EVE OF BIG MATCH.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 May 1924, Page 4

EVE OF BIG MATCH.

TO-DAY’S ALL BLACK TRIAL. ELECT OF BOTH ISLANDS. J: FINE WEATHER PROSPECTS. EXCITING GAME EXPECTED. ... i- ' ll (By Wire—Special Reporter.) Wellington, Last Night. To-morrow’s match between the North and South Island is exciting the keenest interest and indications point to a very large attendance as crowds of visitors are in town from all parts of both islands. The prospects at present are for fine weather, there- having been no rain since before noon. The ground, though somewhat heavy to-day, has dried considerably, and with fine weather should be in fair order. The game is expected to be a memorable one. Both teams indulged in practice today—South Island this morning and North Island this afternoon—spectators being much struck with the splendid physique of the forwards of both teams. It is expected here that the North will win, as they appear to possess more sting. The players were examined by doctors to-day, and it is understood that all, with the exception of one South Island player, passed satisfactorily. Hart (the Taranaki wing-threequarter), who has been suffering from influenza, appears to have made a good recovery. He will be playing opposite Steel, the West Coast greyhound. West and Brown are also in good form for Tuesday’s match between the New Zealand probables and possibles.

To-morrow evening a number of certainties will be announced, but so far no pronouncement has been made as to any member of the team being a certainty. That depends on their showing to-morrow. AH the emergencies, of which there are a total of thirteen in the two teams, will be given a chance of inclusion in the final twenty-nine, being played in the PossibleProbable match on Tuesday. It has not yet been definitely decided as to what the constitution of the twenty-nine will be, but it is probable that there will be a bare majority of forwards taken. Perry will captain the South Island team and Porter the North Island in to-morrow’r match. The teams have been selected as under NORTH ISLAND. Backs. Full-back: Nepia (Hawke’s Bay). Wing-three-quarters: Lucas (Auckland) and Hart (Taranaki). Centre three-quarter: Svenson (Wellington). Five-eighths: Cooke (Auckland) and Mark Nicholls. (Wellington). Half: Mill (Hawke’s Bay). Forwards. Front row: Irvine (Hawke’s Bay) an 3 Quinton Donald (Wairarapa). Lock: Harvey (Wairarapa). Side supports: Maurice Brownlee and Cyril Brownlee (Hawke’s Bay). Back row: Pringle and McNab (Hawke’s Bay). Wing-forward: Porter (Wellington). Emergencies. Backs: H. E. Nicholls (Wellington), Paewai (Hawke’s Bay) and Brown (Taranaki). Forwards: Lomas (Auckland), Knigftj (Auckland), and West (Taranaki). SOUTH ISLAND. Backs. FuU-back: D. Fairbrother (South Canterbury). Three-quarters: Steel (West Coast), Gil mour (Southland), Robilliard (Canterbury). Five-eighths: McGregor (Canterbury), Perry (Otago), captain. Halfback: St. George (Otago). Forwards. Wing-forward: Parker (Canterbury). Hookers: McCleary (Canterbury), Munro (Otago). Lock: Masters (Canterbury). Supports: Richardson (Southland), Stewart (South Canterbury). Back row: White (Southland), Turpin (Canterbury). Emergencies. Backs: Dailey (Canterbury), Elvey (Canterbury), Bell (Southland). Forwards: Williams (Otago), Tunnicliffe (Buller), O’Regan (West Coast), Snow (Nelson).