STAGING A COME-BACK

Evening Star, Issue 23350, 21 August 1939, Page 5

STAGING A COME-BACK

NEW ZEALAND RUGBY UP TO BEST ALL BLACK STANDARD [Pen United Pbbss Association.] CHRISTCHURCH, August 19. “ New Zealand Rugby is staging a definite and rapid come-back. There are players, backs and forwards, around the country right up to the best All Black standard.” This encouraging statement was made to-day by Mr E. M'Kenzie, New Zealand sole selector, who was in Christchurch for the North-South Minor Unions’ match. The, selector was greatly impressed with tfie form shown by the players in the recent Ranfurly Shield match between Southland and Otago. He is optimistic about the standard of the team which will go to South Africa next year. ” Some of the play was right up to the best All Black class,” said Mr M'Kenzie. “The .forwards were particularly good, and the backs distinctly promising. There was a weakness in the play of the forwards. Speaking generally, the forwards do not go off the ground In the line-outs—they do not jump —but that is a phase that can be corrected.” By hard constant travelling over both islands, Mr M'Kenzie has now seen the representatives of 14 unions in action this season. Next Saturday he will he at Gisborne for the Maori Prince of Wales Cup match. Ho will watch the Auckland-Wellington match on September 16. That night both the North and South Island teams for the annual match will be chosen, and after that Mr McKenzie’s real task begins. When the North and South teams have been announced he will pick two trial teams to play as a curtain-raiser to the North-South match on September 23. Seventy players are to be assembled in Wellington for the trial series, which will be played on. September 23, 27, and 30. When the trials are over the sole selector should have a fairly clear idea of the 29 All Blacks who will tour South Africa next year, but no members of the team will be announced this season, for further trials are to be played early next season _ before the team leaves for South Africa.

MINOR UNIONS NORTH BEATS SOUTH [Per United Press Association.] CHRISTCHURCH, August 19. Players from the minor Rugby Unions met in a special North-South Island representative match at Lancaster Park. Six selectors, three from the North and three from the South, including the New Zealand sole selector, Mr E. M'Kenzie, watched the- match. The teams were;— NORTH ISLAND. ] , Payment (Bay of Plenty). Cunningham (North Auckland), White (North Auckland), M'Aneny (Poverty Bay), Lambly (North Auckland), Gibson (North Auckland), Godling (North Auckland), Hancox (King Country), Phillips (Poverty Bay), Trusttum (King Country), Best-(Poverty Bay), ■Rogers (Poverty Bay), Tuhoro (East Coast), Anderson (Poverty Bay), M'Neile (Bay of Plenty). SOUTH ISLAND. Easton (North Otago), Weening (Buller), Kotua (Nelson), Copper (West Coast), Vaughan (West Coast), Alexander (Buller), Kelly (Ashburton), Doig (Ashburton), Robertson (Buller), King (West Coast), Newton (Ashburton), Mason (Buller), Innes (West Coast), M'Kenzie (Ashburton). Strachan (North Otago).

A brilliant burst by Godling put the North on attack at the outpet, but swift and determined tackling by the South backs saved their line- Away in a blind-side movement on the grandstand side flashed M'Aneny, a (promising trial player of 1937. His infield pass went to Lambly and then to Gibsou, but the five-eighth was trapped and Kelly quickly cleared. When another rush had swept to the North line a quick heel gave the South backs a glorious chance on the blind side, but although Kelly did his job well, the movement crashed when Weenink was caught. North swept three-quarters of the field in a brilliant movement which ended in a try. Cunningham broke clean away. He shot an infield pass to his forwards, and the ball went to Best, to Trusttum, to Lambly, to White, and on to the other wing (M'Aneny), who took White’s long pass going at top. Down the touchline raced M'Aneny, with the forwards backing up in support. When his way was barred by Easton- he shot the ball infield to M'Neile, who dived over in the corner for a spectacular try. White converted with a great kick from the side line. North 5 South 0 North had the edge on the South all the way now. White kicked a good penalty. North 8 South 0 Then came a glorious individual effort by Gibson, the North Auckland first five-eighth. From the feet of the South forwards, as they tried to dribble clear, Gibson snapped the ball up and raced hard for the corner, scoring be fore the slow defence had time to cover up. White missed the kick. North 11 South 0 First points came to the South when Easton kicked a splendid penalty goal. A loose raid saw the ball kicked over the line and Cunningham scored. North 14 South ... 3 Gathering in a loose ball Anderson raced through a gap for M'Aneny to score wide out. Six points within two minutes came to the South when Mason' scored and Easton kicked a penalty on time. The North forwards made a fast raid, ending in Best scoring. White goaled and the game ended: North 22 South 9