THE RUGBY ELECT

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 136, 11 June 1936, Page 8

THE RUGBY ELECT

Who Will be Manawatu’s Reps. ? (Contributed.) On Saturday evening next the union’s two selectors are due to present the team to play Southern Hawke’s Bay and the two teams to engage in the North-South encounter. Remembering the debacle on the Showgrounds last year, the selectors would be wise to stick to tried representative players. Let them take as the nucleus of this year’s team those of last year’s successful combination who are still showing good form. Newcomers to the district and fresh players should be made to prove themselves before being given a trial in the district’s first fifteen.

Of the 1935 rearguard the second five-eighth, A. Fletcher, and the full back, Hutchison, have left the district. Most of the others are still available. Blythe, whose early form this season was not impressive, has shown great improvement recently and should keep his place. His only rival is Irvine but this player has represented the union before and was not an outstanding success. His play has shown no improvement and he is not likely to be more successful this year than in the past. For tho first five position there are several claimants but on his form against P.N. Old Boys, Thurston clinched his claims for that position. Brinsden docs not appeal as even on the occasions when he has cut through he has generally lost all connection with his supports. Nicol may be all right but I would like to see him tried in the North and South game first. With Thurston first five-eighth thero is no outstanding claimant for the second five position. Of those offering Fletcher appeals most. When here before he was recognised as one of Manawatu’s outstanding players and several seasons in tho League should, if anything, have improved his handling.' For centre Waugh is the logical selection. This lad was acclaimed last year as being worthy of intcr-Island honours and last Saturday saw him striding along as well as ever. Branrwcll no doubt is a very line club centre but he has not performed well in representative games and for that reason cannot be considered. Of the others neither McCorkindaie nor Moffat impress. For wing three-quarters, on the season’s form Bradley and Ball pick themselves although one is not unmindful, of li. Gillespie’s sterling games of last season. On the other hand, it is understood that Gillespie is nursing an injured shoulder. Betteridge at full back has given the best exhibition this season and while he is almost sure of selection ho at times gives one room for a big doubt ’as to his consistency, when bustled. At Feilding against Fcilding Old Boys he was definitely overshadowed by Gloyn. The forwards are always hard to select for we in the Manawatu have always had a superfluity of forwards. Jack Finlay seems a certainty for one, of the front rank positions but Ewart, Sullivan, Sutton, Henry, Crawford and Hight have all claims for the others. I would have Finlay, Sutton and Henry but could not cavil at any other combination of these. For the lock positions McKenzie and Williams seem the best available. Irvine, of Massey College, is a new man but he should be tried in the South team. On tho side row I would have G. Mitchell and Powell. This leaves the eighth man at the back. L. Findlay and Waldin have been the best in the past but Waldin seems definitely to have slipped. I would have Findlay because, firstly, he is still a good forward and, secondly, he gives United their only representative. Where all things are equal it should bo the policy of the selectors to give representation to as many clubs as possible. Feilding B get no representation but then if the Feilding Club knows its job then its second team includes only tho second best of its material. My team would be: Betteridge. Ball Waugh Bradley' Thurston Fletcher Blythe L. Findlay Mitchell McKenzie Williams Powell J. Finlay Button Henry Emergencies: R. Gillespie, Culpan, Beard, Ewart.