RUGBY IN NORTH OTAGO

Evening Star, Issue 22720, 6 August 1937, Page 7

RUGBY IN NORTH OTAGO

REPRESENTATIVE PROSPECTS

In view of Athletic’s defeat of The Rest Last Saturday, it will come as a surprise to most to learn that the season’s premier side has fewer representatives than ever in the selectors’ elect to meet Country to-morrow. Athletic did not win hy a very big margin, but it must he conceded it tried to play a constructive Jjame, and had The Rest’s marauding forwards not been allowed so much latitude a brighter exhibition of Rugby would have resulted. In addition to the failure to check the undue amount of off-side play that went* on, the referee appeared to err in awarding a penalty to Athletic for an illegal tackle, when Hammill had beaten Easton, and was well supported in a race for the goal mouth. It was a clear-cut case in which the advantage rule should have applied. In all phases of forward play, except scouting, the Athletic pack always shaded the opposing van, and in view of this it is difficult to reconcile the fact that only one forward (Carrodus) has been picked for the Town scrum. Last Saturday Carrodus proved conclusively the contention frequently expressed in this column that he is the best forward in North Otago, and there is no doubt the selectors were Jacking in their judgment in not having him in the pack from the outset. It might be added that had Carrodus received a nomination for the All Black trials he would have brought credit to North Otago football if he had been accorded a game.

The inclusion of Cameron (Maheno) in the pack will be welcomed, and his omission to date is as inexplicable as that of Carrodus. The dropping of Carrington for Miller was not guided by the hooking of the latter in the first half last week, as the honours were undoubtedly with the Athletic man. In the second spell success was more evenly divided until the closing stages, and this appeared to be due to better locking of the scrum by Dougherty, whose form was sufficiently near his best to have gained him a place in the representative pack. Steele was another who can be counted as distinctly unlucky to have missed a place. His work in the line-outs was the finest seen in North Otago for many seasons, and he was well to the fore iii all other departments of forward play. A newcomer to the pack is Lndemann. He showed up well in the trial game, but not to the extent to displace A. (Brown, who must still be regarded as the best loose forward in North Otago. The , new men in the backs ai- e Gillies (Maheno) and Borne (Old Boys). Just how Gillies will shape at centre tomorrow cannot he forecast, as he has no previous form to recommend him for the position. It was indeed surpnsmg the selectors did not give him a tryout last Saturday, if only for half the game, as it must have been evident at the interval that Taylor did not possess the qualifications. Borrie must he considered fortunate to have trained the verdict over Kilgour, as the Athletic flankman showed superior pace and was generally more impressive. While the team can be regarded as an improvement in some respects on the side that figured in the three representative games to date, it could be made more formidable still. To-mor-rows game against .Canterbury should reveal the weak links, and, in view of the near approach of the northern tour, it is to be sincerely hoped that the selectors will act without fear or favour in bringing together the strongest possible touring side to meet South Canterbury in the return game.