FOOTBALL.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LI, Issue 16772, 3 July 1925, Page 10

FOOTBALL.

MATCH AGAINST ALL BLACKS, (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, last night. Tito team to play the All Blacks on Wednesday is: Full-back. Akuita (ManawaUi). Three-quarters, Svensou (Wellington), Bi'uphv. Leader (Manawalu). Five-eighths, Love and Nicholls (Wellington). Half, Warwick (Wellington). Forwards, wing. Porter .Wellington) capt.; S. 'Shearer and V ilson (Wellington), Tana. (Horowhenua). ,1. Shearer (Wellington), Monyihan (Hole,vbenun), Russel (Manawatu), Jacob (Horowhenua). Emergencies: Backs, Moses (Horn* whenua), Malfrov (Wellington); forwards. Martin and Smith (Wellington), McDonald (Manavratu). RUGBY. (By “Onlooker.”) To-morrow’s programme at the Oval includes the usual two senior matches, two junior, and three third-grade games. There should be good attendances, lor the senior competition is in a critical stage. k * * * Naturally, Old Boys will spare no trouble to have the best available team out for their match with Celtic, for it they are beaten in this match they have little hope of again taking the lead from thw Celts. Y.M.P. and Hovers meet on No. 7> ground, and it should be a fairly even match. * * # * The names of the twenty possible senior representative players, published on Wednesday, have given rise io a lot of discussion, and. as usual, the inclusion of one or t\Vo names and the exclusion of others are being freely commented on. It is generally recognised that the selectores had not as wide a Held of selection as they had earlier in the season, by reason of the uncommonly heavy casualty list among those players who were looked on as certain to gain rep. honors * * * * Look at the list of injured men below. Everyone of them was a probable representative, and though some will be available for (lie Bush Union match., those whose injuries are slower to mend leave a big hole in the to)) strata of Rugby players of Poverty Bay. Consider the casualty list—Martin (Celtic) head; Mount (O.B.), back; Thomas ((J.8.), ribs; Cow dell (Celtic), knee; Morrison (O.B.), shoulder; Little (Celtic), ankle; King! (Y.M.P.), ankle; Mae Fa tlane (Y.M.P.), shoulder. * # * * It will bo noted that Celtic and Old Boys are each represented by three men on tlm list, Y.M.P. by two, and Rovers not at all. There may have been fairly serious injuries among the Rovers that have riot been noted, but nolle, fortunately, affecting their representatives. Martin possibly will not play again; Thomas is out for several weeks; Kingi is reported to be an unlikely starter for the balance of the season; Cowdell is nursing, an injury that will probably prevent an early appearance; and Little is getting round with the aid of a stick. Mount- should rest his hack for the season; Bennett professes himself ready to turn out, but is uncertain about the full recovery of his shoulder; Morrison is “cracking hardy” too, but may not be in condition to last out a game. MacFarlane had a bad shoulder, but is now pretty right. . * # * * The limelight falls upon one new name in particular—that of Murland, the Celtic three-quarter. It was one of the names “Onlooker” queried first, for when the writer last, saw him in action, Murland wasn’t anything to write home about. That was in tile Old Boys— Celtic match, three weeks ago, however, and it is said he has come on apace since then. To “Onlooker’s” knowledge, he is a very determined runner, who can work up to a fair condition, and who can come again after the hardest fall—a quality that makes itself felt in the last quarter of a hard game. On the foundation of his determination and stamina, it seems, he has worked Up a good knowledge of the finer points of wing three-quarter play, and where, three or four weeks ago, he never appeared to think of anything more than running down the line until charged out, now lie may be seen sidestepping, reverse-passing, and fending in a. most, satisfactory manner. If this good report of him is justified. Murland is well on his way to rep. honors. He .will have his opportunity to show his wares to-morrow. * •» * » Looking over the twenty names su.bmittee, “Onlooker” wondered who was going to partner Jack Heeney in the front rank of the serum, but on inquiry found Hint Morrison had had some experience of hooking in Taranaki, and if he is well, will fill the hill with Heeney. He is a great grafter in the scrum. Dennis, who locked the scrum on the Coast visit in a thoroughly satisfactory way , is given a chance among the possibles, but it is hardly to he expected that lie. will gain a place in the team purely because he can hold the pack together in the scrummages.' Marino, the Motu-Sub Union player, is reported to he ft brilliant wing-for Ward, and may fill that position with the reps. % X * * Hero is “Onlooker’s” idea of tint team as it should take the field, presuming nothing occurs to-morrow to upset the fonn of the different players: Woods, MaeFarhtiie, Benhetl. Whaitiri, Arkle, W. Lahglnnds, P. Smith, Harrison, Matthews, Lewis, Burdett, Wlmitiri, Marino (w.f.), Heeney, Morrison. *• * * * ' 'Jim selectors will have plenty to do to-morrow, for in addition to watching their “Imitative twenty,” or nineteen, they will be keeping an. eye lifting for any new talent that may appear. Celtic, for instance, proposes to step out Tipi Kopua. who played for Hawke’s Bay last year against Poverty Bay at-Gis-borne/ Ho has not had an Opporunity Of playing this season, oil account of a leg injury, blit if he- can. show his old form, it is said he will strengthen the representative field of selection in Poverty Bay.