SUPERIOR BACKS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23057, 7 June 1938, Page 16

SUPERIOR BACKS

DICK IN FINE FORM BRILLIANCE OF RUSSELL KEENNESS AMONG FORWARDS Tho three North Island selectors, Messrs. E. McKenzie, Wairarapa, F. W. Lucas, Auckland, and T. Craig, King Country, were spectators at yesterday's gallic. Mr, McKen/.ic is also entrusted with the solo selection of tho New Zealand team which is to tour Australia later in the season. On tho general run of the play Mr. McKenzio's task was not lightened a great deal by what he saw at Hamilton. To begin with there were two backs outstanding, J. Dick, of Auckland, and L. Russell, of Waikato. On tho other hand ho saw some very fine forwards, and thnt will only add to his difficulty in deciding which forwards to leave out after he has witnessed in addition the inter-island match at Wellington next Saturday. Tho Auckland team gave a very satisfactory display, taken all round, and the solo selector, Mr, Lucas, should not find it necessary to make many alterations to this original choice. Strange to tho fullback position, D. Solomon performed quite creditably. Ho mado two or three mistakes and failed to find the line on occasions, but these faults would be remedied with more experience in the last line of defence. Auckland's Back Play Cooncv was solid without being brilliant at halfback. Pearman was hampered in the first spell a good deal by tho attention paid him by the opposing first five-eighths, but ho usually was able to send the ball 011, He did not play quite up to tho fine club form ho has shown this season. Brady mado an auspicious debut and played a heady game. His grubber kick, which led to Auckland's second try, was splendidly placed, Prentice gave a sound exhibition, although he was too slow in getting off the mark after he had fielded the ball, allowing himself to be smothered in possession with players outside him waiting for a pass. Martin displayed dash, although he seemed at times not to realise that he was 011 the wing. Dick was the outstanding back, displaying brilliance 011 attack. Ilis sidestepping frequently left the opposing backs standing. His defence, too. was above reproach. A reproduction of this form at Wellington next Saturday will make secure his place in the AH Black team to visit Australia. Fine Forward Display The Auckland forwards played finely against sturdy opposition. In the first spell they had to go all out to hold trie virile Waikato pack, and they accomplished this task successfully. There was not a passenger in the eight and this must have pleased the selector. McLean led them splendidly, Webb was conspicuous in the line-out, and Hull and McLean were always in tho hard work. The whole pack, however, deserves credit for its performance. The only trouble was in the scrum, and an alteration was made at halftime, Pearce going from the front row to the back, changing places with Carson. This may not have got to the root of the difficulty, however, as it was noticeable that, when Russell put the ball in the scrum, Waikato nearly always hooked it, whereas the opposite was usually the case when the Auckland half put it in. Halfback's Trickiness Russell was in brilliant form behind the Waikato pack, and he earned frequent applause for tricky runs in addition to splendid defence. He was always where the ball was, and was ever endeavouring to do something with it when he had it in his possession. If lie plays in like form in the inter-island match* he will give the critics something to write aoout. It would be fair to criticise the other Waikato backs too harshly 011 account of the last-minute rearrangement. The insides wore too slow to give tho threequarter. line a chance. Haworth did some £ood work at fullback. Every credit is duo to the Waikato forwards for their untiring efforts. With a more capable set of backs they would probably have been seen to even better advantage, Catley obtained more than his share of the ball fromtho scrums, while Wynvard, Warrender. Harbutt. Taylor and Hall were all conspicuous throughout, both in lineout play and other departments. INTER-ISLAND MATCH SOUTH TEAM SELECTED TAYLOR AT FULLBACK [by TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] CHRISTCHUBCH, Monday The South Island Rugby team announced by the selectors, Messrs. A. A. Adams' (West Coast), R. R. Masters (Canterbury) and A. J. Geddes (Southland), is as follows: — Fullback.—,T. M. Taylor (Otago). Thrcpquarters.—T. C. Morrison (South Canterbury), A. W. Wesnev (Southland), N. A. Mitchell (Otago). Five-eighths.'—R. L. Roberts (West Const), T. Berghan (Otago). Halfback.—-C. K. Suxton (South Canterbury). Forwards.—Front row: L. Georgo (Southland), C. E. Quaid (Otago), G. Mason (Buller). Middle Row. —C. W. Williams (Canterbury), R. R. King (West Coast), H, Milliken (Canterbury), M. McDonald (Marlborough). Back Row. —A. A, Parkhill (Otago), Emergencies.—Back: R. G. Ma honey (Southland). Forward: W. L. Crawford (Southland). The team includes four former AH Blacks, Taylor, Mitchell, King and Parkhill played against tho Springboks last' season, while Mitchell and King toured Great Britain and Ireland with tho 1935 All Blacks.