OUT IN THE OPEN

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 23 June 1937, Page 8

OUT IN THE OPEN

RUGBY FOOTBALL NOTES REPRESENTATIVE GAMES ON SATURDAY COMMENT ON SATURDAY'S PLAY The Marlborough and Nelson senior representatives will play at Nelson on Saturday in the first home and home match of the season lor the Cecil Shield The Marlborough team will be practically the same which successfully held the Seddon Shield last season, and Nelson's prospects in its challenge tor the trophy will be judged on Saturday’s performance. This match will be the only representative fixture in Nelson this season outside of an All Black Trial match, and so it is anticipated there will be a large attendance to sec the elect of the province in action. On account of the Springbok tour this year the only teams louring are those challenging for trophies, and so the union found it impossible to arrange further games at Nelson than the home and home match with Marlborough. The Marlborough team will be well served at full back by N. Kotua, a clever player who has had a wealth oi experience with Marlborough and Nelson representatives and Maori All Blacks. The three-quarter line will be R. Jellyman, a newcomer to the representatives, C. Mellish, and S Wilson, the latter two mentioned being well known to local followers of the game. D. G. Lane, second five-eighth, will be the captain, and is one ol' the most primising young players in the South Island. A new name in the team is G. Sowman, who has replaced Robinson. L. McMahon, who has been such a valuable player in the Marlborough team during the past few seasons, and who gave a sound performance in the last All Black trial match at Nelson, will be half-back. The forwards comprise T. Hegglum (a new name in the Marlborough side), 1. Paine. M McDonald, R. Woolley. A. Roberts, F. Bragg. W. Brown, and M. Woolley—practically the same pack as last year. The visitors as usual can be relied on to give a good performance, and the high opinion the Marlborough. Union has of tis team is shown in the fact that this year a challenge will be made for the Ranfurly Shield. Nelson this year will field its strongest team for four or five years. The forwards are solid, with plenty of pace and experience, and their scrumwork should be good. The backs, on their form in club games are expected to prove a combination with plenty of thrust, initiative on attack and sound defence. The selector (Mr W. Reed) has met with a difficulty in finding a full back owing to the weakness of the players who usually occupy that position :n club football The selection has gone to B. W. Brown, the Waimea Club back who handles and kicks 'veil, ..nd can tackle. The three-ouarter line will be R. Busch, D. Taylor, and R. Boyce. The centre. Taylor, was a brilliant junior representative in Marlborough last season, and he has shown rapid improvement in Nelson senior ranks this year. D. Brindsen who played for Wairarapa last year, and who was considered unlucky not to be included in the North Island team, will be Nelson’s second five-eighths. He is a class player who will be a good match for his opposing five-eighth, Lane. R. Cooke is (he first five-eighth, and he can always be relied on for a solid performance. C. Costello, who has been entrusted with the job behind the Nelson pack, was also a Marlborough junior representative last year. He has played consistently good football this year, and has been Old Eoys best back. His de but in senior representative football will be watched with interest. He has been nominated for the All Black trials by the Nelson selector. Andrew, Fleet and McKay are selected for Nelson’s front row in the scrum C. Lovell, R. Best, Drummond and McLean are a hard working middle row,

and J. Craig will occupy the back row position. Though the writer is of opin ion that J. O. Burnett (who is first emergency) is a better all-round forward than McKay. Best or Craig, all followers of the game will agree that the selector will put in the field a good hard-working pack which will form a compact and effective scrum, and provide plenty of fast play in the loose.

Staging Comeback 7 Three interesting classifications for Waimen seniors approved by the Rugby Union on Monday night were: D. Max, L Max and A. Newman.

For Old Boys seniors D. Plank, the Eastbourne senior A Division fiveeighth was classified.

Head Injuries At this week’s meeting of the Nelson Rugby Union the Referees’ Association was asked to co-operate in preventing players from continuing after they have suffered head injuries.

Mr R. J. Eyre pointed out that in some instances players, after being advised by the St. John Ambulance officer not to go back onto the field, still persisted in playing.

The Referees’ delegate said the referees would see that no player suffering from a more severe head injury would be allowed to continue. Waimea v. Old Boys Both sets of forwards in the Wai-rrea-Old Boys match on Saturday were fairly evenly matched, and played hard games from start to finish. Waimea had slightly the better of the scrums, while Old Boys were superior in the line outs. Old Boys backs with the exception of Costello. R. Busch and King were disappointing. Costello put in a tremendous amount of useful work, but he received a lot of attention from the Waimea breakaways. Busch made some specacular runs but his handling was not perfect. King staged a most successful comeback and was a tower of strength to his side. Waimea backs were disorganised by the absence of Williams and Brown who were detained by bad weather in Wellington. Brooks, at half, played the game ol his life, especially on defence, while he sent the ball out much more than usual P. Fowler, at full-back, tackled very soundly and altogether played a useful game Todd's kicking was very useful to his side, especially in the second half. Craig has the physical attributes ot a great centre or winger, but his methods are crude, especially his wild speculating. Nelson v. Rival The Nelson forwards were the deciding factor in winning Saturday’s match against Rival. The Rival pack was ineffective in the scrum work, and its rake was no match for Fleet. Further the Nelson forwards contained several who were very prominent in the loose play, which frequently disorganised the defence of the Rival backs, particularly the full-back. For Nelson the best two backs were Turley and Cooke who worked well and safely together, the half giving welljudged passes. He initiated a nice “blind” side attack to McLaren and Fleet for Nelson’s first points.

Fleet played his best game this year and is evidently getting into better form With him, Drummond, Wratt and McLaren were the best forwards. Biggs, McKay and Bonnington were the best trio of Rival forwards in a pack which was kept fully extended throughout.-

Langrope and Brindsen were the only two Rival backs to impress, but their best efforts were, individual flashes. It was the old story of the Rival forwards being unable to give their backs (he ball.