his stride he is hard to hold-up, while bis quick side-step to cut through tho opposition is used effectively. Brunsell is carrying out the half-back duties very creditably. The Wellington forwards are a good lot, with Joyce a particularly fine all-rounder.

Old Boys Went under to Marist, but it was not until players were lost in the second spell that the tide turned definitely against them. For tho greater portion 1? the second spell they were only tlireo points down, and -were having the better of the play. Disorganisation of the team was caused .through' the loss of players, one of whom " was ordered off, and Old Boys, then apparently _ disheartened, fell an easy prey to the opposition's attacks. For the last quarter of an hour Marist had matters all. their own way. The game became very hard at times, and was marred by a number of accidents, and also -by numerous breaches which necessitated frequent use of the whistle. The ordering off of an Old Boys' player jvou also most unfor-

tunate, and in this connection it may be mentioned that matters might have gone along more smoothly if the referee had stepped in earlier with a warning. There appeared to be far too much kicking in tho loose rushes. The writer would also draw attention once again to-the fact that the power given to re. ferees is too great. . Everyone knows that the union must support the referees, and that the referees are liable to make mistakes as well as the players, but why should a player be made to suffer a, severe penalty when a referee has made a mistake, though in his own mind the referee may be satisfied that he was right? The chairman of the union has more than once put forward a scheme for dealing with alleged offenders, but support for it has not been forthcoming from the union's committee.

Tho two outstanding backs in the Marist-Old Boys game were Dossett for Marist and Bedell for Old Boys. A particular point about the former's play was his clean taking of tho ball on the full. Both players are fast,, and promise to bo representative players of the future.; ]/or Old Boys, Mansfield played a dashing gamo until he was injured, but is inclined to forget his place in the backs. L. Warwick has improved as a full-back since the beginning of the season. Among tho forwards, Laurie, Hum, Menzies, and Miller were prominent. Barclay, the Wellington B representative hooker, played full-back for ;i while, and showed that ho would make a good back, as he handles well and is fast.

For Marist, Sidet played a very good ganio at full-back, and if he continues as at present he may be in the running with other full-backs for tho position in the representative fifteen. Of the other backs, M'Cleary did. beat. Holz plays a good game at wing-forward, and is very useful in starting passing rushes from the line-outs. Griffen, O'Sullivan, Hopkins,^ and M'Kee were noticed most among the forwards.

The Old Boys' pack is the lightest iii the competition, but the forwards make up for this by playing a good dashing game in the loose.

The injury received by Holz (Marist) last Saturday may keep him out of the game for some time. This is unfortunate 'for' Marist, as the ex-Southlander was making good in the wing-forward position. It has been suggested to the writer that Murphy might bo played ss wing-forward, but he is a very useful man as five-eighth, and for the future he may receive excellent support from Sheehan, who is now about ready to resume play. Berhampore scored their biggest win to date against Selwyn. The Light Blues have a fine pack, and with the backs gaining a better working knowledge, the team is shaping -well. Lang was -an outstanding player among the backs last Saturday. So far Berhampore have, suffered only one defeat,, and any , team which beats them in subsequent matches will have to be in good form. Selwyn .are plugging along without meeting with much success. The time will come when they will take a bigger hand in the chumpiqnship, as they take good care of tho players in the lower grades.

'Varsity gained another win last Saturday, but they have played better games. It would not be surprising to find them lowering the colours of a fead^ ing team before the season.is over-. ' Hutt have shown form which suggests that they should be able to record a win before the season is much further advanced. They will be a better team next year.

The leading individual scorers in the senior competition to date are : A Lang (Bei-hampore), 23 " points; E. " Kin? "(Oriental), 20; J. A. Malcolm (Old Boys) 20; M. Nicholls (Petone), 18; S. Shearer (Poneke), 15; J. Swain (Athletic), 12; Sutton (Athletic), 12; B. Gibson (-Athletic), 12; J. Murphy (Marist), 12. COMMENTS ON SELECTION. Opinions oatside of Wellington generally agree with those which have been given locally, that the All Blacks, as chosen, are a formidable lot, though not the best twenty-nine that could have been found. Hawkes Bay and Canter- I bury appear to bo well satisfied with | the selection, and they, have every rea- j lion, to be. In a number of other pro- j vinces, however, followers of the game are wondering how the selectors came to j their decisions regarding certain play- | ers who were dropped and others who found favour. Extracts from comments I upon the team, are as folio »: — The second All Black team for England has been selected, and while there is every likelihood that some districts may feel aggrieved at the non-inclusion of a particular local man, a review of the personnel of the team must convince every unbiased person who closely, follows the sport that the selectors* have done their utmost to select those whom they honestly thought, on public form, were worthy of the honour that has been conferred upon them. The forward selection must have provided cause for lengthy dissuasion and careful analysis, and no doubt the selectors were very much concerned at having to pass over several whose claims for inclusion could ho considered equal to those of theselected. Arid the back division, too, after the first three or four selections were decided upon, must have proved a difficult problem, - with so many candidates of about equal quality requiring consideration. The selectors have done their work well. It fs evident that their sole aim and object was to select those men who, according to their judgment, were the best available. They are to be congratulated on having selected what must freely be admitted is a most formidable team, one 'which, when combination is acquired, should worthily uphold the honour gained by the original All Blacks.—"Christchureh Star."

The selectors no doubt have grounds for their selections of the final thirteen players, but it is very doubtful if they have chosen the best men available. Wben_ tho personnel of the Selection Committee was first -announced there were considerable misgivings, particularly in Auckland, and to a certain extent these have been justified. The. selection of half-backs cannot be termed a happy one.. The exclusion of Wright (Auckland) and the inclusion of Mill (Hawkes Bay). should not meet with general approval. Wright has shown himself the best half-back in tho Dominion, while Mill, with every opportunity, has not been equal to Dalley. The hitter's display in the match on the King's Birthday was no better than Wright's, in previous trials, and, apart'from weather conditions, he had chances which Wright _ has never had. WKen in England Mill may justify his inclusion, but he has not dona so yet. So far as the forward:; are concerned, there arc some very unlucky players. With only three players iii the team Auckland cannot bu said to have received fair treatment in view of tho record of last season, and the showing made by the Auckland players in the trial matcliSß.—"Auck> laud Herald..'!