RUGBY FOOTBALL Few Players Enhanced Claims To N.Z. Honours

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 August 1948, Page 4 (Supplement)

RUGBY FOOTBALL Few Players Enhanced Claims To N.Z. Honours

The AH Black trial match at Westport this week was disappointing as a game of football, and it gave few of the players a chance to consolidate their claims to further trials. One of these was E. G. Walker, the West Coast representative three-quarters, who played an outstanding game at centre for the B team, which Avon the match, and was generally considered to be the best back on the ground, on the day. Walker Avon these honours because of his strong runnings which produced two tries, and his enthusiasm for backing up. Among the other West Coasters, J. Lindbom, at full-back, did little that was wrong and handled and kicked .well. W. Amberger had some difficulty at times in taking his passes from the half-back, L. Savage, but played a good all-round game, without being outstanding. R. Eastgate scored a good try and generally played up to his best. The forward play was not up to the standard of even lesser provincial sides, and altogether it was a typical trial match, with too many playing for themselves and having difficulty in combining with strange players. P. HURREN WAS IN GRAND FORM i AGAINST STAR The West Coast representative half-back, P. Hurren, played one of his best games of the season for Kiwi last week against Star, and with a little more assistance from forwards or felloAV backs at the right time he might have made Star’s task much more formidable. Time and again Hurren evaded the Star breakaways, and made considerable ground only to be overtaken by faster Star backs. If he had had support he would probably have made more than the one try. That try was the result of a brilliant run by Hurren topped off Avith a determined burst by R. Eastgate. In this effort both Hurren and Eastgate did their best work for the day. It Avas a pity for Kiwi, but good for Star, that Eastgate did not get away ■*Trom the scrum as quickly as usual alter that effort, or he might have scored other tries. Eastgate infuses commendable energy and dash into his play—most club teams and the representative team could do with several of his type. Disappointing Forwards Except for R. Eastgate the Kiwi pack Avas disappointing on Saturday against Star. Eastgate played a fine game, but too many of the others were too sloav. A. McLean and J. Leslie were two of the chief members of this latter category. McLean, in fact, Avas very disappointing, appearing cumbersome in the open, though working strenuously in the tight. Further, McLean did not jump in the lineouts, contenting himself with working after the ball had been taken, which is hardly good enough in a representative foi'Avard. Perhaps McLean had not recovered from the injury which prevented his playing against Canterbury at Christchurch, but something better Avas expected of him. A New Position

E. Henderson, who has played most of his football with the Star team this season in the backs, gave a promising display on the side of the scrum last week, and with experience and coaching should develop well in this position. He has a splendid physique, speed above the average, and plenty of life. Last Aveek he often led loose lushes and he should become a good line-out forward. As a brother of G. F. Henderson, former Canterbury and New Zealand Services forward, his progress as a forward will be Avatched with some interest. Last week he did not appear to be giving all his weight to the scrum and he was caught offside more often than was healthy. Confidence Justified

United was confident of defeating the competition leaders, Excelsior, last week and the confidence w r as not misplaced. Excelsior was not at full strength in the forwards and this ivas where the game was decided. Though United is not in a position to Avin the championship honours it has beaten every other team in the competition, mainly because of the strength of its forwards. They have been very capably led by A, Glen,

and backed by several capable inside backs, among whom are S. Hendiy, D. Dewar and J. Gillan, players of representative experience, and J. Robertson, a reliable every-day type of halfback. Several of the United team may be near the retiring age, but generally the side has been built around youth, and it includes some highly promising forwards in W. Purdon, T. Mathieson, F Holmes and G. Gillespie. In Glen s capable hands these four have developed considerably this season.

Caught the Eye The Avay the Excelsior forward, Campbell, finished off his side’s only try against United last week caught the eye. E. Stoop and E. G. Walker had paved the way for the try and Walker swung a long pass back to the centre of the field to the forwards for Campbell to take the ball high above his head at top speed and sail over by the posts. It was an attractive effort.

Another Good Game L. McDougall played another good game for Star last week, showing stronger defence, and some imagination in varying his play. It Avas due to his sudden and inspired change of direction, after breaking quickly round a scrum, that Star’s second try was scored without trouble by Stokes. The defence was caught on the wrong foot and Hunter and Stokes handled after McDougall for Stokes to cross without opposition. There is too much stereotyped play in local club football, but club practices are usually so poorly attended that to attempt anything out of the usual run of chain passing would be suicidal. Jottings R. Eastgate, one of the All Black trialists at Westport on Wednesday, did not get out among the Star backs with his customary celerity last Saturday—valuable work by his opposite number. A. R. Lindbom apparently did not discard his kicking boots when he took up the referee's whistle. His two goals last week for Cobden were Lindbom at his best-. Cobden seniors took the field with only 11 players last week but the number was made up to 15 before the game had gone far. More than one of the West Coast All Black trialists appeared to be saving themselves last Saturday, At least one in the Excelsior-United game did not get into more trouble than he could reasonably avoid. Another provincial representative took the field last week in what looked like work socks instead of the customary and much more desirable football socks Cobden seniors' acquisition last week, B. "Collins” was not among their more prominent players. One of the fundamentals of line-out play is to "mark your man," but G. Nelson secured a clear run through after taking the ball in a line-out last week, and he scored an easy try. Kiwis have no doubt learned the lesson. Primary Schools’ Team For Molueka Tourney The following West Coast team has been chosen by the sole selector, Mr R. R. King, to play in the Seddon Shield districts’ primary schools’ tournament at Motueka this month: — J. Robertson (Grey Main), G. Hughes (Paroa), M. Smith (BlaketoAvn), B. Prentice (Koiterangi), H. Sutherland (Grey Main), N. Williams (Grey Main), Graham Patterson (Grey Main), R. Hyndman (Woodstock), W. Tainui (Kaihinu), G. Veale (Blaketown), R. Smith (Grey Main), R. Wildermoth (Marist), J. Foster (Ross), J. Parkinson (Reefton), B. Harrington (Grey Main), T. Egerton (Cobden), G. Cooper (Grey Main), A. Jamieson (Grey Main), C. Harris (Hokitika Convent). 16 OTAGO PLAYERS IN TRIAL MATCH The strength of Otago Rugby is reflected in the selection of the province’s players for the All Black southern group trial in which the representatives of five unions will be engaged at Dunedin tomorrow. The match itself promises to be an interesting one as far as trial matches go. The 30 players named include eight who have worn the silver fern, and among these and the others are a good number who, if recent form counts for anything may eventually figure in the final Possibles-Probables trial match at Wellington on September 18. The standard of forward play among the unions included in the southern group, and in Otago in particular, is so high that there is no doubt that the All Black selectors who will be present tomorrow will keep a very close eye on them.

The All Blacks taking part are M. P. Goddard (South Canterbury) and J. A. Mcßae (Southland) in the A team, and R. R. Elvidge (Otago), J. C. Kearney (Otago), R. A. Dalton (Otago), L. A. Grant (South Canterbury), C. W. Willocks (Otago) and T. Budd (Southland) in the B team.