PAEWAIS FIRST RUN AT BAY REP. TRIALS

Northern Advocate, 16 June 1947, Page 6

PAEWAIS FIRST RUN AT BAY REP. TRIALS

(Special) KAIKOHE, This Day. IN uninviting weather a good crowd attended a “Possibles” v. “Probables” representative trial match played at Kaikohe on Saturday, when 40 players were given a run by the sole selector (Mr W. Barclay). Most of the crowd, it is safe to say, went there to see the first run in Northland of the nationally-famous halfback, Dr M. N. Paewai. They were not disappointed.

Paewai showed himself to be a player of outstanding class, his handling and passing being unerring, his penetration being spectacular and sustained and his variation of tactics being an object lesson to inside backs in the Bay.

Backs:—P. Rogers, V. Pearson, K. Pearson, Ohaeawai; M. N. Paewai, Kaikohe; Gordon Smith. Tom (“Mutt”) Smith, Kawakawa; N. (“Brownie”) Cherrington. Tamati Brown, Otiria; “Sappy" Clarke, Okaihau. The selector had a difficult task to choose his men frem the trials, when some who played good football during the season were clearly trying but getting nowhere, or having an of! day, while others who had not been strongly considered turned in performances out of the box. It is the same in all trial games, and one wonders if that is the best possible method of assisting the selector. RON SQUIRE OUT In his 21 names. Mr Barclay has chosen most of the known good footballers in the Bay. However, there may be heartburnings over one or two omissions which failed to impress him sufficiently.

He played quite a while at first fiveeighths to give the promising young Ohac-awai half, Pere Rogers, a chance to show his ability behind the scrum. It was in this period that Paewai impressed with his short spurts, ball taken at full gallop into the opposing line, where he frequently cut out his man and thus opened up good movements.

The game, which resulted in a 16—13 win for Possibles (red jerseys) revealed in general a class of football that no club match in the Bay this season has even approached.

It proved that there is a wealth of talent coming forward to defend possession of the Harding Shield and, if the best has been chosen and can be knit together expertly to work as a team, challengers will have to be % good to lift the coveted trophy. THE FIRST 1947 BAY REPS. Mr Barclay last evening announced his selection for the first 1947 Bay reps., to play a non-shield match against Whangaroa at K|eo next Saturday. The 21 nominees are as follows :

It may be noted that the name of Ron Squire, last season’s North Auckland front-row man with Sid Pausina, is missing. Ron twisted a muscle badly in a club match. Kaikohe v Otiria, just a fortnight ago. and it is questionable if he will be fit enough to play again for some time.

On the face of things, the Bay is going to have a terrific back line when the Harding Shield matches come up —but a query pack. With the exception of Pausina, Stan Young, and Peter Clarke (North Auckland hooker. 1946) none of them has proved outstanding in the big-time.

Forwards :—S. Pausina, S. Young. Jack Smith, Kaikohe; P. Clarke, Ohaeawai; Davis, Tana, Keogh, Otiria; Juricich, Kerikeri; Tom Young, Selwyn Clarke, Ngawha; J. Tohu, N. Laslett, Okaihau.