Brilliant Wet-Weather Display; N.A. Rugby Trial

Northern Advocate, 21 July 1938, Page 8

Brilliant Wet-Weather Display; N.A. Rugby Trial

“I have never seen a football rnaidi played under worse weather conditions," said Mr Karl Ifwerscn. sole selector, when standing, drenched, on the line yesterday trying to sort out the tnalists fer the North Auckland Rugby team to play Auckland on Saturday. Torrential rain fell throughout the match, and the players slipped hither and thither in the mud. sometimes diving into pools of water several inches deep. The use of No. 1 ground at the Park would have been quite out of the question and the players, followed by a handful of hardy suporters, adjourned to No. 3 ground. No admission was charged, but those who braved the elements were treated to- a really remarkable exhibition of wet weather football. The standard was much higher than that reached in the Tokerau Maori All Black trial which was played under much better conditions. Three Players Missing. Neither of the chosen centre threequarters put in an appearance. D. Wintle, suffering from a poisoned leg, was replaced by R. White, who was not. included in the original 30, but who put up a good performance in the Maori trial on Saturday, indicating that he is physically fit for inclusion. White played a splendid game and scored a nice try. No explanation for the non-attend-ance of R. Shortland was received, W. Alison becoming centre threequarters for the Probables. In the Probables pack, M. Morresey played in place of R. Flavell, who was unable to obtain leave. The handling of both sides was really good, the greasy ball frequently being heeled cleanly from the scrum and passed along the chain to the winger. Penetration was not lacking among the inside backs, this particularly applying to the Codling-Gibson-Johns trio. Gibson played a \ splendid game, sometimes chiming in with the forwards to head dribbling bursts. Pernaps, at times he was inclined to overdo the stab kick, but it was a day for kicking. Mack, the Bay of Islands half, who has played in Wellington senior football, showed a good knowledge of positional play, but did not have the same opportunities as Codling, who was seen in his usual sound and resourceful game. Promising Youngsters. From the ability shown by the younger men North Auckland should have little cause .for future anxiety so far as the backs are concerned. Some —notably Whitefield (South Hokianga) and Rika (Whangarei)—are not quite mature enough for big football, but are developing rapidly. OolmorcWilliams, the Northern Wairoa winger, has already reached a high class, and turned on a splendid game. Tall for a back, he has a deceptive running style, making him much faster than he appears, and ho is a very difficult man to stop. So far as back line against Auckland is concerned the selector is still faced with two problems. The first is which of the second five-eighths should be omitted. The possibilities of Johns, an experienced player, are well known, and he is likely to be preferred to Ryder, who, both In the

Maori All Black trial and again verier da}'. did brilliant things interspersed with equally bad lapses. The North Auckland pack which will step out at Eden Park on Saturday will be equal to any the province has fielded in recent years. There was not a man in yesterday's trial not fit to take his place in the rep. pack. A Sensational Omission. Greatest surprise in Mr Kwersen’s selection is the omission of Callanan, the ex-Southland rep., who is regarded as the finest breakaway forward seen in Whangarei for a very long time. There are seme who believe that he is inclined to come away from the side of the scrum instead of through tire middle, but in the ’Heaviest going he has given consistently brilliant exhibitions as a fast followerup. A forward with plenty of foot-, ball brains, he is also the fittest man in the district. The inclusion of Sam Alison, not nominated after the Maori trials, will cause some comment, but this giant is rapidly hardening up and in recent matches has shown more speed, determination and scoring ability. Best Packmen. Ling and Morresey were the best forwards on the paddock yesterday, controlling the ball splendidly and shining both in the rucks and hi tiie open. Nathan is inclined to await opportunities instead of creating them by pushing. Scarborough worked like a trojan all the afternoon. Lack of size has probably stood in the way of Greensmith, Cullen and Brydon. all of whom went well. Cullen, net long out of bed after measles and flu. could only give his best in spasms. (Selected team appears on Page 12)