FOOTBALL.

Feilding Star, Volume I, Issue 293, 17 June 1907, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

MANAWATU REP. TEAM.

[BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH— COPYRIGHT.] [PBB PRESS ASSOOUIMt*.] Sydney, June 15. r l he return football match,: New South Wales v. Queensland, was played in wet weather on sloppy ground. The N.S.W. team won by 11 to nil.

The following Manawatu representative team wa sselected on Saturday night to play against loxton sub-Union at Foxtoa next Saturday ; —Fullback, J. Hughes; threequarters, Carroll, Stalker, Goodbehere; hveeighths, Pirani and Skelley ; half, Ongley, wing iorward, Boon; forwards, Wing ite, Ward, Whisker, McNae, Smith, Taylor, R Waldegrarn. Emorgmcies— Bacl?s, Trevena, Hall,Anslow and Vallance; forwards, Kyle, Belfit, Kelly, Reid, and Munro.

lhe general opinion amongst local footballers and enthusiasts is that the Selection Committee of the Manawatu Rugby Union have made a poor selfccTo start with the fullback. Na I layer had any claini on the position, and J. Hughes' place-kicking would probably influence the selectors. But for a real, solid man, Trevena is undoubtedly ahead of Hughes. His tackling could not lie beaten, while his taking and kicking are above the a*.eraga. An opponent collared by ' him once would think twice before risking it the second time. r lhe greatest defect of the team is in the threequasrter line. To solve Goodbehere's inclusion is harder than a Chinese puzzle. His play this season — nor of last — does not warrant it; on the contrary, his display is the worst of any threequarter. tte generally mulls a pass, and does not seem to enjoy a rush coming his way. Should he secure the ball after a fumble, and he has a fairly clear run, he is almcst sure to score. Carroll is a good man, and his inclusijn is justified. Then there is Stalker — a solid half or wing, but altogether out of place at centre, and : t would not be surprising if he refused the position allotted him. Leave Goodbehere out, put Stalker on the wing, and give the centre to ono who has played there would have givon satisfaction. # Thf five-eighths are Skelley and Pirani. The latter was practically a certainty, he having outclassed all others in the Cup competitions, his passing being the only flaw in an otherwise attractive game. Skelley has been playing in Wellington, but his display for Poneke against Petone was not up to club form. Up to Friday ho was not in Palmeiston, and it does not seom fair to give an outsider preference over those who have been playing in the Manawatu all the Mwon. Thve is no cooler five-eighth than Rout, his kicking is good, his passing accurate, and his general play is such as to entitle him to respect. The team would not be complete without the Feilding skipper (Ongley), and the selectors could not have appointed a better one to captain the reps. No fault can be found with Boon, Wingate, Ward, McNae, Whisker, and Waidegrave (forwards), but a better than Smith could be found in Palmerston. Taylor, of Foilding. completes the list. "'his is another puzzle. Ho lias played twice— good games, too— but after a good deal of I orsuasion. His inclusion was not warranted; his place should have been given to somo one who has earned it.

"Scrum," in the Manawatu Times, says: — Little comment can be made as to the selection of tho Rep. team, the forwards being the choice of most pickers, as to the backs many differ. It must be admitted the position of selectors is not the easiest, and the choioe of Messrs McLean, Wing.ite and Lyall, in one or two instances is somewhat surprising. Palmerston footballers in most cases have only seen Feilding play once. What claim Skelley has to be selected beats the band. In the bylaws of Manawatu Rugby. Rule 2p says that *'No man shall be playe-1 in a» representative game unless he is a playing member of one of the assocjated clubs." Skelley has not played for Palmerston Club this year. Walsh and Martis are overlooked. Both these are surely before Hall, and perhaps Goodbehere. One matter for which the committee are to be congratulated is that they have selected emergencies for each position, and I presume do not intend playing say a selected forward as half or five-eights. Who is Kelly ? A Hui Mai forward after the same stamp as Alex. Stewart. Walsh informs me that he is not likely to be removed to Wellington fo rover a month. Someone must have told the selectors ho had gone.