HEROES OF LAST SEASON.

NZ Truth, Issue 860, 13 May 1922, Page 6

HEROES OF LAST SEASON.

Men Who Met the Springboks. Readers of "Truth" will be interested to hear of the doings of those players who represented the Dominion last season against tho Springboks. Few are resting on their laurels, and quite a number may figure m the selectors list for the Australian trip this seiason. It is too early yet to suggest the All Blacks for 1922, but the request will soon go out to unions for nominations of selectors and players. "Teddy" Roberts, whose omission from the First Test brought forth so MUCH ADVERSE COMMENT, has not yet donned the jersey. There were rumors, that lie had decided to retire from the game. He is still thinking the matter over, and it would

not surprise the writer to find him helping 'hi 9 old team (Athletic) before many more Saturdays pass- Athletic, by the way, are one of only two teams (the other Oriental) who have not been defeatedin the first two series of matches m Wellington. If "Teddy" decides to stand down this season he may come out again next year. George Aitken is captaining the Wellington 'Varsity fifteen which administered a crushing defeat to Petone last week. The speedy back is m fine form, and will be of great value to his side until the end of August, when he will leave for England to fulfill his appointment ■ as the 1922 Rhodes. Scholar. Kingston (Taranaki), the New Zealand full-back, has changed over from his old club (Clifton) to Tukapa, and has already given evidence of his old form. He should have no difficulty m , finding his way into the Taranaki team, and 4>y early accounts HIS RIVALS FOR FULL-BACK m the New Zealand team are again few. S. K. Siddells, the popular 'Varsity back, who was the "discovery" of last season, has been given another change of position, being- a tower, of strength to his side as a five-eighth last Saturday. Properly handled he would be one of New Zealand's best productions, and it is doubtful if a harder man to tackle can be found m the Dominion. Seyeral of Petone's players have this "week been wearing the effects of bumping up against him. Karl Ifwerson may be found with the Taranaki x'epresentatives this season, having left Auckland. He has | joined up with the Opunake Club, | which is also being temporarily assisted by Tancred, the well-known exLeague forward,, who is expected to Join up shortly with his old club, Petone. . The Nicholls brothers, Mark and "Ginger," are at present the mainstay of the Petone back division. Both should be m the running for the New Zealand representatives, but for their positions there are OTHER "POSSIBLES" IN THE ■ v FIELD. Mark may require a spell for a Saturday or so on account of injuries received last week. ! "Jim" Moffitt, the big lpck, has become a wing three- quarter! Only a temporary change for- an afternoon, however, on account of injuries. He is again leading the Oriental (Wellington) pack — a hefty seven. J Of McLean (Bay of Plenty), Bellis (Taihape) and Jim Donald (Wairarapa) little has been heard to date. Donald wanted to play for Wellington College Old Boys, but he resides over the boundary line. He was willing, I understand, to motor over the Rimutakas each week-end for a gameIt may be taken that Jack Steele intends to remain on the West Coast. He was m great nick on the track there recently. P. W. Storey is out again, playing for Zingarl m Timaru. 'Cec. Badeley was filling his usual place m the Grammar School Old Boys team (Auckland) at the start of the season, but had the bad luck to have a knee injured, and he will, as a result, 'be spelling for a week or so. Dick Fogarty and Alf. West are doing their bit for Hawera, and are finding the GOING AS GOOD AS EVER. Ned. Hughes is not content to let his long record stand. In the first matches of the season he, was m Poneke's front row with Sid. Shearer, but he took a spell last ..week. "Jock" Richardson is carrying Alhambra"s (Dunedin) , colors, and Duncan is still m the same locality. Of Fletcher (Auckland) and White' (Southland) I have had no word. W. A. Ford (Merivale, Christchurch) and Sontag (Kaikorai, Dunedin) have displayed great form m their early matches. Billy Fea is m splendid trim, playing for 'Varsity A m Dunedin. Many other players have already come into the limelight, and although not so much importance is attached to the selection of this year's All Black team the nominations and final choice will be awaited with interest. "