LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Grey River Argus, 10 August 1925, Page 6

LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Selection of Reps. POSSIBLE v. PROBABLE GAMES. There was a good attendance at Omoto for the test games between the Possible and Probable junior teams, as a preliminary selection of the provincial representative senior and junior teams, the senior game proving the faster and more spectacular one. PROBABLES I (IS)—POSSIBLES (11) The Probables lined out. i.i black and white and the Possibles in green jerseys. After several minutes hard play, Brown (Possible) made a nice run, but was well collared by Pinn. The Blacks attacked strongly, but the defence held good, a.id C. McElwee made a run which saved the situation for the Greens. The Green backs were combining well, and Dodds, McCabe and Harrison showed good form. Brown (the Green half) sent the ball to Dodds, but the latter overran it, and a good chance .was missed. Clegg, however, broke away but lost possession, and O’Hallahan (Black) ran down the field only to send a bad pass to Haisty. Clegg, who was playing well, broke away again, and he and A. McElwee were associated in a movement which ended near the Greens’ line, Armstrong coming to the rescue with a line kick. A smart piece of passing among the Green backs saw Dodds cross the line behind the posts. Armstrong converted. Possibles 5 — Probables 0.

The kick off saw the Blacks press, and Hall was enabled to land a penalty. Possibles 5- —-Probables 2. Tallentyre (Greens) was hooking the ball, and from a scrum, Brown sent the leather out, and after passing through the backs, C. McElwee got it and scored a good try’ near the corner. Armstrong missed the kick. Possibles B—Probables8— Probables 2,

In the second half the teams were altered, Holmes and Giffney’ coming on for the Possibles, while Harrison and A. McElwee we.it over to the Blacks, O’Hallahan and Garvey not playing in the second half. Play was confined to the forwards in the early part of the second spell, with the Blacks having the better of matters. From a scramble, Harrison raced over the line. Perry failed to convert. Possibles 8 —Probables 5. C. McElwee and McCabe set off together, and after beating several men, McElwee scored. Armstrong failed to convert. Possibles 11 —Probables 5. A concerted rush by the Blacks ended on the Greens’ line, where Clegg went over. Hall missed with the kick. Possibles 11; Prob ables 8. A rush by th e Green backs e.rded in Haisty being tackled by Brown on the line. Fast play followed. in which both teams displayed good form, and finally Clegg pushed his way over the Greens’ line. Hall converted. Probables 13; Possibles 11. From a scrum Kells secured and punted .well up the field, and H. Brown (wing) following up well, caught the ball on the bounce, and, outpacing Haisty and Pinn, scored a well deserved try. Hall converted, and the final whistle saw the scores; Probables IS—Possibles 11.

POSSIBLE IT (10—PROBABLE (8). 1 The junior Possibles played in green jerseys, and the Probables in red and black. This game was not of a very high standard, there being very few pieces of good play’ throughout, due no doubt to the fact that the. men wore not familiar with each other’s play. The game was fairly’ even in the first half, the Greens having the better of what play’ there was. Doogan opened the scoring tally for the Greens by making a nice run, with the ball nt his toes, from his own twenty-five and scoring. Quinn missed the kick. Soon after this, L o Vert scored for the Possibles, after a good run, Williams converting. On half time, King scored again for the Possibles from a forward rush, making the scores B—3 in favour of the Possibles. In the second half, play- livened up slightly, and the combination was improved. Williams succeeded in landing a good goal for the Probables, while McLaren scored near the posts, Williams adding the major points, and making the total 10 -’ in favour of the Probables. Mr Armstrong was referee. THE REP TEAMS.

The selectors (Messrs Hall, Hunter and Neilson) yesterday selected the rep teams as follows:-— SENIOR.

Full back: Pinn (Runanga). Three-quarters: H. Brown (Marist), Cust (R.), C. McElwee Five-eighths; Dodds (Blackball), ano Clegg (Inaiigahua). Half: Kells (Marist).

Forwards: O’Hallahan (M), Tallentyre (R), Mears (M), Skinner (B), Quinn (M), Griffiths (R). Emergencies: —-Forward: Dando (B), back: Brown (B). JUNIOR.

Full back: Quinn (Marist). Three-quarters: Tobin (Creek), Doogan (M), B. Williams (M). Five-eighths: Be Vert (Brunner) and Clarke (Blackball). Half: Kinsella (Blackball). Forwards: Williams (81, McDonald (81, Morrissey (M), O’Brien (Creek), King (Ml, McLaren (Rulia.iga). Emergency: Mulrooney (Grey). NOTES ON THE TEAMS.

The selectors had a hard task sot them, but their teams should meet with satisfaction. The omission of Haisty, no doubt, caused some surprise. In yesterday’s game, however, Brown and' McElwee were his superiors. Finn, Oust Dodds and Clegg were morals for inclusion, and should all give a good account of themselves on tour. The choice of Kells as half in preference to Brown met with some criticism, but it must be remembered that yesterday Kells was playing behind the weaker forward side, and did not see as much of the ball as Brown did. The forwards are a fast, hard-working pack, and should hold their own in any company. Tallentyre hooked the ball njopt fjetjucntljr thtuj Paudo yesterday, wtilo

O Tlallahnn, Mears and Griffiths are prominent in every match. Skinner and Quinn are two young players who are never off th e ball, and are well worthy of their places.

