HEAVY FORWARDS

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 144, 20 June 1936, Page 9

HEAVY FORWARDS

REP. SIDE j PROSPECTIVE TALENT I «*» BACKS NOT SO PROMISING Canterbury will be represented this year by a forward team eaqual to any in New Zealand, comments the Press. That is the outstanding impression gained from tho preliminary selection for the first provincial match of the season. Tho backs give less cause fer optimism, but it must be remembered that the first selection has been limited because of injuries to c-ne or two of the province’s leading players, and no doubt a reasonably good line will have been sorted out by tbe time Canterbury undertakes its more serious representative programme toward the end of the season.

Ten backs have been chosen for traininb, but in each case only one man who regularly plays in the fullback, half-back and first five-eighth positions has been named. The selector will be quite justified, however, in trying other men in bhc-se positions. Clark, the capable Albion half-back, has been chosen in the absence of J. J. McAuliffe, who is expected to be playing again next month. The latter is easily the best half in Canterbury and probably in the South Island, but Clark is a good solid player, quick and alert on attack and very game in defonce. Nolan’s selection as full-back was a foregone conclusion, in spite of the excellent displays of I. L. Behrns in representative matches last year and again in club games this season.

Hart’s Brilliance Needed

Three wings have been named, D. G* Cobden, R. Brown and Chinnery, but of course Hart will piay in tho later matches. Unless Oliver’s injury improves to such an extent that he feels justified in playing again later in tlie year, Canterbury must look to Hart to provide the touch of real brilliance to its back movements. Fortunately his form in club games recently has suggested that he will still be New Zealand's best winger. Of the other wingers, Cobden has been impressive this season. He is a really determined runner. The only doubt about him is in his defensive ability. High tackling may bo sufficiently effective in club game, but it will not stop an opponent of real class. Brown has proved his worth m representative football, and Chinnery was showing fine. form when an injury put him out of the game last year. He has not been well served iu club matches this season, but he, certainly deserves a chance to show his ability.

Tho Inside Backs

Eathorno and Greer are the centros, tlhe most obvious choice, G. H. McPhail, having been out of the game with injuries since the first game of the season. Last year Canterbury was able to call on J. Poison after Oliver left for England, but this brilliant centre has not been able to play this year. Eathorne was full-back on the northern tour last season, but Greer has not played in representative football. Both are capable centres cxcep tionally sound in defence, but whim Eathorne is probably more brilliant in attack he is also the less reliable. The selection includes two sound second five-eighths, Mortlock and Hooper, but the scarcity of good first fIYC-cightha is reflected in the inclusion of only one man who regularly plays in that position, Henry. Mortlock cannot be passed over, for although he has not proved the brilliant attacking player he promised to be two or three years ago, ho is, • nevertheless, a wonderfully sound player and an asset to any team. The selector may try Greer or Hooper at first five-eighth, but Henry will be hard to displace. He is a straight and determined runner and a great man on defence, and he has good combination with Mortlock. Recently, of course, Canterbury has lost G. A. Parsons, who was a splendid first five-eighth in representative games last season, and who captained the province on the northern tour. Parsons is now in Wellington.

Heavy Forwards

Most of the forwards named arc clearly entitled to selection, but ono or two Others have been uniucky not to catch the selector’s eye. Among theso are Sehlutcr, of Old Boys, and Almond, the Christchurch hooker. The selector evidently intends to concentrate on a heavy front row iq the scram, and these players can only have been passed over for that reason. The omission of Howell (Sunnyside) is also Kurprising, for he is still playing sterling football and has a good background of experience in big • Rugby. Canterbury has a list of “certainties” which any province would be glad to possess, and Hattersley, Milliken, Pablecheque, Manchester and Rankin will form the nucleus of a great forward side.

Of these Pablecheque, the burly Sunnysido player, is new to interprovincial foot-ball, but he has shown himself in club games to be a hue forward and he cannot be passed over. Burko is the Sunnysido hooker, and besides being a good specialist, he is a heavy and hard-working forward. Sweeney’s form has not been consistent this season, but at his best he is still a fine player. Tho new men include Mahoney, a fine grafter from the Christchurch pack, Staee, who toured Japan with the New Zealand University team, Coll, tho big Athletic forward who has shown outstanding form recently, McPhail, the vigorous Old Boys player, and Cooper, Linwood’s prolific trygetter. Cooper, it seems, could only bo fitted into a scrum in this team as a front-row man,’lor ho is one of the lightest of those chosen. He is a player of tho winging type and Rankin’s position as the loose forward is assured.

Altogether there is good reason to Delieve that Canterbury's team this

year will mould into a sound combination. The backs may yet be strengthened at important points by the return of injured players, but in any case they should give a good acount <1 themselves. They will havo the incalculable advantage of playing behind a first-class forward pack, and nothing is more important that this in inspiring confidence in a back line. The forwards will be heavy and fast, hard ruckers, but with plenty c-f dash and fire in tho loose; the backs will be sound if not really brilliant, and thei: defence should be equal to any test.

Essex’s Loss of £6Ol,

The committee of Essex County Cricket Club reported at the annual general meeting ret -ntly at Chelmsford, a loss of £6Ol on 'ast season. This is accounted for by a drop in the gate money of £4OO and a slight fall in membership, while donations £195 less than in 1934. The grant from Test matches of the South Africans was £995 lower than when the Australians were there. The club paid £B7O in entertainments tax. Mr. H. Ashton, father of tho three Cambridge Univer- • ’ v cricket captains, is president elect.