“INJUSTICE TO STEEL.”

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 June 1921, Page 3

“INJUSTICE TO STEEL.”

[To the Editor.] Six’.—“ln your ' issue of the 16th inst. there appeared a communicated article in reference to the South Island team and the exclusion of Steep in favour of Phillips. It seems to me that this article calls for some reply from Marlborough, as your correspondent has not approached the subject in a broad-minded manner, and he lias made some assertions which do not put the position fairly. At the outset I would point out that Dr. Noble-Adams (President of the Marlborough Union) was not the solo selector of the South Island team. There were two other gentlemen associated with him in the choice, and whatever the merits or demerits of the selection there is joint responsibijity. The concluding paragraph in.your contributor’s article practically asserts that Dr. Noble-Adams used his position as one of the selectors to advance the interests of Marlborough players. This is a grave charge to make against a Rugby enthusiast who has always displayed sterling qualities of sportsmanship, and it has the personal touch that is not appreciated by those who have an understanding of the position extending beyond parochial-

ism. Since the war period West Coast, Buller and Nelson have been regularly represented in the South Island team. Marlborough had one forward selected in 1919, and last year “Tom Fisher was called upon as an emergency. Adverting to the suggestion that Dr. Noble-Adams as the representative of the Seddon Shield districts really “boosted” Marlborough I can show that it is absolutely unfair by pointing out that of nineteen players selected (including emergencies) six are from Seddon Shield districts. It must be conceded that this a very fair share and proves that —as one of three selectors —Dr. Noble-Adams had more

than Marlborough in his mind. “We in Marlborough readily admit Steel's undoubted quality. The team that played in Greymouth in 1919 returned to Blenheim singing his praises. He has since proved that he is a wing-threequai’ter of “All Black” stamp. When he played in Blenheim in that memorable Shield match last year we realised the disability under which he was playing and the comparisons of his performance against Phillips are therefore unimportant. But the last three years of representative football have given us unmistakable proof that Phillips is a wingthreequarter of exceptional ability, and we are ncouraged to think that he is at least as good as Steel even though he has not had the wider opportunity of demonstrating this. Therefore, allowing that the two men are on the same plane there is no great injustice to one in giving the other the opportunity of proving his worth. We are confident that I’hil-

lips will justify his selection, and it he does we feel that he will rise to greater Rugby heights. There is the chance, of course, that he will not be equal to the test, but such a happening will be a great surprise after the striking displays he has given in the past. Steel has had the opportunity of proving his greatness, and will no doubt be one of the leading exponents of Rugby for a few years yet. In all probablity it will be proved in higher circles that Phillips is as capable as Steel, and if this eventuates no one should regret that he has had his chance. “1 can well understand that West Coasters are proud of Steel, and they have every justification for their pride. Your contributor would have been nearer a fair statement of the position if he had expressed disappointment at the exclusion of Steed, instead of depreciating a playet iegarding whose quality he can know but little. We were perhaps fortunate in Connolly’s selection as half in that ho was the only player nominated for that position. To sum it up, your contributor would have been justified in discussing the Phillips-Steel phase of the selection, but his concluding paragraph was in extremely bad taste. “I might say, in conclusion, that Phillips is going to Australia with the AlAori team We believe that he will turn out a top-notcher, and if he justifies his early promise it will be all the better for the game. We may safely assume that the selectors have not failed to recognise the merits of Steel, but have put him aside on tins occasion in order to give opportuinty of a man considered to bo of equal merit ”—Yours faithfully, A. AL THOMSON. Box 46, Blenheim.