Rugby Football

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 16, 18 July 1936, Page 23

Rugby Football

TO DEFEND THE BLEDISLOE CUP

AUSTRALIA'S TEAM FOR NEW ZEALAND

The Australian Rugby selectors have completed their task of choosing the players for the tour of New Zealand, during.which the Bledislde Cup wilTbe defended against the claim to possession by New Ze t ? lf ndJ cl. cct A The^ choice appears to have met with fairly general satisfaction in Australia, and it, now remains to be seen whether the players arenas strong a force .as claimed by enthusiastic Australian followers. They should be good, but a sound New Zealand selection should cause them to be faced with a far more difficult proposition than was the case in the last Bledisloe Cup contests.

After the series of inter-State matches in Sydney which ended last Saturday,' the ■ selectors announced i their choice of players for the New Zealand tour; as follows:— I Full-back: K. P. Storey. Wing-three-quarters: A. D. McLean (Queensland), J. D. Kelaher, R. W.! .Dorr (Victoria). Centre-three-quarters: W. McLaughlin, E. S. Hayes (Queensland!), R. Rankin, B. C. Egan. Five-eighths: L. S. Lewis (Queensland), J. D. Hammon (Victoria). •Half-backs: E; Gibbons, V. S. Richards. Forwards: O. L. Bridle (Victoria), A. J. Hodgson, K. S. Wihdon, R. L/Kelly, T. P. Pauling, W. G. White, K. M. Ramsay, F. E. Hutchinson,1 J.. H. Malone," R. J. Walden; W. H. Cerutti,'A. H. Stone, E. T. Bonis (Queensland). Several of the chosen players are , well, known to New Zealand enthusiasts, and most of them played against the. New Zealand team in Australia two seasons ago and the Maori team • last season. , There .is one New. Zealander—Hammon, formerly of Auckland—in the Australian,team. It was thought likely that there would be two, but E: Jessep (former Wellington and New Zealand representative) failed to draw a lucky,marble. PICKING THE BACKS. While the inter-State Rugby carnival was in progress the prospects of players gaining selection were keenly .discussed,'and it is interesting to note how the judgment of the selectors compared with other opinion. In examining the material offering fonselectioti.' one" well-known critic ("Light Blue"). stated:-rThe. fullback .post appears to be certain for.Keith Storey who Is sound in all the technique of full-back play, with a flair for brilliant participation .in back .division movements and in-' individual incursions from his own. territory to the enemy zones. ' . ,

There are. four sterling ,wing-three-, quarters offering in McLean (Queensland), Kelaher (N.S.W.), O'Brien (N.S.W.), and R. Dorr (Victoria). Another, who burst intc prominence was J. Wy Ryan, the youthful Drumhioyne outer; centre, who gave a brilliant exposition of speedy, skilful running on the wing against Newcastle. Dave

Cowper (Victoria) might also be considered. . '-, ■ ■ "•;■■ : .■■'■..■-':■.:

