OUT IN THE OPEN

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 8 June 1927, Page 9

OUT IN THE OPEN

NOTES AND CRITICISM *jL&f lefts* t-om NELSON'S FIRST FIFTEEN The senior., representative selectors, Messrs 11. Blincoe, H. Chapman anti G. IT. Bennett are to be commended on the team, as a whole, that is to represent. Nelson at Molueka on Saturday. ~ The forwards are a weighty, fast and keen pack, and if their best is given, Nelson should have no regrets, win or lose. On paper the front rank is the weakest place. In several games Young has refrained frcjn using his broken leg and remembered that lie may not. be able to give, his best as hooker. The backs have been arranged to suit each and all. With the shortage of five eighths Neison is lucky to have Heed who can take any back position. Evidently the selectors found Glover too good a player to be dropped, and so returned him to the full back position, where he has done himself credit in past years.

Waimea v. Pirates. Newman was good in the loose, but he should remember that the wing forward position is not essentially an off side position. He may learn that at Nelson's expense in the representatives. Cross played at the top of his form, and the selectors could have had no hesitation in picking him in Nelson';; first fifteen. Stringer and Biggins were Pirates best forwards, the former, showing great speed. There is no need to knock oneself about though. Thompson grafted but faded away at the end. Wells was patchy, but showed his capabilities on several occasions. Wii the better company he should prove a great asset to Nelson in the representative backs. He has some foot. Watson played another sterling game and would acquit himself well if called upon to fill a gap in the representatives. Buckley was disappointing after recent games. Eden again proved himself a resourceful full back, his fielding and kicking being first class. Bowers had his "pot' 'but missed. He should tackle, more.

.Rogers improved on previous play. He stands up to everything. It was a safe kick which equalised for Waimea. Clark should concentrate more op his passes and send them away with a low swing, not with one nearly shoulder high. / Savage, Best and Schroder each played a useful game. Best frequently break-

mg away in the loose. .Max's" play was full of spirit, 'there are few as 'willing as he. and Pirates success in the forwards is mainly due to his efforts. Best's kicking was great. 11. Chnilies is a stalwart. Besides the harder graft, he shows to advantage in (he lopse. N. .Keaflhs came to -light with, rppra aggrespjvenefiK 'than -unitiil, afifl toot some stopping. Morrison .showed greater promise, but . should keep handy" to the man next ; him. Selfwass was off. Old Boys v. Nelson Everett played a great forward game , for (he Whites. His try was the result! of a. splendid individual effort up against, poor tackling. Barrett grafted hard. His play 'this year is far above, his last season's form. Jones does not appear to put much energy into his game. Ward again played well. He was injured three timer,'during the game. Old Boys should get a medical man's opinion* on the advisability of Ward continuing to play (he game. Fowler is a greatly improved forward, and is up to representative form. Spring at half played a. great game, sending out fine passes to his backs. His tackling was O.K. This player is not fftr off representative form. . 0. Snodgrass played well as first fiveeighth. His game has greatly improved. Patterson played well on the wing. R. Fowler is a greatly improved player, and made some dashing runs. He will be a great help to the reps. McGregor made his reappearance and at once it was seen that the heady back was the man needed to make the Old Boys backs. The selectors and the Rugby Union should endeavour to persuade Mac, who is undoubtedly the ' finest inside back seen in Nelson for many years, to turn out again and assist in the retention of the Shield. F. Snodgrass was at the height of his form, and gave a great display of fast, straight running. He is playing better than ever this season. W. Snow played a good, hard forward game. Nelson badly missed the dashing Kinzett. Wyber gave a fine exhibition of offside play, much of which the man with the whistle missed. Mahoney was suffering from a poisoned arm, and his play suffered in consequence Reed was also sick. This player has not struck form this season. Pike was poor on the wing. MacTlwraith was in good kicking form, but a lot of the Nelson bad; movement broke down at Mac. Nevertheless he was one of Nelson's best backs.

M. Ginley was fair. His tackling was poor.

Heard at the Notice Board The following criticisms on the Rep. players were heard at the notice board when the team was posted:— "Hullo, the Reps, are out. Bet Reed's skipper again." "McGregor cannot play as 'his wife won't let him.' " "Why don't they give Spring a try out?" "I hope Billy Reed's wearing 11-kicks-11-gonls boots." "Max is in. Reckon Higgins should be in, too." "Shaw deserves his place all right." "Glover at full-back looks good to me." "Snoddy played a great game to-day. Bet he gets a 'couple of tries." "Hullo, there's 'Chook' in; won't the Col. boys be pleased." Shorter Curtain=Raisers The decision of the Management Committee of the Auckland Rugby Union to limit the spelb, if necessary, in the curtain-raisers at Eden Park has little to recommend it, and will not meet with the general approval of players. The decision leaves a great loophole, of which players can take advantage. Anyone knows what 20 minutes clipped off a football match means. A side fully trained may be drawn against another team which is capable of holding its own against it for 60 minutes. But then, how many matches have been won in the last spell, chiefly on account of physical fitness?

A Mighty Kick What must surely be n world's record long-distance kick was made at Strand Pari: on Saturday in the Hull y. Varsity fourth grade match (says a. Wellington paper). All eyes centred upon Gordon when lie was called upon to lake the shot at goal after Hutt's opening try. He sent the leather sailing fair and true over the very centre of the crossbar, but the ball went soaring on, and did not pull up until it had travelled for a mile and a half. This is not fiction, but fact. The simple explanation is that Gordon booted the ball into the flooded Hult River, and it was recovered at the pipe bridge at Petone. The game had to be continued with another ball.

ODDS AND ENDS Certain— Hawke's Bay will not take the Ranfurly on tour this year. Reports from the north state that Wellington rep. Rugby will be poorer this year than last, and that Auckland is particularly well off for good men. The Brownlies are not the only famous brothers playing Rugby. ' The Wairapara team now includes Jim and Quentin Donald, two great forwards. Jim represented New Zealand in 1920, 1921, 1922 and 1926, and Quentin went Home with the 1924" All Blacks. RESULTS ELSEWHERE Westport Westport 17, Stars 12. Cosmopolitan .14, Charleston 0. Chrislcliurch Merivale 16, 'Varsity 8. Technical 19, Lin wood 15. Marlborough Central 4, Opawa 3. Awatere 8, Moutere 6. CANTERBURY AND RANFURLY SHIELD (United Press Association) CIIRTSTCIIURCH, This Day. "It. is m extraordinary irony of fate that Canterbury is not going to get a pop at the Ranfurly Shield after all these years," said Mr J. K. Maloney at a meeting of the Canterbury Rugby Union last evening. In reply to Mr Maloney, Mr S. F. Wilson said Wairarapa owed Canterbury a visit. Wairarapa would be touring north the same time as the Canterbury team was on tour. Mr Mahoney: "There does not seem to be much chance of us getting a game for the Shield." The chairman (Mr A. E. McPhail): "Not. so far as Wairarapa is concerned."