RUGBY FOOTBALL

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 48, 25 August 1930, Page 11

RUGBY FOOTBALL

SOUTHERN TOUR

STRONG WELLINGTON TEAM

(By "Drop-Kick.")

Wellington's Rugby representatives leave on Wednesday night for the South Island to play three matches, one of which •will be with Southland for the Banfurly Shield. The selector (Mr. J. N. Millard) has been fortunate in getting a full strength side for the tour, all those who took part in the game against Auckland on Saturday being included in the touring party, which hns been chosen as follows: —

Backs: L. K. Hcazlcwood (Athletic). J. D. Mackay (University), A. E. Cookc (Hutt),' N. 'Ball (Hutt), D. J. Oliver (Wellington), H. R. Pollock (Petone), E. Foley (Eastbourne), M. F. Nicholls (Petone), J. R. Page (Wellington), and F. D. Kilby (Wellington). Forwards: C. G. Porter (Athletic), E. .Coulston (Petone), E.'Jcssup (Poneke), H. F. M'Lean (Wellington), A. C. M'Pherson (Old Boys), E. Barry (Marist), E. Eeid (Petone), E. E. Diedorich (University), E. Tell (Petone), and R. Berry (Athletic).

The team's engagements are: • — ; Saturday, 30th August—v. Otago, at Duncdin.

Wednesday, 3rd September—y. South' land, at Inveroargill.

Saturday, 6th September—v. Canter bury, at Christchurch.

In view of the southern tour, the Wellington representatives had an excellent preliminary 011 Saturday in a strenuous game with Auckland. Several of the players had had very little football during the past few weeks, and it took them some time to settle down to proper working order, but it was satisfactory to find them finishing on in the right manner. In one or two respects the play of the Wellington team, as revealed on Saturday, is open to improvement, but the benefit of that solid game is bound to be reflected in tho performances of the team on tour. The pack is a splendid one and can be relied upon to give a good account of itself. Tho backs were harassed a good deal on Saturday, and are bound to be seen to better advantage in the games ahead. One of the difficulties so far as the backs are concerned is to arrange the players in such a way that the value of Page's speed and thrust will not be lost. Page sharpens up the Wellington attack very considerably, but he wants very fast men in support when he plays as first five-eights. With Cooko and Ramson. outside Page there would bo "speed to burn," but there is Nicholla to be considered, and he is far too valuable a player to bo dropped. Nicholls, apart from his successful "pots," was not on his game on Saturday—a rare occurrence for him in representative football. Ramson is not included in the touring team, but there are two other speedy and nippy players in Pollock and Foley, who are not likely to allow the attack to lose its sharpness when they are playing. A good share of the- ball should make tho Wellington back division a dangerous attacking foreo on the tour, and, from what the forwards did against Auckland's powerful set on Saturday, there is every reason to beliove that plenty of tho ball ■will come tho way of the Wellington backs in the South. The Shield holders have been giving a good account of themselves, but in Wellington's team they will probably find their hardest proposition of tho .season. In the event of! Wellington, regaining possession of tho trophy, as they did when Southland previously held the Shield, there will be the prospect of three Shield games in Wellington before the . season closes. H.-iwkes Bay, Wairarapa, and Taranaki aro to play matches in Wellington.