For the four centre three-quarter positions, W. McLaughlin (N.S.W.), E' S. Hayes (Q.), Rankin (N.S.W.), J. McKibbon (N.S.W.), B. C. Egan (N.S.W.), P. L. Dixon (Q.), andD. Cowper (Vie.) are the best. Of these. Hayes ; can play full-back in able mariner, while Dixon and Cowper have capacity as wing-three-quarters. The two five-eighths pick themselves, V. Richards (N.S.W.) arid L. S. Lewis (Q.O. For the half-back position there are four candidates in Gibbons (N.$.W) Bennett (Q.), Schulte (Q.), and Stone (N.S.W.), and probably the greater experience of the first pair will .win their •selection. • THE FORWARDS. "The most'serious problem for the selectors is choosing 13 forwards from about thirty who have revealed form warranting recognition/, the writer stated. "Never1 before have we been so abundantly blessed with forwards possessing first-class scrummaging and rucking powers, plus ability to cooperate in the open with speedy, intelligent, and relentless application. "The five front-row -forwards to win favour will probably be Boriis (Q.) as No. 1 hooker, Walden (N.S.W.), Bermingham (Q.), Malone (N.S.W.), and Stone (N.S.W.), as reserve hooker. For the breakaway jobs, Owen Bridle (V.) and Martel, Windon, or McMaster, all of New South Wales, appear to be ; the best, though Hodgson, may be-ear- ' marked for this position. "Six positions are then available for the second row and lock forwards from a splendid field in White, Kelly, Ramsay, Hodgson, Pauling, and Hutchinson .of New South Wales, Dunlop and Baker, of Victoria, and Wilson, of Queensland. Others worthy of serious consideration are Scutt and Turnbull (N.S.W J SUMMING UP. "Now, then, for the final seeding, which enables me to register my selection based upon all the information and personal observation which have been available to me during the past and the current season: ■ . Full-back, K. Storey (N.S.W.), wing three-quarters, A. D. McLean (Q.) J Kelaher' (N.S.W.), and F. O'Brien (N.S.W.); centres, W. McLaughlin (N.S.W.), E. S. Hayes (Q.), R. Rankin (N.S.W.), and P. L. Dixon (Q.), or D Cowper (Vie); five-eighths, L. S. Lewis (Q.) and V. S. Richards (N.S.W.); halfbacks, E. Gibbons (N.S.W.) and G. B.ennett (Q.); forwards, hookers, E. Bonis (Q.) and A. Stone (N.S.W.); front row "props," J. Malon* -'N.S.W.), R. Walden! (N.S.W.), and V. Bermingham (Q.); breakaways, O. Bridle (Vie.) and A %rtel (N.S.W.). or D. McMaster <K&W.>; second row, W. G. White

tunities he received, played creditably and his runs were full of dash. ';

With Sadler: ladling": out his passes with customary snap, Baldwin, of Wellington College Old Boys, had a good match, running: with' dash and "judgment against; St?' Pat's defence. His run leading to r the last try, was splendid. Sadler was "also in form and one or two of his breaks from the scrum were excellent. , ...:.• '' ■■■;:•;:;. ' I ';'*■ •. .:4:- *:.-"■.,?*../•?:'' The Wellington Club seems to have a valuable accession in Bibby, from Dannevirke. The new man, a wing-three-quarter, has plenty' of speed and showed it against Oriental by scoring three tries. ..- ; ... -■: , V - "■'■ ■.•'.* ■•■ ■ • ..v . •'■' . ."■» ■• ' : ■ Davidson, Dixon, arid Comptori are three youngsters of decided -ability, and it was mainly their ■ good work that brought Wellington victory over Oriental. The first-named is a cut above the average as a five-eighth. ■ : '■■ •■ ''.'*'■ * '» . Taylor was an outstanding forward in ; the Wellington team against Oriental and looks a prospect for better company. McKinley was hooking instead of Edwards ' and proved very successful. i . . ''.-.. * . * '• *' ' • ' - An amusing incident was seen at Hataitai in the Oriental-Wellington game. Hall was just taking a kick at goal when a dog got in the road and was hit with the ball. The referee obligingly gave Hall • a fresh kick, which proved successful. Some' discussion ensued after the incident, and it- was the general opinion that the referee was wrong in giving Hall, a second kick. : , . • • Coxon was a tower of strength at full-back for Oriental. He got his side out of no end of trouble,, and his handling and kicking were first rate. Hall was the best of the others. O'Loughlin again played an outstanding game when Old Boys met United at Kilbirnie. By following up fast he joined in a back movement and selling a perfect dummy scored well out. The piece of play was the best of the day. He also got nine points from his boot. -** t * * Worboys, Mark, and Morris were prominent among the Old Boys' forwards when playing United on Saturday. They were up on the ball the entire game, harrying the opposition forwards and hustling the opposing backs. Morris also got a well-deserved try by fast following up and taking all the opportunities that came his way; K. Sadler, the Old Boys' half-back, ! played a sparkling game against United on Saturday, always being sure and sending out clean sharp passes from set scrums. He obtained one try and openings made by him led-to some very fine movements.

lington College would have got through many times.

A half-back who nas speed and confidence is often tempted into spectacular 'individualistic play when he should be feeding his backs. ■ Bradley, the Wellington College half-back, did not fall to this temptation but passed out consistently and well. \Vhen there were opportunities of gaining ground before passing he took the chance, but did not make a practice of it. In loose play Bradley showed an excellent, sense of anticipation, and his'passing was reliable. His try was an excellent effort, a fine dive at the end of; a fast race for the ball.

