TRIAL MATCHES

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 104, 4 May 1935, Page 30

TRIAL MATCHES

FAIR SPIN FOR PLAYERS

' By direction of the annual meeting of the New Zealand Rugby Union .there will'be no half-time replacements in the coming trial matches, except, of course, in the event of players being injured. In raising the question at the meeting of delegates, Mr. N. McKenzie (Hawke's Bay) said'

that it was most unfair to the player

oh the field for the first half "only and certainly unfair to the player brought oh in the'second half. Replacements had taken place last year and-the procedure was'one that should, be discontinued. Mr. McKenzie moved: "That it be a recommendation that the selectors be notified that all players in the trial be kept oh the field for the full period of play, unless forced.to retire through injiiry." Delegates: Hear,~ hear. Seconding the motion, Mr. G. Pow-

hall (Wanganui) instanced the case of

a five-eighth in. a trial last season who - had tbeen kept'in check by a forward in the first spell but who had played an excellent game in tKe second spell . alter the particular forward had been f replaced at half-time. Such changes •were liable to give a false idea of ;B;man's ability. . .-. ■, "It has been tried and found want,:T ; ing,", said Mr. E. McKenzie (Waira- '; rapa), chairman of the New Zealand v selection committee, in admitting frank- :- Jy..thatihe did not agree with replace ■: mentS; of players in trial games. He also took ~the ; opportunity of;remov- ;■■' ing an impression created •in some minds that the players replaced at half- ; time were, regarded as certainties for the team for ■■ which the players were > on trial. He ,did not see any necessity for interfering, with the : coming : trial games by changing the teams dur- ' ing the progress of play. /The proposal;met with full approval, bnd'the motion was carried.