The selectors have strayed from the usual procedure by placing B. Williams, usually a centre or a liveeighth, as winger. Personally, one should have liked to see “Brummy” Kerr and Bret Clark given a trial, and Williams placed further in. Quinn outshone Olliver as full back. Tobin, on the wing, displayed plenty of speed and dash, while Doogan, Le Vert, and Kinsella. were certainties. Kiely played well, but as h,. is fighting i.i the New Zealand championships about the same dat e as the tour, he was hardly availble. On the games he has played in Club football, Larcombe seemed worthy of a place. However, the forwards are a hefty lot, who can be depended upon to give a good account of themselves. NOTES ON THE GAME. (By “Spectator.”) The two trial games played at Omoto yesterday did not prove the draw that club games hav e been doing. The first match found the junior backs in a very weak state. On the day, Olliver was Quinn’s master, the latter’s tackling being found wanting. Tobin spoiled his display’ on the wing by wild speculating. Glen did not handle too well, Gilroy’ kicked at every opportunity’, whilst McEnaney, who filled the other wing position, is a forward—and played like one. Le Vert was the better five-eighth, dspite a bad habit of overhead lob passing. The try he scored was a good one, albeit it found the defence lacking in tackling power. Kiely has seldom played worse; ho would persist in kicking the ball to the opposing side when his supports wer e in position for a pass. -Clarko and Smith, the Blackball pair, were also decidedly’ below chib form. Kinsella made openings, only to see them wasted. T. O’Neil was not too good nt getting the ball away, in fact, the backs gave an awful exhibition. No one would envy the selectors’ task in picking this junior team. Doogan is usually reliable, but in this gam e was belo'w form. His club mate Williams was very weak. I much doubt his stamina and ability to see out a hardfought game. In the forwards, McDonald put it all over Morrisey as a hooker. P. Moore, O’Brien, a.id Williams were about the pick of the others. This team needs all the forward strength available, and Jack O’Brien and Moody added to the former five would about meet the bill for the best pack and on e emergency, in my opinion.

The senior trial 'was a far better exhibition of football than the first game. In fact, in the latter part of the second spell, some brilliant movements were executed by the backs of both sides. Incidentally, som P reputations suffered, notably Dodds and Haisty’, the Blackball backs. At full back there was little to choose between Pinn and Perrie, the former being the more nippy’ of the pair, although he did not handle with his customary’ sureness.' A cut he got over fhe eye early in the game would not improve his vision any. C. McElwee and 11. Brown were the best wings on view. The latter quite overshadowed his opponent Haisty, the South Island rep. A. McElwee went into the pack the second half; he was not much of a success in either position. If Billy McKenzie had not been rcchriste.ied “Offside Mac,” it is a sure thing that Austin would earn the doubtful distinction on this season’s showing. “Criqui” Harrison played centre the first . spell, aid on the wing in the second. He was far better in the centre position, kicking too much in the wing position. Holmes and Giffney came on in the second spell vice Garvey and 0 ’Hallahan, the latter of whom was in good form. The former showed some good form, and is very fast in a burst away. It is a pity he is so short. Mat Hall, ■who played in Cust’s place was not a success, running across too much, and kicking in preference to passing. James 'was never in the picture. McCabe and Clegg were the best inside backs on the day, both playing real good football. Clegg clearly shaded Dodds at five-eighth. Brown was a shade superior to Kells at half, making better us? of the chance when an opening occurred, also backing up better when passing rushes wer e on. Kells played well, but hung on a bit too long at times. Once, in particular, he had | three supports and only one man to pass, but he preferred to try the cut in, and a certain try’ was lost. Mears was a notable absentee in the forwards. Rodgers took his place, and played really well too. The first halt was a hard game for the forwards, Hansen and Rodgers revelling in the tight work. Donda secured a good share of the ball from his vis-a-vis. Tallentyre, Griffiths, Garvey, O’Hallahan and Quinn were all in the picture, the last-named backing up the passing rushes better than any’ forward on view. There were no Mouatts playing in this game. Nearly all our packs play Rugby football under League rules. It is about time they stopped the kick and rush game, and tried to handle the ball and feed the backs. The following wuold be a good team in my estimation to play Canterbury: Pinn,' McElwee, Cust, Brown, McCabe, Clegg, Brown, Mears, Tallentyre, Garvey', O’Hallahan, Mouatt and Griffiths.

Our New Zealand team put up a much better show against Queensland this time. Hard grounds are troubling the team, who are used to a little give and take. Over there it is all take! “Cynic,” in the Sydney “Referee,” describes this season’s football in New South Wales ns the worst on record. The class is such inferior quality that there is a danger of losing public support. Gates have deteriorated to an alarming extent, Latta, Tardman and Wearing are about all who could compare with the lights of other days—the Burges, Pearse, McClonn, Courtney, Fraser, Messenger, Harder, Thomson, Hallett, to mention a few. Queensland is the home of the stars unless N.S.W. unearth a few’ players of bril- ( Hance, the League code is goiog t 0 gat a Mveye buray,