PICKING THE ALL BLACKS.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 28 September 1927, Page 6

PICKING THE ALL BLACKS.

POSSIBLES BEAT PROBABLES BY

SINGLE POINT.

good promise for south

AFRICAN TOUR

The Possibles v. Probables All Black Trial game was not the brightest exhibition of Rugby which has been seen in Palmerston North this season, but it was a game in which the honours Avere in doubt until the final whistle and in which there were many flashes of scintillating open play relieving a solid fonvard battle. In both backs and forwards the teams were very evenly matched, and scores very closely represented the respective fifteens. The balance of the play was with the fonvards who waged a solid grafting game from whistle to whistle. The backs on both sides saw a lot of the ball, but in a number of cases failed to make as much of their opportunities as they might have done. There Avere Aveaknesses in the inside backs of both 'sides on a number of occasions Avhich spoilt promising movements. Nevertheless, considering that the two teams were only got together on Monday the combination of both sides was good. How the Scores Came.

The game opened in a someAvhat un-interesting fashion until Keene in-

tercepted smartly from an open Possibles’ back movement, and burst up-field only to be severely dealt with in attempting to send out his pass. Brown put in a spectacular burst upfield which caught Sheen napping, the green winger waiting for the bounce. The Probable man, however, just managed to clear by the skin of his teeth and avert a try. The first blood came to the Possibles when Nicholls landed a very nice penalty goal.— Possibles 3.—Nil. After a period of up and down play Grenside brought the crowd to Jts feet with a smart follow-up, catching the ball on the rebound off another player, and chasing it almost to the line. Thomas, however, got there first. A savage green forward rush in which Hadley, Ward, Finlayson and Donaldson were all prominent put the Probables right on the blue line. The blues countered heavily and following a free kick from Kilby, Galpin and Porter took the ball right to the green line where, from a ruck Kilby cut out a man with the dummy and sent it out to Rushbrbok, who raced over. Nicholls failed with the kick. —Possibles 6—nil. Probables opened their account some ten minutes later. Hook broke away in great style taking the ball from Johnson'‘who burst through a line-out. The green winger raced half the length of the field with Brown a yard behind all the way. The two men strained every nerve 10 reach the ball, but the temptation proved too strong for Brown, who collared Hook while he was still half a chain from the ball. The referee rightly awarded an obstruction try to the Probables ,and Berridge converted with a good kick.—Possibles 6.—Probables 5. The best try of the first half came from the Probables who swept downfield from a good pass by McManus. The ball went right out to Hook, the backs going all out and, though Grenside, brought him down. Sheen was in close attendance and snapped up to go over in the corner. Berridge put over a splendid kick from the most acute angle possible.—Probables 10, — 6.

The Possibles came away well hi a good rush early in the second half, Maurice Brownlie sending the ball out from the ruck whence it travelled out to Sheen, who was very near the line -when South brought him down with a solid tackle. A piece of brilliant play was forthcoming from Brophy, the crowd roaring its applause. Snapping up the ball in the teeth of a fierce, blue rush, he sidestepped’- his way through the press almost to the line, but a good pass infield did not connect, and a little later Nicholls forced.

The Possibles asserted strongly, Kilby tricking his way through nicely. He sent an in-pass to Maurice Brownlie, while the opposition were watching the wlngthreequarters, and the big Hawke’s Ba> forward went over In a leisurely manner to score under the posts. Nicholls converted,—Possibles 11. — Probables 10.

The Possibles kept up the pr-• sure and Johnson cut through cleverly to send out a nice pass to Swain, who galloped over to score in a good position. Grenside did not allow enough for the wind. —Possibles 14. Probables 10. After some five minutes gruelling play, the Probable backs swept into action .throwing the ball about nicely. Brophy finally secured but was crowded for room and although he made h good effort, was squashed when he was just short of the line. The greens continued to press, however, and Thomas, the full back, followed his kick through in great style, and profiting by Brown’s mistake, scored a fine try.—Possibles 14. Probables 13.

Following some clever work by Brophy. Galpin followed up well and the Possibles backs raced away in a fast rush that had a score in it but Johnson’s pass was weak and the movement fell through. Nothing deterred, the blues hammered away and their backs, who were working splendidly at this stage, swept through the opposition. Grenside sold

brook who did the rest. Grenside converted with a good kick.—Possibles 19.—Probables 13. The final try came from one of the best movements in the game. Finlayson dodged his way through the press to start a fast green movement, the ball going out to Sheen who came well up to transfer to Hook, who raced over at the corner, making the score, which remained unaltered, 19—18 in Possibles’ favour. Mr C. S. Lonergan controlled the game. How They Played. In the first half the Probables’ forwards appeared to be doing better in the sot scrums than their opponents although both sides were Open to considerable improvement in this direction, The weight was' fairly evenly distributed, but there were serious weaknesses in the organisation of the scrums on occasions which rendered it impossible for the ball to get past the back row. Hadley, of Auckland, was a very useful hooker and good all-round forward but his colleague Palmer did not show up very often. Th 0 hookers for the Possibles, Collision and Swain, worked splendidly together, especially in the second half and got a lot more of the ball which gave Kilby and Co. many excellent chances.

