THE JILL BLACKS

Northern Advocate, 14 June 1935, Page 6

THE JILL BLACKS

SORTING PROCESS THIRD TRIAL GAME PLAY AND PLAYERS. WHERE ARE THE BACKS? / [(Special to "Northern Advocate .” 3 WELLINGTON, This Day. The selection of backs is obviously the main concern of the selectors, and only two of the 10 chosen are backs. It was not surprising that a full-back was not announced, for the displays of Gilbert and Collins in the trial match yesterday were by no means inspiring, and of the two who are to oppose each other tomorrow —Nepia and Bush —it seems likely that one, or perhaps both, are certain to be chosen. There was nothing in the play of the wing three-quarters—Holder, Morrison, Mitchell and Ball —to stamp them of All Black class, but they suffered throughout the match from a complete failure, once again, of the five-eighths, with the exception of D. Solomon (Auckland).

One had expected that T. H. C. Caughey (Auckland) would be among the list of certainties, for he played splendidly in the first spell yesterday, and revealed his real ability on attack. In the second, N. Mitchell (Southland) was moved to centre three-quarter, and only once in the spell did he beat Caughey. The Aucklander saw little of the ball in the second spell, and consequently was not so conspieuous as he had been in the first.

It was certainly no surprise that no, five-eighths were announced, for with the exception of Solomon they were an unimaginative lot, who passed the ball without attempting to do anything with it. It was left to E. W. Tindill, the Wellington half-back, who took the place of W. Langdon (Wellington) in the Possibles team toward the end of the game, to straighten up the attack and prove himself a player who is prepared to make some sort of effort to find a way through. His field goal which won the match for the Possibles was a brilliant effort. The half-backs did little to improve their chances of selection. Sadler (Wellington), of whom so much had been heard, was handicapped by the fact that his scrum was not winning possession of the ball. He carried out several moves which branded him as a player of class, especially when he flashed round the side of the ruck and threaded his way through brilliantly for a try. On the other hand, Simon (Otago) had a rare opportunity . to show his wares. Hadley gave wonderful hooking service, but Simon fumbled the ball badly on occasions and showed an inclination to run from the scrum indiscriminately. Forwards ' Disappoint. The play of the forwards was disappointing to that of the backs. A,s soon as the team settled down there was doubt that the Possibles pack was much the better in the tight and the Probables slightly the better in the loose, but there was no sting in either packs and both tired. One alone stood out in the Probables pack—-J. Best, the big Marlborough forward, who was always at the head of forward excursions. The next best were Hattersley (Canterbury) and Clarke (Taranaki). The scrum work, of the Possibles pack was far superior to.that of the Probables. Hadley , won an overwhelming percentage of the scrums. Outstanding throughout the matcn was R. King (West Coast), ■whose fine all-round display , made him certain for selection. Next in order of merit for all-round ability was H. Deavoll (Canterbury). The front row of the Possibles —J. Hore (Otago), W. E. Hadley (Auckland), and G. T. Adkins ,—was infinitely • superior to the opposing trio. Hadley’s hooking was superb. He sent the ball out so fast on one occasion that Simon completely missed it. No Brilliance. Upwards of 12,000 spectators watched the match all must have gone away from the ground with feelings of keen One could not help thinking of the backs we used to have, of the ease of Nicholls and the wizardry of Cooke. Players of their brilliance were not seen yesterday, nor have they been seen in any of the trials played to date. The five-eighths ran across the field for the greater part of the game with D. Solomon, a refreshing exception. Devine (Wairarapa), Langdon (Wellington) and Le Quesne did not at any stage show the form that would put i them in the All Black class. In the failure of the five-eighths lay the failure of the whole back attack. The wings were seldom given an opportunity to score. T. Morrison (South Canterbury) showed jfhat he had a side step that was puzzling, and on one occasion he side-stepped through half the Possibles team. Opposite him was N. Mitchell (Southland) in the first spell, and W. H. Carlson (Waikato) in the second. T. H. C. Caughey was streets ahead of Carlson in the fltst spell, when he was given a reasonable share of the ball, but in the- second Mitchell silenced him effectively, although the Auckdander did not get many real opportunities on attack. Mitchell played right on top of him. Unenviable Task. The selectors have now left themselves the unenviable task of finding 12 backs to make up the complement. It is likely there will be several surprise selections, and it would not be astonishing to see E. W. Tindill chosen as one of the first five-eighths. Only one minor surprise came with the announcement of the 10 certainties—the name of R. M. McKenzie (Manawatu), who revealed himself in Tuesday’s trial at Palmerston North as more of a loose forward than anything else. G. F. Hart (Canterbury) has deservedly won the reputation of the finest wing three-quarter in New Zealand, and C. J. Oliver, the Canterbury centre, although he will not appear in tomorrow’s trial, has won a place because he is probably the cleverest back in the country. W. E. Hadley (Auckland) and J. Hore (Otago) wore from the outset certain of positions in the All Black front row. as was R. King (West Coast) and Tory Reid (Hawkes’ Bay). The big Maori is reputed to be the finest forward in New Zealand today. J. E. Manchester (Canterbury) who broke a bone in his hand, was always a hot favourite with the selectors, but H. F. McLean (Auckland) was under suspicion as a forward who did not

