RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 August 1939, Page 9

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

| TRIAL MATCHES REVIEWED.

The West Coast Rugby Union lias reason to be satisfied with the trial matches played at Rugby Park on Saturday, despite the fact that the bad ground conditions hampered players who arc at their best on top of Hie ground. Outside those in the South Island Minor Unions’ team.

piactically every player with a chance of earning representative honours was seen in action, and there should be no complaint this year,' when the Seddon Shield team comes to be chosen, that some players have not been seen by the selectors. A preliminary selection of 25 players for special training will lie made after next Saturday’s club matches, and it. is to be hoped that the Union will make serious endeavours to organise, this “special training,” and not leave it to players to do their own. If the best is to be secured from the representative team, the players should be assembled for organised practice. The Seddon Shield is an asset, as is well recognised by Unions that have held it for any length of time, and is worth the expenditure of a special effort.

Strong Pack: IL is apparent, after viewing last Saturday’s matches, that the West Coast is strong in forwards, and that tiie province will have a strong pack to do battle for the shield next month. In fact, it may well prove one of the best packs for some seasons. The material is obviously available, and some organised practice before the team, takes the field should weld •' them into a good combination, capable of holding their own with the Buller eight.

Twenty-Five Players: After last Saturday’s trial matches, and in view of club and representative football throughout the season the “Star” selects the following 25 players as likely to be well in the running when the selectors make their preliminary choice of 25 on Saturday next:— Backs: A. Lindbom, Arthur Vaughan, Arthur King, J. Lynch, Albert Vaughan, L. Williams (Greymouth , J. Nolan, R. Vincent (South Westland), A. Cooper, M. Davidson (Westland). Forwards: R. Kirkwood. W. Blair, J. Hammond, Alex. King, M. Connolly, W. Croudis, 11. Birchfield, AV. Moss, M. Scandrett (Greymouth), 11. R. King, Thompson (Westland), C. Thiele, D. Thorpe, J. Gardiner, It. 11. Innes (South Westland).

Not so Strong: Judged by the trial ’matches, the main weakness in the next West Coast team will be close to the scrum, the half-backs and first fiveeighths hardly measuring up to the best provincial standard. Vincent (South Westland) was the pick of the half-backs on the day, but no first five-eighth playing on Saturday could be termed a. find. J. Nolan (South Westland) showed some dash and initiative on attack, though as a result of splendid tackling by L. Williams he made little progress. His handling, probably because he was not always well served with passes, was disappointing, and his defence ■was not tested. Had he been tried as first five-eighth, he might have made things interesting. South Westlanders:

S. Fleming at full-back, was sound when he had plenty of room, but under pressure he was not convincing.

V. Berry showed some promise, as also did J. Keating, but neither had any real chances. E. Kirby had no chances. J. Nolan was easily the better of the five-eighths. He was quick off the mark, and showed some initiative. J. Weir was slow off the mark, and threw some bad passes. He showed up in two movements towards the close of the game, but appeared to be concentrating too much on his opponents, to the detriment of his passes. His defence was not impressive. R. Vincent was neat in all his work, and used a short line kick from the serum to good effect. He went down consistently, though not always successfully, flo the forwards. He impressed as a, solid efficient half-back, without any particular brilliance. U. Thorpe hooked well, and was always in the limelight. C. Thiele proved a hard-working front-ranker, and the Walsh brothers were consistent toilers. J. Gardiner was probably the best all-round forward in the southerners’ pack. His line-out work was good, he followed up well and worked with a will in the tight. G. Berry was 1 at his best in the loose, and was useful in line-outs.

Lesser Forwards: The forwards in the match between Greymouth B and Westland were not as good as those in the other match, with the possible exception of Thompson (Westland), Moss and Birchfield. Moss played an honest game, and Birchfield played up to his best. Thompson was the pick of the Westland forwards, backed up best by McCarthy (too light, for a representative team), Pauton (a solid worker) and Gillman (a. hard forward, who looks capable of a good deal of improvement).

Grey Backs: A. Lindbom was not as convincing as usual. He was too often hard pressed, and his line kicking too often missed its objective, giving his forwards needless work. L. Williams proved a deadly tackler, and his defence generally was first class. 'With the few chances he had on attack he did well. Arthur Vaughan was the best ol the wingers in either match. His speed off the mark was impressive,! and he was within an ace of scoring! on two occasions after good runs. j A. King, on the wing. had few' chanties, but did all his work with credit. He should be given a chance at fullback. | E. Collins is not playing the foot-: ball he turned on early in the sea-i sen. He kicked well, but too often! |on Saturday, and accepted two dam-! i mies. | Croudis, Hammond and Connolly! wore the pick of the Grey A forwards. Croudis played against Canterbury, and on recent form should make the next team. He is a heady forward, lacking a. little in weight, but fast and a consistent and vigorous worker. His try on Saturday was a deter-

|mined and impressive effort. W. Clancy and L. Stewart combined ■'fairly well in the Grey B rearguard. i Both were good on attack, hut Clancy ■is hardly robust enough on. defence, [though he is a good tackler. I Promising: . | A promoted junior. 11. Mason, show,'ed some promise at full back for : Westland. He was cool and confident, , handled and kicked well, and showed : that he is a useful goal-kick. He was ■ not unduly pressed on defence, so - that phase of his play was. not tested.