RUGBY FOOTBALL

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 105, 4 May 1940, Page 20

RUGBY FOOTBALL

NEW • ZEALAND'S FUTURE

MEANS OF FINDING BEST TALENT

It was on Mr. N. A. McKenzie's guggestion that the question of trials and selections is to be taken up, though there is no doubt, from wnat the members of the council know of: past experiences, that plans for a system of trials different from that of recent years would have been brought forward in any case. However, Mr. McKenzie was on the right track, and his opinion that regional trials were essential was readily supported by Mr. S. S. Dean and others. It was admitted by Mr. Dean that the system employed in bringing all the trialists to one ...place, was not a success.

Another to express very definite views on the. subject was Mr. E. McKenzie, the New Zealand selector. "After long experience of various forms of trials for selecting teams," he said, "I believe that the system used prior to the 1924-25 New Zealand team selection is the best. The assembling of men at a given place is all right for the early trials, but players then drop out on account of injuries or sickness, or for other reasons/and the selector is compelled in filling places to use players who are close to the scene of the trials." It would happen no matter where the trials were held, if they were all at the one place. He thought it would be a good thing if the council went into the matter and reverted to the

old system of trials in various centres as, preliminaries- to the, North-South and New :Zealand trials. .

In addition to the abandonment of international tours, much of New Zealand's representative Rugby has been suspended for the war period. The desire, expressed again at the annual meeting of delegates to the New Zealand Union, is tha,t ■ nothing shall be done that will interfere with the war effort, and the intention is to use the utmost endeavours to assist in that effort. However, there will be a certain amount of football that will be all to the good, and some of this is being provided by the men in the camps. A curtailment in certain directions does not mean a halt in planning for the future, and at the N.Z.R.U. annual meeting there were numerous recommendations for the consideration of matters of vital importance to the game in the future. The system of trials for the selection of New Zealand teams was one subject on which the council was asked to make a special report, and this should furnish something of particular interest to delegates when the next annual meeting is held.

who made the opening that gave him his try.

Fahey, the Poneke second division full-back, is on the light, side, but he played a sound game against Onslow aud kicked three good penalty goals —one drop-kicked from near the Onslow 25-yard flag. Partly from lack of practice and partly, perhaps, because the balls in use were new and shiny, there was a good deal of mishandling in the OnslowPoneke match. On one occasion the ball was bobbing about amongst the players to such an extent that one of them was moved to inquire whether it was football they were playing, or basketball.

Included in the Onslow second division team against Poneke was McGill, a promoted junior, playing on the left of the three-quarter line. He made quite a good debut and scored'a nice try. Little started the movement, dribbling through and then picking up and passing to C. Thomas. The centre made some ground and sent on to McGill, who came from the touch line across and through the Poneke backs to score on the right-hand side of the posts—a South African try someone called it.

L. Thomas, the Onslow second fiveeighth, has evidently started the season with a pair of good kicking-boots, if his five goals last Saturday are any

the forwards. Marshment and Randall (Oriental) and Bowler, A. Kenny, and Dean (Johnsonville) were prominent.

When C. Berry, who has changed over from League, was injured early in the second spell of the Johnson,villeOriental match, Brian Kenny, a fourth member of the well-known Johnsonville family, made his initial appearance in senior football. His play would indicate that he is there to stay. Much amusement was caused at Johnsonville last Saturday, when, as (Oriental were about to kick off for I the second spell, a loud hail from the (dressing-room indicated that one of the Oriental players was locked in the ! shed. Th.c official who' locked up was jthen on the other side of the ground, and it was an amusing coincidence that near the "lock-up" was the Johnsonvine police officer. The form of the Athletic second division forwards was a pleasant surprise to . some of their supporters at the j Polo Ground. Jacobs, a former Tech^ nical College player, took the eye for much effective work in the loose. He is speedy and always managed to be on top of the Miramar inside backs. Hammond, Christisen, and Stephenson were prominent and Christisen generally managed to hook the ball in the scrums. Thomson, Scott, and Christisen handled very well in the Athletic rearguard against Miramar and their line kicking was excellent. In the second half the two first named worked up quite a good understanding at half and five-eighths. The Miramar pack has more than a sprinkling of experienced players, but its-work was a little sluggish against "Athletic, and the pack was beaten in the scrums. Horsf all was easily the best forward. The Miramar backs had to be content mainly with defensive work, and had few chances of showing their pace in passing runs. Meade is promising and has pace. He scored the only try with a determined run. The Marist Bros. 0.8. second division team has a fine forward in Tither, who showed against Pirates that he possesses brains as well as brawn. This big forward handled and passed the ball in great style and on several occasions he initiated dangerous attacking movements. Meadows, another Marist forward, was conspicuous in the match with Pirates for his sterling work in scrums and on the line-out. His place-kicking, however, was off and two or three golden opportunities for penalty goals were lost. Callanan was perhaps the most outstanding player in the match between Marist and Pirates. As full-back he was a tower of strength to Marist and on several occasions moved up smartly to initiate passing rushes. Rawaruhi, on the wing and McNight at half were other Marist backs who did useful and heady work.