give all his weight to the pack. However, his brilliant work in the loose won him his place. After his fine display yesterday, J. Best (Marlborough) was assured of a place. DISAPPOINTING INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE FIELD GOALS BY TINDILL •Per yress Association. — Copyright! WELLINGTON, This Day. Form in the Possibles v. Probables trial, played under perfect conditions at Athletic Park yesterday, was disappointing. Probables won by 23 points to 22 in the last minute, when Tindill, who replaced Langdon, dropped a magnificent field goal. The forwards on both sides played solid, bullocking, rather than constructive football, andi shone as individuals. Line-out play was poor. In the loose Deavoll, Niven, King, George and Hattersley showed up, while King and Clarke did fine work in the tight. King was the outstanding forward on the ground. Hadley secured a greater percentage of the ball than Orman, who, however, showed talent as a hooker. Le Quesne impressed as a second five-eighths with possibilities, while Solomon, defended soundly, but showed little enterprise when he had the chance of a lifetime.

Caughey did well in the first spell, but was subdued by Mitchell in the second spell. Mitchell may yet win his colours, as he played excellently in the second spell. As a centre, Holder was the best three-quarter, while Gilbert was the better of the two average full-backs, whose only claims to distinction were ability to kick.

As a trial, the form did not assist the selectors a great deal, and much will depend .upon tomorrow. Weakness still appears to be in the fiveeighths line, where Tin dill yesterday revealed jform full of promise in the 15 minutes he was on the field, and so impressed the selectors that they decided to play him in that position again. Tindill has never previously played as a five-eighths. He was one of the Wellington half-backs last year. TEN CERTAINTIES. SELECTORS’ CHOICE. [Special to “Northern Advocate.’ M WELLINGTON, This Day. The selectors for the New Zealand Rugby team to tour Great Britain, last evening definitely selected ten players. Eight of this number . have previously represented New Zealand, the two newcomers being T. Reid (Hawke’s Bay) and J. Best (Marlborough). The names of the selected players together with the years in which they previously represented New Zealand, are; — G. F. Hart (Canterbury).—l93o, 1931, 1932 1934. C. J.-Oliver (Canterbury).—l92B, 1929, 1834. W. E. Hadley (Auckland).—l934. J. Here (Otago).—l92B, 1930, 1932, 1934. R. R. King (West Coast).—l934. J. E. Manchester (Canterbury).—l932, 1934. R. M. McKenzie (Manawatu). —1934. H. F. McLean (Auckland).—l93o, 1932, i 1934. T. Reid (Hawke’s Bay). J. Best (Marlborough). Of the above-named. Hart and Oliver belong to the back division.

TEAMS FOR TOMORROW. [Per Press Association. — Copyright. ] WELLINGTON, This Day. The teams for tomorrow’s final trial match are as follow: — Probables. Full-back.—Bush. Three-quarters.— .Smith, Caughey, Brown. Five-eighths.—Tindill (first). Griffiths (second). Half-back. —Kilby. Forwards. —Back row: Andrews. Middle row: Mahoney. Steere, Ross, Mataira. Front row: Fasticr. Dalton and Hull. Possibles. Full-back. —Nepia. Three-quarters.— Holder. Mitchell. Bullock-Douglas. Five-eighths.—D. Solomon (first). Page (second). Half-back.—Corner. Forwards. —Back row: F, Solomon. Middle row; Harrison. Trass, Collins and Wynyard. Front row: Leeson. Lambourne and Pepper. Reserves. —Sadler, Lilburnc, Hadley and Reid.