RUGBY FOOTBALL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22139, 19 June 1935, Page 16

RUGBY FOOTBALL

ALL BLACK SELECTION RESULTS OF TRIAL MATCHES MITCHELL RESERVE FULLBACK The great excitement in Rugby circles has now abated, the All Black team having been selected, and it will leave on its tour of Great Britain at the end of next month. The fortunate players who will get a trip which could not possibly come their way in private life, together with their supporten;, are naturally elated, while the rejected ones must feel a big tinge of disappointment. This could not be better expressed than in a press message from Westport, which reads as follows: — The non-inclusion of E. Holder in the All Black touring team, stated a Rugby Union official, came as a stunning blow to many of his admirers in the Buller district. About half the community waited for the wireless announcement late on Saturday evening, itever dreaming that Holder would not be included, but thinking that Orman, as a hooker, might also be regarded as worthy of the honour. Holder has been scoring tries and goals in almost every big match in which he has played in the last five years, and he was described by an overseas team as the best threequarter it had met on its tour of New Zealand. Holder, who is better and speedier now than then, was regarded as singularly unfortunate in being excluded. This must be but one of many expressions of regret and surprise which have been uttered—but not printed—in various parts of New Zealand. In a case such as the present there must naturally be many disappointments, but it must be said that the. unsuccessful players in 1935 took their elimination in the finest sporting spirit. Particularly must this be said of Bush, who must have had the support of quite two-thirds of the vast crowd which witnessed the final trial on Saturday. His remark, "Oh, well,, there's still the Ranfurly Shield," was typical of a true sportsman. Results of the Trials

There was a great collection of oldtime footballers in Wellington last Saturday, and some happy reunions were in: evidence. Players in the 'eighties, 'nineties, the earlier part of the present century,. and All Blacks of all years since the war were present. Tho greatly improved standard of tho final trial made for an atmosphere of brightness, which replaced the gloom that was apparent after the very poor play witnessed in the trial a couple of days earlier.

The results of the various trial matches were as follows:

May 22.—Maoris, North v. South, at Hamilton; drawn, 19-all. May 25.—Canterbury-South Canter-bury-Ashburton v. Otago-Southland-North Otago, at Dunedin: Canterbury, 10; Otago, 9. May 29.—Nelson-Marlborough-Golden Bay v. Buller-West Coast, at Nelson; Buller, 18; Nelson, 14. June 1. —Wellington-Wairarapa v. M'anawatu - Horowhenua - WanganuiTaranaki, at Wanganui: Wellington, 24; Manawatu, 11. June 3.—Auckland-North Auckland v„ Waikato-Thames Valley-King CountiT, at Auckland: Auckland, 18; Waikato, 16. June 6.—Hawke's Bay-Bush v. East Coast-Poverty Bay-Bay of Plenty, at Napier: Hawke's Bay, 22; East Coast, 14. June B.—South Island Possibles v. Probables, at Christehurch: Possibles, 39; Probables, 21. June 11.—North Island Possibles v. Probables, at Palmerston North: Possibles, 13; Probables, 12. June 13.—New Zealand Possibles v. Probables, at Wellington: Possibles, 23; Probables, 22. June 15. —New Zealand Possibles v. Probables, at Wellington: Possibles, 25; Probables, 11.

Mitchell to Aid Gilbert It transpires that N. Mitchell, of Southland, will play fullback for the All Blacks in Great Britain in the event of G. Gilbert, of the West Coast, sustaining injury or requiring a spell. Mitchell has played at fullback occasionally. Sufficient was seen of him in the trials to prove that he can handle tlbe ball well and tackle solidly, but his kicking ability is not generally known. Without a doubt the most surprising aspect of the choice of 19 South Island players to take part in the New Zealand Possibles v. Probables Rugby trials at Wellington was the selection of G. Gilbert as a fullback, says a Christchurch writer. Neither fullback in the South Island trial at Lancaster Park showed All Black form in that game, but G. T. Nolan was the better. There may be differences of opinion about whether or not Nolan fell short of the standard required of a New Zealand representative, but, judging from the remarks heard during the week, the spectators, apart from the New Zealand selectors, were unanimously of opinion that if a fullback were to be selected from that trial the choice should have fallen on Nolan. The selection of Gilbert caused much loss of faith in the perspicacity of the selectors. The Senior Championship

Otahuhu, which had a good lead in the Auckland Rugby Union's senior championship three weeks ago, suffered its second loss of the season on Saturday last' at the hands of Technical Old Boys. The defeat of University by Marist leaves Otahuhu and University in the lead>.for the championship with eight points each. University, however, has played one more match than the suburban team. Grammar and Marist have each scored seven points, but the former has played but five matches as against Marist's six. Grammar's record is the best in the competition and it looks a likely winner at the moment. The loss of Corner at the end of next month, however, will be a severe one, although by that time the side may have run into a handy lead. Marist narrowly beat University on Saturday and it would appear that the latter would have been successful with the assistance of Caughey and Bush. Likewise Grafton's ability to draw with Grammar Old Boys may have been due to the absence of Corner from behind the Grammar scrum. B. Killeen is playing in rare form at present and he gave a very fine allround display for Grafton against Grammar last week. He scored the try which enabled Grafton to draw level. There were numerous inquiries in Wellington as to why Killeen was not given an opportunity of participating in the trials. There is little doubt that his presence in the trial at Athletic Park on Thursday last, when the five-eighths, apart from D. Solomon, were lamentably weak, would probably have placed him among the certainties. At the very least he would easily have earned a final trial.