_ The St.: Patrick's College backs starred as individualists rather than in concerted attacking . movements. Their defence was very sound. O'Connor proved his ability in drop-kicking, and Doherty in intercepting. Fairbrother O Connor, and Reeder were several times seen in bright individual runs

Alexander, the Wellington College full-back, gave indications of being an excellent three-quarter player, although he was-not always reliable as full-back m receiving high kicksV He fumbled twice in the first five minutes of play but when, he had the ball he several times turned defence into attack by last swerving runs followed by a.well--timed pass. His collaring.was sound. _ Thompson and Ongley, the Wellington College five-eighths, played a fine attacking game against St. Patrick's college, Thompson being particularly danger.ous when he got the ball: Longley and Bowyer showed their speed excellently, on the wing. Pocknell was reliable as centre.

Barry, the nippy little St. Patrick's College half-back, was frequently applauded in the game against Wellngton College for his valiant efforts in attack. Several times he cut around the scrum and gained considerable ground, and on one occasion ran into the scrum with the ball and.broke out of it on the other side with the ball still in possession.

In the first half the Wellington College forwards were not hooking at all cleanly in the set scrums, and St. of th C P h a n Oll Tge t ? Ot a very good shar° of the ball In the second half, how--7t %'■ t e h°okln S improved, and the' Wellington College backs were well supplied.. Adams played a good game for Wellington College, and shows much promise. Sinclair and Oxlev were frequently prominent in loose

Gr.ay- Old Boys' second five-eighth tf hi-hilf Vt d°S e *&"* againlt United of +d °^ more often instead hl^r J I l ng *? play a lone hand. Bad handling also stopped him from giving the outside backs a chance to make good from opportunities given them

From the.. first .bully the pace. was fast, states "The.Herald." The Auckland forwards broke through: and Laivry, the inside left, sent in a fast drive to secure a goal within■' the first minute 7of play. Wellington ' then

showed its attacking force and swept down the field, but Edwards's shot hit; the post.^ Wellington equalised the score when Bramwell sent in a fine drive from a corner. Wellington 1, .Auckland 1. With clever understanding and. bright stickwork Wheatley and Cooper raced down the fii Id but Wattam, Auckland's goalkeeper, tackled hard from the edge cf Uie

circle and the ball was lost. It \\3s from a free-hit, near in, a short time later that Wheatley crashed the ball in head high to give\ Wellington the lead of two to one, which it retained until halfway through the second half.

Auckland's second l score came when Robertson secured from a penalty corner. He took a quick shot from.the edge of the circle and found the back of the net.' Auckland continued to press and it was only Moore's brilliant judgment in tackling well out and using his pads to effect that prevented several further goals. From a melee in the goalmouth ■ Roughton snapped the ball in to make the score: Auckland 3, Wellington 2. Wellington made a few short-lived attacks, but Auckland was pressing hard again when Chapman trapped the ball close in and scooped a" beautiful shot high into the net, making the final scor' Auckland 4, Wellington 2 Moore was the outstanding Wellington player, and gave a splendid exhibition in goal: Wattam, the Auckland goalkeeper, also was good, although he was shaken early in the game with a collision when, tackling. Both sets of fullbacks were sound. The Auckland pair, H. Jones and F. Clark, were particularly solid, although they tended to obstruct on occasions. Wilson and Shaw both hit cleanly, but they played too deep at times. Wellington's halves were excellent. Chambers, the captain, played.a splendid game, while Bramwell, with fearless dash, was always dangerous. Wellington's centre-forward, Cooper, who suffered a broken nose a few days ago, was not seen at his best, although he made a few brilliant runs/ Wheatley, the inside right, was the outstanding forward and he received sound support from Fergusson ...on the wing. Practically all Wellington's attacks were sent down this' flank and ' Martin and Edwards saw little of the ball.

The Auckland halv.es were good and Robertson, as usual, was a tower of strength. There was little to choose between the forwards. Wellbourne was, pethaps, the most prominent with' his fast dashes down the line. He and Lawry showed a'good understanding. Roughton displayed excellent stickwork, but was inclined to go too far alone. Monteith and Chapman combined well, although they were allowed little latitude.