North Island Trial

Grey River Argus, 12 June 1935, Page 6

North Island Trial

A FORWARD TUSSLE. POSSIBLES WIN. PALMERSTON NORTH. June 11. Though the ground was waterlogged and in places a quagmire after only a few minutes’ play, the. teams select ed to do battle in the concluding North Island trial al Palmerston North to-day rose superior to flu* conditions, and treated six or seven thousand spectators, drawn from all parts of the Island, to a thrilling exhibition of Rugby. Though it was main'v a contest between magnificent sets of forwards, the backs were frequently seen in action, and some passing rushes, though the element of surprise was lacking, would have done credit to teams favoured with a dry ground. The game was won by the Possibles by 13 points to 12, and in view of the fact that the Probables appeared to have a weight advantage in the forwards, and a decided superiority in 'the hacks, it was remarkable that the Possibles should have secured the winning margin. It was a great game however, and victory wont Io the side ab’o to take advantage of the opportunities offering. There was a heavy shower in the first spell, and another after the interval the ball being very hard to handle.

The packs were evenly matched. They shared the honours in the set scrum s and the line outs, but. whereas the Probables held an advantage in the tight work the Possibles were the speedier and more enterprising in the loose, this being the deciding factor. The teams were as follows: — Possibles: Full-back, Pollock (Wellington); three-quarters. Apsey (Hawke’s Bay), Stringfellow (Wairarapa). Bullock-Dougas (Wanganui); five-eighths. Hodge (Auckland). Lilburne (Wellington); half, Tindill (Wellington); forwards—back. Solomon (Auckland); middle, Harrison (Taranaki), Steere (Wanganui), Trass (Wairarapa), McLean (Auckland); front Fastier (Taranaki). Lambourn (AVellington), Hull (Wellington).

Probables: Full-back, . Nepia (East Eoast); three-quarters. Smith (Hawke’s Bay), Al. Campbell (AVanganui). Brown (Auckland): fiveeighths, Page (Wellington), (AVellington): half. Kilbv (Wellington); forwards—back, Andrew.? (AVellington): middle. Winyard (Waikato) 1 Reid (Hawke’s Bay), Ross (North .Auckland), McKenzie (Alanawatu); front Leeson (Waikato). Daßnn (Hahvko’s Bav). Pepper• (Auckland). Reserves: Forwards—Hadlev ( VickTand), Alataira (Hawke’s Bay). —Sadler (AVellington), Carlson (Waikato). THE PLAY. Thanks to the brilliant p’ay of McKenzie. Pepper, Dalton Andrews and Reid, the Probables gained an early territorial advantage, and a try should have resulted, but fop a photographer. who touched the ball. The first score came from a movement initiated by the Probable forwards. Brown was grassed on the line, but Kilby and Pago, who were proving a great combinat’*m. worked the blind side, and sent Brovn over at the corner. The Possibles’ wi‘h Hull. Lambourn, McLean, Step re and Harrison always on the job, v-r r n ’mubeginning to settle down, but tup>r inside backs were slow in moving and were not handling we 1 !. Honvover, repeated efforts saw Harrison Steere and McLean dash through the goal front’, where McLean * under the bar. Pollock converted and the Possibles led by 5 to 3 at the interval. A lucky, though well-earned try b} T

