NOTES BY "SPECTATOR."

Marlborough Express, Volume LIV, Issue 126, 31 May 1920, Page 6

NOTES BY "SPECTATOR."

It is understood that the Awatere juniors are protesting to the Union against the playing of S. Luke by Moutere on Saturday. . s lt is claimed that as "Sammy" has "twice played in senior grade he should stand down for two Saturdays before participating in junior matches. Mr J. H. Priddle has earned many good opinions as a referoe this season, and his control of the AwatereOpa,wa, gaino at- Seddon on Saturday gave much satisfaction. A pleasing feature of Mr M. J. O'Connor's supervision of the game between Central and Moutere was the manner in v-hich he managed the spectators on the southern side, of the Domain. Some of our referees are npt to be too easy with the crowd on this particular side, and the result is often a roving body of spectators who encroach on the field of play, interfere with the line umpire in the execution of his duties, and mar the view of those disciplined individuals who remain behind the rope. The senior matches did # not bring to light any forward who is likely to establish a claim for preference 'to those who have already achieved reprcsentathe honors in the pack this season.. Gleeson (Central) does not seem to be quite polished enough, and Grain (Awatere) is still a frequent breaker of the off-side rule. G. Forbes played for Central, but his display did not even suggest that he was the same top-notch forward of a few years ago. Of course, a player cannot come back in, five minutes/

It seems likely that K-. Barr (Awa~ tere) and M. O'Brien, (Opawa); will be strong claimants for selection as "rep." wing forward for, the remaining interprovincial matches this sea-, son. " The writer was inclined to favor the fomer's inclusion in the team that played against Nelson until, he heard of the meritorious display that .Woolley gave against Opawa at Spring Creek. The. Opawa .forwards have been weakened through the loss of W. Thomson and V. Smith, but the backs appear to be all the better for a judicious re-arrangement. • L. Dunckley shaped- well at outer fiveeighths, and he,. Riloy, and L. Thornton should make a useful 'combination.

In no department of the game has such weakness been shown this, season as in place-kicking, and the fact that Opawa's victory over Awatere was due mainly to goal-kicking is therefore worthy of mention. Four goals were placed from the field, and L." Thomson, whose powers in this direction have hardly been, tested since he was a member of the1 College fifteen a few years ago, was successful in his three kicks. A reliable place-kick is a valuable asset to any team, as Fuller proved last season. Day has shown the best form in this department so far this season.

A feature of the Opawa-Awatere game was _ the ac&urate line-kicking of J. O'Brien (Opawa). This player is showing improved form as the competition advance©. After doing his part with the Central thirds H. Hale was reqtiisitioned for service with the Central seniors on Saturday. This boy should be heard of in a few years' time.

As a sub-Union has been formed 'in the Golden Bay district the Nelson team which came to Blenheim recently did not include any players from across the Bnv. When it goes in cuesfc of the Seddon Shield the Nelson pack will require* a good deal of stiffening, and it is not improbable that some of .the Bay forwards will be called upon. As an "All Black" team will go to Australia in July special interest attaches to the forthcoming inter-Is>-lond match. Marlborough will be lticky if it secures more- than one representative in the South Island team; the country Unions are generally given a solatium of one player each. In the forwards Fisher. Maher, and Harding are worthy of nomination, whilst Phillips is the only back with a strong claim.

Central are badly in need of reliable backs. Combination appears to be a dead letter with the whites, and the result is that Connolly and Day have to bear a heavy burden^ Vercoe is not playing up to. senior form this season.

The exhibition given by Moutere on Saturday was iiot a patch on the previous display against Opawa. There was, no sting in their play. The writer considers it mistaken policy to play Phillips in any position but wing three-quarter. This player is so reliable in handling the ball and lie can make so much pace that he is a dangerous scoring man on the tcing. To get the' most from Phillips' powers the Voutere captain .should not shift him nearer the scrum but should leave' him on the wing and impress on tho inner players the necessity for putting the ball out to him. . i