ALL BLACK TRIALS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 253, 25 September 1939, Page 12

ALL BLACK TRIALS.

COMMENT ON FIRST MATCH. THE OUTSTANDING PLAYERS. Per Press Association. WELLING'ION, Sept. 23. The first All Black trial match, which preceded the North-South game, provided some bright football, but it was not up to the" standard of the main game. It served mainly to show that Taylor is still the best full-back in New Zealand and that North Auckland is likely to supply at least one future Ail lilaek in Cunningham, a wing-three-quarter of real promise, that Catley (AA’aikato) is a capable hooker, and that Todd, the big AVel-1 lington forward, has tew superiors iii j line-out play in the* Dominion. j Taylor was coolness personified and , there was hardly a flaw in' his display. His kicking generally was superior to that of his vis-a-vis, Hare ( (Auckland), who, nevertheless, gained big stretches of ground but did not find the mark as consistently as Tav- ] lor. It was Hare’s failure to find the line front a free kick under the goal- ‘ posts that enabled Taylor to drop-! kick a magnificent field goal. Hare , tried for too much distance and Taylor fielded the ball near half-way, poised and hoisted four points with one of the greatest field goals seen at Athletic Park. The feature of Cunningham’s game was that he repeatedly had to straighten up attacks. There was a marked tendency among the inside backs of both sides to bore across the field. Quick to appreciate that he could easily he pushed into touch if lie attempted to go round an opponent, Cunningham always looked for a chance to go infield. His pace off the mark helped him and he scored one excellent try as well as paying the way for another. Catley was supported by a better serum than McKenzie (Ashburton) and ho won the ball on 22 occasions to nine. In addition, lie did his share in the loose. Todd was tile outstanding line-out-forward, and one of the few players who took the ball cleanly. He repeatedly passed it back to Codling or put it at his feet for a quick heel. The value of Todd’s game was shown mainly in tho scoring. His team saw much less of the ball in the set scrums and it had to make its opportunities from rucks and line-outs. He was ably supported by Davkhon (AA’anganui) and Herman (Canterbury), both of whom were associated in some clever dribbling rushes, and by McLean (Taranaki). In the opposing pack Mason (Buffer) impressed as a front-ranker likely to attain higher honours. McPhail (Canterbury), Warrenden (AA’aikato) and Mills (South Canterbury) were also a first-class trio. Backs who impressed were Gibson (North’Auckland) and Murray(Otago). The former was opposed by Crossman (King Country), who commenced brilliantly and generally played a serviceable game, but Gibson was more incisive. Both halves. Moss (Hawke’s Bay) and Codling (North Auckland), omened up play smartly, but could hardly be described as in the class of Tindill or Saxton. The result of the match was a win bv the black team, led by D. G. Barton (AA’anganui), bv 20—11 from the white team, led by Crossman. For blacks Gibson scored throe tries. Taylor converted one. kicked a field goal and kicked a penalty goal. For whites Crossmnn, Cunningham arid Mills scored, Hare converting one try. TEAMS FOR- AVEDNESDAY’S TRIALS. The following teams have been chosen by the New Zealand selector, Mr E. McKenzie, to play in the two trial matches on AA’ednesday : . FIRST GAME. AA’hites.—Taylor (AVellington); MeAneny (Poverty Bay), Sullivan (Taranaki), Morrison (Soutli Canterbury); Bradv (Auckland), CrosSman (King Country); Tindill (AA’ellington), captain ; Mason (Buffer), J. E. McKenzie (Ashburton), Straehan (North Otago), Rogers (Poverty Bay), Benton (Taranaki), Herron (Southland), AVarrender (Waikato), Parkhill (Otago). Blacks.—Hare (Auckland); Sutherland (Southland), A. AA’esney (Southland), captain, Schubert (Auckland); Pearman (Auckland), Thompson (Wellington) ; Codling (North Auckland; ; Rhine! (Canterbury), Hearn (Canterbury), Taylor (AA’aikato), Todd (AA’ell-

ington), Mills (South Canterbury), Williams (Canterbury), Bowman (Hawke’s Bay), Firmin (Wanganui). SECOND GAME. Whites. —Dyer (Hawke’s Bay); Cartwright (Canterbury), Barton (Wanganui), captain, Perkins (Waikato); Grace (Southland), Burgess (Canterbury); Moss (Hawke’s Bay); Anderson (Poverty Bay), Lambourn (Wellington), Gilmour (Auckland), Carson (Auckland), Cassidy (W'ellington), Davidson (Wanganui), Ward (Southland), Jolly (Otago). Blacks. Easton (North Otago); Cunningham (North Auckland), Molloy (Auckland), ltoberts (Canterbury); Welch (W’anganui), P. Reid (Hawke s Bay); McAuliffe (Canterbury), captain ; McDonald (Otago), Catley (W’aiknto), Hull (Auckland), Herman (Canterbury), Best (Bay of Plenty), Coull (Taranaki), Doig (Ashburton), McLean (Taranaki). Reserves for both teams. —Forwards, Sherriff (Southland), MePhail (Canterbury) ; backs, Murray (Otago), Hook (Wanganui), Gibson (North Auckland). All reserves will be included in the trials on Saturday next. OTHER RESULTS. Christchurch. Canterbury 12 v. Buller 4. Auckland.—Marist 20 v. Grafton 12. Hawke’s Bay.—Though Saturday’s matches were officially the last of the Hawke’s Bay senior Rugby championship series, there is a possibility that nlnv-offs hetween Maori Agricultural College, Hastings and Celtic will be held, as these three are now bracketed with 22 points each on the top rung of the ladder. Saturday’s results: Maori Agricultural College 14 v. Havelock North 4; Hastings 21 v. Pirates 9; Celtic 3 v. Technical Old Boys 3; Marist 11 v. Napier High School Old Boys 0.