LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19361, 23 June 1926, Page 16

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

THE AUCKLAND TEAM. COMMENTS ON SELECTION. TRIAL GAME ON SATURDAY. The trial game between Auckland and South Auckland will tako place on Saturday and the announcement of the names of the players from whom Auckland s final selection will be made has aroused keen interest. The selectors, Messrs. E. Fox, E. Asher and A. McClymont, had no light task in sorting out the best players to represent Auckland. The team is now in training and the final selection will be made to-morrow evening.

Two fullbacks. Dufty (Grafton) and Gregory (Marist), have been asked to put in a week's - training before the final 13 players are selected. The action of the selectors in taking this course is advisable, and i.t is safe to assume that the position is not assured for Gregory, as most followers of the code would think. Gregory on this season's form stands out as the best player in the position in Auckland and, with perhaps his game against Richmond excepted, his form has been brilliant. Dufty, however, rarely shows his best in club competition, but, given a chanco in the representative games, he excels. Dufty may bo passed over for Gregory in the first Auckland team, but when the combined team meets Auckland a week later it will not be at all surprising to see Dufty play his way into tho North Island thirteen. The Threequarter Line. Brown, Davidson, Delgrosso and Littlewood are the threequarters from whom the final selection will bo made, and it is probable the three first-named will comprise the line. The selection of Brown is easy to understand, as the City .. man is the most brilliant scoring wing in the code, and some of his efforts in club games this season stamp him as a fine player. Davidson may be the centre selected, and it is unlikely that the selectors will separate Brown and Davidson from their respective positions in club football. Davidson is a natural centre, who can muster a great burst of pace, and his straight running is a feature of his play. On attack Davidson's football verges on the brilliant and many of Brown's tries have been made easy, by the former's clever play, Davidson is not a big man, but on defence he is very sound, and his gameness has often been tested this season.

Delgrosso has riot shown any of the fine form he revealed ■ at . the latter end of last season, but the Ponsonby captain is a good footballer, who can rise to great heights. Delgrosso appears to be more at home playing nearer the scrum and bef6ro the final trial games are over he -may be found playing behind the pack. Littlewood is a very determined runner, but lie is inconsistent, although Capable of playing great games. Many keen judges thought Mansill had claims second to none, and the Newton wing's non-inclusion is a surprise. He has all the capabilities of a dashing scoring backy and, aided by his youth ana strength, and with a good centre to feed him properly, Mansill would score' tries where other backs- would fail. Wade, of City, is also an unlucky player, but with Mansill may find a placa in the combined Auckland team. Claimants for Five-eighths. The position of five-eighths has caused the selection committee most concern Kirwan has played in both positions at five-eighths, besides playing several games at centre. He is a very sound footballer who does his work in a thorough manner and, although he lacks pace, his knowledge of the game stands him in good .stead. Wetherall and Cole are the other fiveeighths under consideration. .. The former, while not showing his, usual form, can be relied upon to rise to the occasion in representative matches. Wetherall's experience is a big asset. Few players in the code have shown more promise than Cole. Since his entry into senior football a few seasons ago he has met with numerous setbacks in the way of injuries and was last season on the line very frequently. He was again unfortunate in having to stand down for three games in the first round this year. His prospects are, however, very bright, as youthful players are the foundation of good team work. -' Peckham will probably be the halfback chosen and his consistent good form warrants his inclusion. Poison has had a hard battle in tho Newton team and his chances do not apear to be as bright as those of Peckham, but he is worth a trial for ho has had experience and is still youthful. Splendid Pack of Forwards.

A splendid lot of forwards have been selected to train and all have earned the right to be given a try-out. The selection committee have chonen men who have plenty of pace, which, even among the forwards, is the, paramount consideration. Forwards jwho can handle the ball with the ability of threequarters are the type of men who are wanted.

The tru<b principle of the League code is the co-ordination of both backs and forwards, making the game one for thirteen backs. While the formation of a proper scrum should not be lost sight of, the foward's ability- is beter judged by his plajr in the loose. The inclusion *of Avery will be criticised, but he is still a very able player, and in his position as back-row forward he has few equals. J. O'Brien and A. Scott, both of Devonport, are two players who by sheer ability have earned the right to wear the Auckland jersey. O'Brien plays in the front row, and is a great worker. His tackling is at times a treat to watch. A. Scott promises to prove one of the big successes of the 1926 season. Until he broke his nose six weeks ago, Scott was claimed by many to be the best forward playing in the code, and, with Singe, his chances of touring England appeared-to bo very bright. It is to be ' hoped that Scott's injury, which plainly affected his play last Saturday, will soon disappear, and give him the chance to show his best form. Townsend and St George are the two hookers chosen. It was only to be expected that Singe would be included in the team, as the Marist forward has been showing brilliant form. Hutt and Payne are two dashing forwards who are always prominent in tcading the Ponsonby attacks. Hutt made a great impression in the City v Ponsonby game, but since then his club mate has shown better form, and it is a speculation as to which of the two will gain a place. Perhaps both will be included. Clarke, of Newton, has on many occasions shown himself to be a clever forward, and, given an opportunity, he will not fail to bring himself in line with the best six forwards playing the game. Matches Arranged., It will be noticed that Richmond is the only team in the competition whose players have failed to gain a place, and although the selection will be generally well received, it was expected that Prentice might have been given an opportunity. He is, however, vepr young and his career is still ahead of him. The matches arranged in connection with the trial games for the selection of the New Zealand team to tour England are as follow Auckland v. South Auckland, June 26; North Island v. South Island, July 3; Auckland v. Combined team, July 7; A. and B. trial, July 10. In the last mentioned match 13 players, whose positions, in the touring side are assured, will not be included -in either team.