NORTH V. SOUTH

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20768, 1 July 1937, Page 10

NORTH V. SOUTH

T. MORRISON GAINS A PLACE TWO SOUTH CANTERBURY EMERGENCIES By Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTON, June 30 The teams to represent the North and South Islands at Wellington on July 10 have been selected as follows: North Island Full-back: H. R. Pollock (Wellington). Threequarters: J. M. Watt (Wellington), J. L. Sullivan (Taranaki), W. Phillips (King Country). Five-eighths: D. Solomon (Auckland), C. Crossman (King Country). Half-back: L. Clothier (Hawke’s Bay). Front row: E. Jackson (Hawke’s Bay), D. Dalton (Hawke’s Bay), A. Lambourn (Wellington). Centre row: R. McKenzie (Manawatu), S. Reid (Hawke’s Bay), A. Bowman (Hawke's Bay), J. Wells (Wellington). Back row: T. H. Pearce (Auckland). Reserves—Forwards: R. K. Anderson (Auckland), A. H. Andrews (Wellington); backs: D. G. Barton (Wanganui), C. Le Quesne (Wellington). B. S. Sadler (Wellington), half-back, was not considered by the selectors oiwing to an injury he received in a club match last Saturday. South Island Full-back: J. Taylor (Otago). Three-quarters: T. Morrison (South Canterbury), N. A. Mitchell (Southland), G. D. Cobden (Canterbury). Five-eighths: D. Trevathan (Otago) first, J. A. Hooper (Canterbury) second. Half-back: J. J. McAuliffe (Canterbury). Front row: J. O. Hattersley (Canterbury), G. Orman (Buller), C. E. Quaid (Otago). Centre row: J. Rankin (Canterbury), R. B. King (West Coast), H. Milliken (Canterbury), R. H. Ward (Southland). Back row: A. A. Parkhill (Otago). Reserves —Forwards : L. Niven (Otago), J. Strang (South Canterbury); backs, C. Saxton (South Canterbury), A. Black (Otago). NOTES ON THE BACKS SOUTH ISLAND PLAYERS J. TAYLOR, Otago, went on tour with the provincial team in 1935. The next season he replaced W. McFarland as the regular full-back, and this year has been showing excellent form. His line-kicking work is well suited to the amended rule. Weight, 12st. 11b. T. C. MORRISON, South Canterbury, 6ft. and 12st. 91b., played in the first Wellington trial in 1935, and also for the South Island. In that year he headed the list of New Zealand

try-scorers with 12 in as many games. N. A. MITCHELL, Southland, acclaimed by the touring Australians last year as the best back in New Zealand. Southland since 1932, South Island 1934, New Zealand on the British tour 1935, playing in 22 games and scoring 12 tries. Regarded as first choice for the 1937 All Blacks. sft. Ilin., 12st. 31b. D. G. COBDEN, Canterbury, was also a first “cap” last season, and is not to be confused with A. P. Cobden, the first five-eighth of the previous year. The winger’s speed is not at first apparent owing to his long, loping stride, but he is a hard man to get hold of. Cobden is over 6ft. in height and weighs over 13st. D. TREVATHAN, South Island (1935) and Otago first five-eighth, has come to be known as the most prolific

scorer of points in New Zealand. Last year, with tries, conversions, penalty goals, and dropped goals, he scored 78 points in interprovincial games alone—nearly half of Otago’s points. As a five-eighth he is solid rather than brilliant, but with an unskilled man to mark him he can give valuable direction to his team’s attack. Otago critics discount the suggestion that he is slow, and point out that his weight enables him to break through the opposition when his team is close to the opponent’s line. 24. sft. Bin. 12st.

J. A. HOOPER, second five-eighth, was unknown in big football before last season, but then played seven games for Canterbury. Hooper was too fast and elusive for Wellington on May 12, and in a duel with C. M. Le Quesne the honours rested with him. 23. sft. loin., list. J. J. McAULIFFE, Canterbury, has a fine record, but has been somewhat unfortunate with injuries. He is captain of Canterbury University. He has served the provincial side well for a number of years by play marked by solidity rather than brilliance. His attacking game is clean and correct, and he is especially valuable on defence against heavy forwards; 24, sft. 9in., list 91b. C. SAXTON, South Canterbury, mov.ed to Timaru after representing Otago for the two previous seasons. There he was a rival to H. Simon, last year’s South Island half, and was considered by many in the south to have overshadowed him. Saxton was in the Otago team which captured the Ranfurly Shield from Canterbury in 1935, and in the same year was chosen as the South Island half, but was unable to play. Has played brilliant football this season and may get an opportunity in the trial game. J. T. STRANG, South Canterbury, was an emergency for the South Island in 1935, playing in the second spell. A fine stamp of forward and has reached top form in recent matches. Should get his chance in the trial games. 22. 6ft. 14.2.