Conrad, although a hefty customer, did not do as much as he might have done. Harvey was the better lock of the two. In the line-outs and in fact in all parts of the field, Maurice Brownlie was invaluable, doing a great deal more than his brother. They are still the most formidable combination in the Dominion when they decide to go on the warpath. Galpin played his usual tireless grafting game, and especially in the second half, the Manawhenua man could always be seen in the thickest of the fight. He was easily the next forward on his side after the Brownlie Brothers. The generalship and experience of Ponfcer were invaluable to his side. Although the Possibles skipper, as usual, indulged in a fair amount of off-sid e play he was not caught very often and he was always present when required. His vis-a-vis. Keene, had not the experience to cope with the ex-AU Black captain although he played a good game. Taking the Probables’ scrum in order. Hadley and Palmer were inferior to the opposing hookers as h combined force although Hadley was one of the best scrummagers on the field. Harvey played a solid grafting game and was superior to Conrad. Finlayson was, the best forward field. Nq.t only did he work like a Trojan in the loose but he showed himself a man of his hands and one possessing a slashing turn of spe<ed. He is a certainty for South Africa. His colleague, Ward, of Taranaki, is also a very solid proposition in more ways than one and he and Finlayson gave the Brownlie Bros, more than they knew what to d’o with on occasions. Donaldson was the better ot the Probables’ break-aways. , He showed himself a dangerous forward in the loose and a very solid grafter in the tight. He was also very useful in the line-outs.

Comparing the two back divisions, Hook, Brophy and Sheen were the equal of Grenside, and South as a combined force in the first half, but in th'fc second spell the Possibles’ three-quarter line went excellently. Sheen played well on occasions but was inclined to crowd Brophy and also to hang - on too long. Hook was one of the best backs on the ground. His speed and trickiness combine to make him a very clangorous player and he was always harassing the opposition. He was fully up to All Black standard. Brophy did not get very many opportunities and was always rather crowded by Sheen. At the same time he made good use or what chaiices he got although in the second spell there was a iroriod during which he seemed to go to pieces. He did not suffer at all by comparison with the other backs.

Grenside played a very good game opposite Brophy when he got the chance. He is a dangerous and powerful wing three-quarter when . near the line and on defence is-very sound. His kicking was a feature of the game—quite one of the best backs on th e field. South was not up to Grenside’s standard although he played a reliable if somewhat unenterprising game. As far as the inside backs were concerned the Possibles were undoubtedly superior in this department. Kilby, at half back, was never beaten. He was half the brains and a good deal more of his team. He fed his backs continually and seemed to be able to extricate himself safely from the most dangerous positions. Ho was the best line kcker on the field and gave some of the other hacks points in going down (o the ball. McManus who was opposite him was not in the same class as.the exSouthland High School boy. The Possibles’ five-eighth Johnson, or Wellington, was much superior to his namesake, of Taranaki. Nicholls was seldom brilliant but his deadly tackling and consummate; generalship were invaluable to bis side. Johnson, who was associated with'him. was inclined to be rather selfish in tire first spell but played a fme game in the second half, making a number of very valuable openings. His namesake from Taranaki, however, was the weak spot in the Probables’ inside backs. Derridge was very sound and al<m very enterprising, his tackling and kicking being excellent. He was inclined to stand too deep, hamper-

attacks. Neither of the full-backs was up to All Black form, and could not compare with Darby, of Wanganui. in any department of the game.

NORTH ISLAND TEAM NO MAN AW RENT! A PLAYERS INCLUDED. WELLINGTON, Hast Night. The following is the North Island-* Rugby team to play South Island at. Athletic Park on Saturday: Full back: Mark Nicholls (Wellington). Three-quarters; Hook (Auckland), Sheen (Auckland) and Grenside(Hawke’s Bay). Five-eighths: Berridgo (Auckland),and L. Johnson (Wellington). Half: Kilby (Wellington). Wing-forward: Keene (Auckland). Forwards: Hadley (Auckland). Swain (Hawke’s Bay). M. Brownlie (Hawke’s Bay). Harvey (Wairarapa). Flnlayson (North Auckland). McWilliam (Auckland) and C. Brownlic(Hawke’s Bay). 4

Emergencies: McManus (Auckland) Brown (Taranaki). Rushbrook (Wellington). Coulston (Wanganui), Ward (Taranaki).