GLADIATORS

NZ Truth, Issue 1175, 7 June 1928, Page 14

GLADIATORS

Concentrating On The Shield (From "N.Z. Truth's" Christchurch Rep.) Canterbury is preparing to defend the Ranfurly Shield, no effort being spared to find the best possible team. A trial game was played on the King's Birthday, the best 30 or so men m the province having a chance to show their ' wares. THE interest m Christchurch m the Shield fixtures was shown by the surprisingly large, crowd that attended, and as soon as the players settled down the game developed into quite the best trial match that has been seen m Canterbury lor many years/, "With the scores at 19 all, the crowd was barracking as enthusiastically as it does for a big club fixture. It was a game to arouse enthusiasm, for both backs and forwards hoed into their work as if their lives depended upon catching the selectors' eyes. With the eight best players m the province on tour, chances of inclusion m the reps, have become very open, and even after Monday's game the 1 selectors will have plenty to think about. The right half-back has been found, however. M. L. Page came m from the country to play a rattling good game behind the scrum, and he overshadowed Tom MulJan, especially m the second spell. S. O'Brien, the Linwood hal£, and G. Cox, of Old Boys, both merit consideration for this position, but on Page's play on Saturday he should fly m. A few of the players were suffering from the effects of the hard games on Saturday, and Jack Harris and C. D. Chesley were obviously two of them. Harris was safe and sound, but his play at times lacked sparkle. < The same description applies to Chesley's play on the left wing. His best work was to keep Jack Robilliard bottled up effectively; but m attack he made the mistake of carving away infield. However, his tackling was very good, and he must have a good chance of inclusion. J. Galbraith did some very clever work as centre on Monday, but he made some sad errors also. Neil Dorreen just about made his place on the right wing a certainty by putting up • the finest exhibition that he has given for a long time. Though his inside backs crowded him, he made some runs down the line that were amongst the brightest spots m the game. It looks as if the five-eighths must be Dave Hay arid Charlie Oliver. Hay was very sound and solid on Monday without being brilliant, but Oliver was absolutely m top form. S. F. Fookes, who will probably go m as wing-forward, showed a flair for racing up the centre of the field when Oliver started one of his swerving runs, and connecting with the fiveeighths just at the right time. This made Oliver's play look better. ACROSS FIELD The ' reverse pass ■was exploited throughout the game, the ball sometimes swinging out, m and back again, but throughout the game there was a tendency by the inside backs to crowd across field. W. R. Teape, the ex-Aucklander, was an exception, and he made some very nice openings without getting into trouble with his supports; but he has I developed a fault of going too far. M. Calder, tried first as a wing and then as a centre, seemed off color, and Bill Merritt, who played the second half on the wing, needs more club football to' bring him out. There will be plenty of good forwards, but the one weakness might be m the locking of the scrum. J. Mahihera should catch this position, but the team will need a good 'deal of practice m set scrum work. A. I. Cottrell, H. B. Godfrey and H. Ogier were three players who did not turn out owing to injuries. Ogier might supply the need m the centre, and Cottrell must have a good chance of getting a place m the first rank of the scrum. Godfrey will have to work for a place. J. B. Jackson gave another fine display of hard and determined football. He will be one of the first picked. ■Frank Clark, who is coming back to ■top form slowly but surely, put up a very good showing. J. Pickering had to go off with an injured shoulder. It looks as if this might end the big fellow's big football. Tom Robinson played a good game, but was hardly consistent enough with the hard work to make the selectors feel satisfied with him. C. W. Miller went on as an emergency wing-forward, and he played a surprisingly good game, although Fookes overshadowed him. m the finer points. C. H. Perkins and J. Manchester are two forwards whose claims will have to be considered. Big fellows, they play the hard and. fast football that is wanted. A. Y. Montgomery looks like getting m, possibly on one side, with Jackson on the other side, and Perkins and Manchester at the back. Taken all round, it was a very satisfactory trial game. It showed that Canterbury should still be able to field a rep. team that will do credit to the province. ' ■