“PLAYERS OF YEAR”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27389, 15 May 1950, Page 6

“PLAYERS OF YEAR”

Five Almanack Selections OTAGO NOT REPRESENTED Special to the Daily Times GREYMOUTH, May 14. The Rugby Almanack of New Zealand selects R. L. Garner, Trevor Allen, and B. P. Mossop, all of Australia, and A. W. Blake (Wairarapa) and R. A. Roper (Taranaki) as the five players of the year, ana M. S. Cockerill, I. R. Herbert (Taranaki), D. R. Wightman (Otago), R. ... Jarden (Wellington), and P. H. Cherrington (North Auckland) as the five most promising players. The editors, Messrs A. H. Carman, A. C. Swan and R. R. Masters, explain that in the survey of the five players of the year, only games played in New Zealand have been considered and, in the promising players’ list, only those who are having their first season in representative football. The Almanack’s selected 15 are:— Full-back, H. D. Harkness (Manawatu); three-quarters—R. A. Roper (Taranaki), J. B. Smith (North Auckland), and R. A. Jarden (Wellington); A. B. C. Desmond (Wairarapa), M. B. Couch (Wairarapa); V. D. Bevin <Wellington); forwards —J. G. Bond (Canterbury), A. N. Hughes (Auckland), W. J. Mumm (Buffer). A. W. Blake (Wairarapa). J. E. Wills (Wellington), R. A. White (Poverty Bay), S. McLaughlin (Bay of Plenty), H. C. B. Rowley (Wanganui); reserves—N. P. Cherrington (North Auckland), W. H. Taylor (Golden Bay-Motueka), P. B. Vincent (Canterbury), W. J. McNab (Otago), D. J. Carlson (Taranaki), and A. E. Rowan (Waikato). From the above selections North Island players would appear to have dominated the picture in last season's Rugby circles in the Dominion, commented one well-known Rugby follower when discussing the selections. He said that Otago, with its prowess in holding the Ranfurly Shield against all comers, semed to have been overlooked so far as outstanding players from that province were concerned. On the other hand, it could be, he said, that there were many up and coming plavers in the North Island, which, in its fuff effect, indicated that there was a big standard of improvement to be expected from that quarter during the current season.