FINAL TRIAL

Southland Times, Issue 23255, 19 July 1937, Page 8

FINAL TRIAL

NEW ZEALAND BEATS THE REST SIMON SHOWS OUT ON DAY (United Press Association) WELLINGTON, July 17. A howling southerly gale and rain at Wellington on Saturday made the final Rugby trial, New Zealand versus The Rest, largely a forward scramble. New Zealand won by 19 points to 14. N. A. Mitchell, who scored a brilliant first try, went off injured early in the game. Parkhill, Rankin, and Jackson were prominent in the winning pack. McAuliffe, at half-back, played a sound game. Trevathan, laylor, and Dick were the best of the backs. Of the Rest, Simon showed himself a really great wet weather halfback; Crossman, first five-eighths, played the outstanding back game of the day; Ward, McKenzie and Pearce were constantly prominent in the loose scrums; and, throughout the match, Lambourne hooked successfully. Killeen distinguished himself at centre on each side in turn. The teams were as follows: New Zealand.—Taylor; Morrison, Mitchell, Dick; Hooper, Trevathan; McAuliffe; Dalton, Hadley, Jackson, Green, King, Milliken, Parkhill, Rankin. The Rest.—Gilbert; Fulton, Killeen, Cobden; Griffiths, Crossman; Simon; Hattersly, Lambourne, Pearce, Ward, Williams, Fraser-Smith, Scandrett, McKenzie. New Zealand, with the advantage of the wind in the first half, at once .took a strong offensive. After a short burst of scrappy forward play, McAuliffe set the backs in motion with a slick pass to Hooper. Trevathan ran round for a switch pass and let the ball out to Mitchell, who fended off Gilbert and touched down. Mitchell then limped off the field. Taylor replaced him at centre, and Easton came on as fullback. Trevathan failed to convert. Simon gave the ball to Griffiths, who beat a man and kicked to gam ground. The New Zealand forwards, however, surged to the line, but Gilbert cleared. In the line-outs the Rest had a strong advantage, McKenzie repeatedly snatching the ball. Simon got the backs away well, but Dick collared Cobden smartly. The backs were standing too close. Green went solo through the Rest’s scrum with the ball at his feet and found the side-line again. The Rest obtained the ball, Crossman kicking when he was closely marked. Trevathan fielded but kicked too far. He missed a penalty from near the twenty-five. Lambourne lifted his foot in the scrum. The ground was by now shockingly greasy. Cobden spoiled a promising movement by slipping. A passing movement culminated in a try when Trevathan obtained the ball from the.forwards and passed on the blind side to . Taylor who cut out his man by a quick pass to Dick. Pearce tackled Dick but the latter fell over the line and scored. Trevathan converted with a magnificent kick from the side-line. New Zealand 11, Rest 0. Morrison was prominent, leading the forwards in a dribbling rush. CHANGES MADE Several rearrangements were now made. Taylor returned to full-back, Killeen changed sides as centre threequarter in Taylor’s place, Fulton went to centre for the Rest and Phillips to the wing. This new combination of the Rest backs showed immediate merit in a lovely defensive movement. Fulton, taking a pass from Crossman, made a fine run and when he passed to Phillips he left him a promising opening, but Rankin with a handy turn of speed overtook and collared Phillips. Taylor picked up the ball and ran through the loose unchallenged and passed short to Killeen, these two between them taking play right from one end of the field to the other. Killeen tricked Gilbert by a pass to Rankin who scored, Cobden’s tackle coming just too late. A gust of wind carried Trevathan’s kick wide.