Hull, which was converted by Pollock, and a further try by Apsey, on the b<ind side, increased the Possibles’ lead to 13 to 3 early in the second spell. During this period, the Possib e forwards were everywhere, and were always in possession. Then the Probables reasserted themselves, and with a share of the ball, gave Kilby, Page and Drilliths every chance to pull the game out of the lire. The next try came after Kilby, Page. Griffiths and Campbell handled, Reid carrying on to ea ch the <1 fenders out of position, and score. Xepia started the nex'. i'.v, as, when lidding a long kick in his own 25, he e'ecte.i to run round, ami other backs joined in. Campbell in a thrilling rush which he could have complete:' himself, unselfishly gave l the b-11 I" Brown to score in the corner. A fourth try came a moment later when, after Kilby and Page failed to break through. Stringfe low kicked foi the sideline, but failed to reach it, •ind Brown raced through to score hithird try. Campbell was later injured. lie was replaced by Carlson, but, as the forwards dominated the p »v for the rest of the game, the latter had little chance of showing his -worth. There was no further score. the Possibles winning bv one point. Nepia and Pollock, the fu’l backs, both played well. The best wings appeared to be Brown and Apsey, while Kilbv and Page were the outstanding backs. The forwards were hard to separate. and had a gruelling match. The referee was Mr W. IT. Rowe of Wanganui. MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE. At the weekly meeting of the Man agement Committee- of the West Coast Rugby Union, there were present: Messrs J. Guy (acting-Chairman), F. W. Baillie. J. Kyle, F. Eggleton, W. Williams. T. Mclntosh, R. P. Kania. C. R. Rollinson and J. E. Jovce (Secretary). The secretary wa.l instructed’ to discuss the application of the Westland Sub-Union for a representative match with Wellington with the Sub-Union, with particular reference to finance. On the application of the United Club, N. Adams was re-classified from senior to junior. One application for re-admission to the code was ordered to he sent on to the New Zealand Union, with a. favourable recommendation. The referees ’ reports were receivd as satisfactory. The New Zealand Referees’ Association forwarded a copy of the instructions issued by the New Zealand Union, as follows:—Minor injuries on the field of play should be attended to on the side line,, not on the field of play. The practice of holding up the game while broken bootlaces, belts', etc., are replaced should be stopped. Such matters as these should be attended to before the game commences. The New Zealand Union has also advised that the use of aluminium stud.-t on football boots must be prohibited.

The Westland Sub-Union advised that they wished to extend an invitation to a Canterbury team to play a representative fixture, at Hokitika, on July 27th, on the occasion of an excursion from Christchurch.

Permission was given for the game, on the condition that any players selected to represent the West Coast v. Buller for the Rundle Cup are available.

A letter from the Greymouth Borough Council, regarding the use of the Recreation Ground for football, was held over until after the deputation from the Union ig heard by the Council.

The Nelson Rugby Union wrote congratulating the West Coast Union on the selection of its players for the trial game and stated that it wished also to favourably comment on the good behavour of the players during the trial game at Nelson. The Tnangahua Sub-Union wrote, thanking the Union for the consider-

at ion and courtesy shown its team on June 3rd, and also advisin’” that Mr T. Mclntosh had been asked to act •is the Sub-Union’s delegate on the

Union. The Canterbury Union advised that ir had granted the application of the Inangahua Sub-Union to play the Canterbury second grade representatives, as a curtain-raiser to the West Coast v. Canterbury game, at Christchurch on September 7t«h ; , provided that th? Sub-Uniou pays the cost of the visit. A football was granted to the Inchbonnie School. A deputation from the Blaketown Club, consisting of Messrs W. Scott. G. Brown, P. McEnaney and T. Fur ncs>* waited on the Union, seeking a ruling regarding a certain game, the discussion being taken in committee. The request of the Hockey Association that the Union forego the broad easting of the Rugby match on June 22nd, to enable the hockey test match in Christchurch to be re-broadcast, by Station 3Z.R, wag granted. It was decided that there should be no meeting of the Referees’ Association next Tuesday, and that the meeting of the Management Committee should commence at 7 p.m., on account of the Queen Carnival Coronation. FIXTURES. Senior: Stars v. Blaketown, Rugby Park, No. 1. at 2.45 p.m. (Mr Tempe ro). United V. Cobden, Rugby Park, No. 2, at. 2.45 p.m. (Mr McLaughlan). Junior: Celtic, v. Cobden, at Rugby Park. No. 1, at 1.15 p.m. (Mr Eggleton). United v. Stars, at Rugby Park. No. 2, at 1.15 p.m. (Mr Goodall.) Blaketown, a bye. Third Grade: Technical v. Cobden, at Technical Ground, at 1.15 p.m.. (Mr Jarvis'). Blaketown v. Stars, at Technical Ground, at 2.45 p.m. (Mr Thomson). Fourth Grade: Technical A v. Technical B. at Technical Ground, at 11 a.m. (Mr Tern pero.) FONG’S FORM. The Wellington “Post.’’ referring to Wellington’s win over Petone on Saturday, says:—Kilby was a noticeable absentee from Wellington. Fong moved in to the ha'f-baek position, and played really well. Although Petonc obtained the hall from the majority of the scrums, Wellington obtained enough of the ball to allow Fong to give his backs scone. The ball was shot out smartly. It wa s on defence, however, that Fong shone. His game was in the Kilby tradition in this respect.