RUGBY LEAGUE

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 140, 15 June 1936, Page 5

RUGBY LEAGUE

FINAL MATCH

REP. TEAM SELECTED

| The Wellington Rugby League rspre-' jscntative team to meet Auckland at I Auckland on the King's Birthday was j announced at the conclusion of the [trial game on Saturday by the selectors. Messrs. G. Bradley, L., Bcnsaman, | and E. Euckland. It comprises:— I Full-bad;: H. T. Lilburne, captain | (HutO. . . j Three-quarters: E. Gladding (St. ■George), 5. T. Atkins (Petone). C. McNeil (St. George). Five-eighths: L. Merson (Contra!) and A. O'Connor (St. George). Half-back: J. Coman (Petone). Forwards: J. Coutts, It. Moisley, G. Sutton (St. George), J. Gunn and 1 C ! B;rry (Central), W. Large (Hutt).' Reserves.—A. Jamieson (St. .George* and S. Thorpe (Petone). ' 1 - The team, which leaves for Auek-. land next Sunday, is perhaps the best that could be chosen. . The forwards are big, virile, and fast, and. their '.play will supply in energy what it' might lack in purpose and direction. The greatest obstacle may be a weakness in strategy and tactics.- But the wi4e experience of Moisley and Large, should help to minimise these difficuJties.

The backs, all fast and clever, automatically selected themselves. ' : —

. SATURDAY'S TRIAL ; Football of a loose ■ anc ragged ; | nature, considerably at variance with ' j the bright displays of early , club; I games, characterised the representative | trial at Newtown Park. As often hapj pens on such occasions, individual ; efforts tq gain covsted honours took precedence over collective manoeuv- j rings._ with the resultant • effect upon I the display. The all-round superiority j Of Possibles, twelve of whom were I ultimately selected.- was evidenced from the opening Whistle: The match, however,' revealed the

finest array of individual talent for many years, a happy augury for the match at Auckland on June 23. " The teams were:— Possibles.—Lilburne (Hutt), Gladding (St. George), S. T. Atkins (Petone), C. McNeil (St. George), M»rson (Central), A. O'Connor (St George), Coman (Petone), Coutts and Moisley (St. George), Burns ' (Hutt). Gunn (Central), Sutton (St. George), Thorpe (Petone). Probables.—Spencer (St. George), Mailman (St. George), Bramble (Central), Newton (Petone), Jamieson (St. George), J. O'Connor (Petone), M. Atkins (Central), Swanberg (St. George). McLellan (Hutt), Rennie (St. George), Berry (Central), Simons (St. George), Todd (Hutt). The outcome of the match was soon apparent, Possibles appearing stronger in every department. Away to an

early lead, from a try by Thorpe, points were ii) great sty Id The 16 to 5 superiority at , the interval- would have been greater but "ror ths poorness of the handling. Thorpe, Gunn, Coutts, and Moisley dominated the forward rallies, though • Berry- and Simons (Probables) ( had a Roland for their every' Oliver. ' Coirfan, at lial£ back, was well served from the scrums. La.service he turned to excellent advantage. Crisp passing, carefully selected solp runs, and an ability - to.be whera required marked: his. finest' display since joining the code.

Gladding, Possibles right wing, finished off a combined movement with a' nice, try. ; McNeil,; ths oth£r flankman, looked the best of the- backs .till injuries forced his retirement. O'Connor and Merson, the fiveeighths, were content'to'run >round'the defence rather than up"to>it. Theia'dvantage, of a go6d?y f'nare ,cf the ball was thus oltcn. lort.

Merson : engineered tha best moye> ment of the day in his own .twenty-five. Beating several defenders ,hc sent, on to • Scorrings, who .mad? a, great .run down the winy. Clover anticipation by Moisley saw the latter take over, to score near the posts, Probables backs, handicapped -by lack of the Ipall, were dangerous only in spasms. Mailman, on ; the. wing, maintained his usual (practice of a solo try from half-way. ! Play during the- whole spell- was last, though, disjointed.. Too,much kicking by Lilburne and Spencer, the fullbacks, did little to improve matfei*s. The former, slow" in getting-his backs under way; was. however, ",adept at smothering the rushes of the Probables forwards. ' 1 ' •• '

- After, the interval the possibility of a runaway win was enhanced when Scqrringe.-who replaced McNeil, raced over for a good try. Stung by this reverse. Probables launched "a scrici o'f vigorous attacks. ; Berry,; Simons, Swanberg, and Rennie,- in--the pack, cpmbin,ed with Jamiespn, "Bramble, and J. O'Connor to add two rapid tries. Spencer, full-back, though inexperienced, was a great asset, long punting for the line being his specialty.

After a torrid, twenty ■minutes th» Possible forwards rose to the occasion again. Vigorous but not spectacular play, with Coutts ,an£ .Moisley. prominent. resulted in the. former - scoring under the posts. Coman' converted, to make the final scoras:'Possibles 24, Pro babies 15. »

RESERVE GRADE Petone 16, Central 3. For Peton« Bulks, Silberry, McCarthy, and Lawrence scored tries, one of which was converted- by Barnett; . Kylerkicjced a penalty. For Central Comtws scored a try. , ' Hutt A 24, Hutt B 17. •>.- IN OTHER CENTRES Auckland.—Manukau 15, beat Neiwton 14; Mount Albert.lo, beat Marist 7; Ponsonby 17. beat De,vonport 15; City '18, beat Richmond 12. ; ' Christchurch.—Addington 20, „ beat Linwood 11; Hornby 27, beat Sydisili* ham 8.