Lambourne was still easily outhooking Hadley. Gilbert was kept busy on defence and cleared several threatening forward rushes. McKenzie was prominent in line-outs. Taylor ran hard to pick up a rolling ball deftly and get in a smart line-kick. Crossman’s up and under sent the Rest’s forwards to the New Zealand line. Lambourne heeled and Simon sent the line into action but again Dick successfully marked Phillips. Morrison made a long throw-in to Hooper but Dick was in thq heavy going and could not show his speed. Play remained in New Zealand territory until a forward rush crossed it line. Trusttum scored the try. Gilbert converted. New Zealand 14, the Rest 5. Simon now pinked up in the loose and the ball was passed to Griffiths who passed two opponents and made a long run and handed on to Phillips, who fended off Dalton and Milliken and scored. Gilbert’s kick from the sideline passed just under the cross-bar. New Zealand 14, Rest 8. Ward and Pearce now broke through a loose scrimmage and once again the Rest had New Zealand defending. The Rest appeared at this stage superior both in forwards and backs, and was having a monopoly of the ball. Fowler, however, came on taking Hadley’s place and proved better able to cope with Lambourne, who though still hooking well could no longer obtain the ball all the time. The first time Fowler heeled to McAuliffe, the latter passed to Trevathan. Jackson cut in and took a short pass. He handed on to Dalton and he to Killeen. Killeen sidestepped Gilbert and Phillips and raced to the line. Taylor converted. New Zealand 19, The Rest 8. The Rest’s back line had shaken into a fair combination and despite the heavy mud made several strong attacks. From a penalty close in front of the posts, Gilbert goaled. The Rest kept New Zealand on the defence. Hard forward play on the line followed and in a hard melee the Rest pushed the New Zealand scrum across. McKenzie touched down. Gilbert’s kick failed. New Zealand 19, The Rest 14. Drenching rain marred the last few minutes’ play. McKenzie, Ward and Pearce combined ir a forward rush, and after a period of scrappy, uninteresting play Gilbert attempted to kick a penalty but failed. The game as a whole had been surprisingly open considering the day was the worst of the season so far. The ground was soaked and the wind was deceptive for kicking. WARD ONE OF BEST FORWARDS SHOULD GAIN PLACE IN ALL BLACKS (Special To The Times) WELLINGTON, July 17. Without a doubt R. H. Ward (Southland) was one of the best forwards on the field in today’s match. He was in the thick of play from the outset and there was no bettei break-away forward or line-out man in either pack. His fast following-up, fine dribbling work, and his ability to handle under atrocious conditions were among the many fine features of his game. It would appear that several out-

standing loose forwards are available for this year’s team, but Ward should not experience great difficulty in retaining his All Black cap. His play during the week’s trials has been most consistent. Mitchell played only fqr a few minutes. He handled the ball once during this time, when he completed a passing bout by beating several men and scoring a try. He then left the field with a slight limp. He has without a doubt established himself as the most brilliant centre three-quarter in the Dominion and, while his selection appears a foregone conclusion, the general feeling is that he will be asked to captain the first Test side. • The hero of today’s game was the Otago half-back, H. Simon. He came up especially for the match and, while the conditions may have suited him, his handling was particularly accurate on both defence and attack. He was the star back and more than once brought the s(and to its feet. On today’s showing he certainly comes into calculations as the All Black half-back. With Russell now out of action it is more than likely he will be preferred ahead of McAuliffe. After viewing this week’s trials a good New Zealand team would be: Taylor, Dick, Mitchell, Cobden, Hooper, Trevathan, Simon, Hadley, Lambourn, Dalton, Ward, King, Rankin, McKenzie, Parkhill.

MITCHELL’S INJURY NOT , SERIOUS A LEG MUSCLE HURT The injury received by N. A. Mitchell, the Southland captain, in the trial games at Wellington is reported to be not serious. He slightly strained a leg muscle during Wedn:sday’s game, and although it was troubling him on Saturday he did not consider it sufficient to keep him from playing. In' Saturday’s game he re eived a knock after about seven or eight minutes’ play, and apparently on the advice of the New Zealand selectors he retired rather than take further risk in the wet conditions. Mitchell and other Southland members who took part in the New Zealand trials are expected to arrive back in Invercargill by the afternoon express today.