NORTH ISLAND BACKS

H. R. POLLOCK, Wellington, has represented Wellington since 1930; his versatility is shown by his playing in nearly every back position. North Island and All Black (Australian tour), 1932, North Island. 1935-36. Both Tests against Australia last year in the full-back position. After one or two games as full-back this year he moved to first five-eighth for Petone, and his play has been so outstanding that Wellington supporters hope that if he is reckoned too light for the custodian position against the Springboks he will be the All Black first five-eighth. J. M. WATT, Wellington, 1936 All Black, might have made the British tour if he had been available. After representing Otago in 1935-36 he moved to Wellington. He revealed all his old form in the early games this season and has developed a deceptive side-step which makes him a hard man to grasp.

J. L. SULLIVAN, Taranaki, sft. 9in„ 12st 51b, attracted attention when he scored four tries in a match against Wanganui in 1934. Represented the North Island last year and was an All Black emergency, although he played in the practice match v. South Canterbury. This year the speedy and heady centre has been showing his best form, and is expected to be the selectors’ choice for the position. W. J. PHILLIPS, King Country, is a big Maori winger. 6ft. in height and 13st in weight. On the Nev; Zealand Maori tour of Australia in 1935 he played on the wing and at five-eighth, scoring six tries in 10 games. He was again a prolific try-getter for King Country last year, and as he possesses all the necessary attributes he is strongly favoured for higher honours. D. SOLOMON, Auckland, played his first senior football in the Matamata

sub-union, Waikato, as a half-back. The Waikato selector discovered in him a first five-eighth of ability, and he later went to Auckland to join his brother Frank in the Ponsonby club. From there he was selected for the 1935 British tour, but failed to strike the form expected of him. However, he showed flashes of brilliance for Auckland last season and this year has performed with distinction in every club and representative match. He can play in every inside back position, his best work this season being at centre and second five-eighth. His defensive work is particularly strong; he is a heavy man for his weight—sft Sin. and list. 131 b.—and although he appears to have a slow stride this is deceptive, as he is fast, with a baffling swerve.

G. CROSSMAN, King Country, is the most discussed footballer in New Zealand to-day. First senior football for Inglewood, Taranaki, 1930. Auckland Training College and Auckland B wing-forward, 1931. Returned to half-back position 1932. Playing for Clifton, Taranaki, 1933, broke a leg and was out of action for some time. The next year he went to Ohura, King Country, and last season burst into the limelight in the match King Country v. Auckland, when the country team beat a strong, though not the best, city side 33-13, and Crossman at first five-eighth scored four tries. L. CLOTHIER, Hawke's Bay, possesses a knowledge of half-back play gathered over many years behind the Bay scrum, and supporters in the province are anxious to see get a chance this year which has been denied him

in the past. He played in the Napier trial in 1935, but was not selected L o go further. His weight makes him a particularly sound defensive half as well as a solid, orthodox attacking man. 25. sft. 7in. list 71b. WAIRARAPA ROUTED By Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTON, June 30. Wellington overwhelmed Wairarapa by 60 points to 8 in a representative match to-day. The weather was ideal, the ground firm and the attendance under 5000. The match gave no opportunity for the New Zealand selectors, all of whom were present, to gauge the merits of the players nominated or likely to be nominated for the All Black trials, as it was more a practice run for Wellington than a contest of football strength. Wairarapa fielded a young, inexperienced team, no member of which showed football ability above the average. The scorers for Wellington were Hansen (5), Griffiths (2), Edwards, Pringle, Le Quesne, Andrews, Leahy, Fleming and J. Wells. Pollock converted three and Fleming four, while Griffiths dropped a goal. For Wairarapa Grantham scored a try which Brunton converted. He also kicked a penalty goal.