PLAY AND PLAYERS

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 128, 1 June 1935, Page 22

PLAY AND PLAYERS

LOCAL SENIOR'GRADE

But for the fact that their inside backs are lamentably weak on defence Athletic would be in a much higher place on the senior A grade first division'championship ladder. It is surprising that Evans has not been shifted

back to his accustomed place instead of being left to reach almost starvation point on'the wing. Wellington College Old Boys are rightly entitled to their place at the head of the ladder, but they badly need a.hddker and they have not yet succeeded in manufacturing a full-back up'to requirements.. It has been hard luck orP Leonard to have been used for experimental purposes. Rooke, who has been on promotion, should do well as he acquires confidence and gains experience. His father was an Irish international—a splendid forward. Baldwin, playing as centre-three-quarter for Old Boys, did a good deal more than he was given credit for in last Saturday's match with Athletic. It was he ■ and not Hollis who made the sensational rim early in the second spell, and Baldwin, too, who later on crossed near the corner.only to find that he had stepped into'touch before goirig over. Thomson (Athletic) showed his paces when he overtook Baldwin in the latter's dash up the centre of the field. • Langdale-Hunt, a senior Rugby forward from Canterbury, has joined up With Athletic. . Absentees from the Petone first fifteen last Saturday were not so numerous as had been reported. It was freely rumoured in town that Petone were without' several' of their usual players, and on that account a win for Hutt was regarded as being quite on the cards. It turned out, however, that'.Petorie were at good strength) and, although Lambourn was absent, they were strong enough to beat Hutt. Watson (Athletic) is a rattling good forward at his. weight, and another real ball of energy is Ongkiy (Poneke). The fact that a dozen of Wellingtbn's senior A grade players are at Wanganui today does not mean that the first division teams from which they are drawn will be weakened. The first division matches are to be played on Monday, and it is expected that most if not all of the players who are at Wanganui today will be prepared to play for theifclub teams on Monday. They are coming back from Wanganui tomorrow. . Back to his normal place last Saturday, Page (Wellington) gave a firstclass display as first five-eighth, and it is doubtful whether a better man for the position, in. the New Zealand team has arisen this season. Kilby, too, showed up well after his enforced spell, and he will make other half-backs fight hard to beat him into the New Zealand team. In addition, to Page and Kilby, it is regarded as practically certain that Lilburne and Griffiths will appear in one or more' of the trials to be held at Palrijerston North and Wellington from June II to June 15. Pollock, too, must be given a trial on the form he has'been showing as full-back.