MITCHELL AND HOOPER

Southland Times, Issue 23254, 17 July 1937, Page 20

MITCHELL AND HOOPER

NORTH-SOUTH GAME Probably the outstanding feature of the North Island-South Island game last Saturday was the play of the inside backs of the South Island team, D. Trevathan (Otago), J. A. Hooper (Canterbury) and N. A. Mitchell (Southland). The solidity of Trevathan and the brilliance of Hooper and Mitchell, according to reports, were commendable in every way, and on that form alone it was freely expected by the many Rugby writers and critics assembled i.i Wellington that the South Island trir would be hard to displace in the first New Zealand team. Commenting on the play, The Sports Post, Wellington, said:— As a means of sorting out . possibilities for the All Black team, the match was excellent, and it seemed that the search for a penetrative fiveeighths has ended with J. A. Hooper, of Canterbury He established himself by a succession of brilliant cutsthrough. His ability to beat an opponent by a hip-shift was remarkable. Outside him “Brushy” Mitchell showed that he is, if anything, the best back in New Zealand. He was splendidly sound on defence, and on attack he showed great pace and a deceptive swerve, To score his first try he raced 60 yards along the touchline, beating opponents all the way, and for the last try of the game he confounded Phillips by swerving from side to side as he ran for the line. His was a capital performance in all respects. The South team was unquestionably

the better side. The backs worked together better, and the forwards, ably led by King and Hattersley, were much more solid than the North.

Where the South backs gained was that the line from half to three-quarter was perfectly sound, and at times brilliant. Trevathan, less solidly built than one expected, was an extremely capable first five-eighth, passing with judgment and kicking with power. His goal kicks were excellent.