TRIAL MATCH

NZ Truth, Issue 1080, 12 August 1926, Page 15

TRIAL MATCH

111111 11111 v 111111 i 1111 m 11111 v 1111111 v 111111111 > 111111111111 ull i 1111 m 11111111 ii i i 111 v 11111 Otago

Seeking Rep. Players (From "Truth's" Special Dunedin Rfip.) Otago has a big season of representative matches ahead. To sort out' its best team, a trial match was played last Saturday. HPAHUNA PARK was almost water--1 logged, but despite the intermittent showers 3000 people braved the elements and were rewarded with some good football. In the A team, Hazelwood replaced Stevenson at full. , The All Black is still suffering from injuries to his legr: R. Callander replaced Townsend* at five-eighths, the latter having injured his knee. Clever football considering the conditions was witnessed m the first spell. The A's backs swung-into action w.'th precision, handling the heavy ball' rxcellently. Hookers Knox and Glengarry won nearly every scrum, the A's vanguard packing well, while from several line-outs the ball was deftly tapped into Holden's waiting arms. R. Callander was the main weakness m the backs. Despite his fine free style of play, the Kaikorai crack tried too many solo stunts which were all nipped m the bud. . , Bathgate, the second five-eighths, showed'pleasing form. . : His handling was.spiind and there is every indication that he will prove a success m the representative games. The -three-quarters—Morgan, Robinson and Webb —-appear the best m the province and combined well. Morgan and Webb are probably among the fastest three-quarters on a football field m the Dominion, , Hazelwood's display at full was excellent. His handling and kicking were first-class. Otago is well served with full-backs and should Stevenson not Be available Hazelwood could fill the bill equally as capably. Stevenson's forte is' his determined tackling, while he possesses splendid physique. The forwards satisfied. Knox and Glengarry appear . well matched as hookers. Dunne, ;Chns. Sonntag, Burt and Cameron (North Otago) supply the hefty stuff and are a solid quartette./ ,1. '■■'-■ ■ , ' ' Jackman, as wing-forward, is a .battler, but could do with a schooling m tho finer poinis of winf-forward play. His passing was weak at times. The selectors' scheme m trying out a different, team' each spell against the A's proved interesting. Among the rest, .-'Walker, Peterson, Diack, McLean (backs) played well up to l representative-'-standard, 'while noticeable among the forwards were Butler, Hicks, Todd, Gillick and Hindenach.