Two Good Men.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 470, 3 June 1932, Page 11

Two Good Men.

Two Wellington players who were not accorded nominations for selection to the North Island team this year and who were considered unlucky not to receive at least a nomination, were J. R. Page and Hamilton. Page, who learnt his football at Southland High School, the schooling ground of Kilby, Johnston and members of the present South Island side, gained useful experience in England during his military college training. Since his return to Wellington his play has been marked with brilliance, though he has been at times erratic. In some quarters he is regarded as a better five-eighth than Lilburne, on account of his speed. Hamilton is a recent convert to the game from Association football. He is a crack track sprinter, and holder of the Wellington provincial title. He has taken to Rugby like a duck to water, and is now the most dangerous winger in the competition. He plays for Eastbourne, for which side he has scored many brilliant tries on the end of a chain of passing. Hamilton will receive his reward before long.

Has Tons of Speed. George Bullock-Douglas. who has been selected to play on the wing for the North Island against the South on Saturday, is an ideal type of winger with tons of speed. He was emergency for the North last season in Wellington, and came on the field late in the game to score a good try . BullockDouglas is an Aucklander, but when quite a youth went to Wangamii with his father, the late George Bullock, who was editor of the “ Wanganui Chronicle.” Young Bullock-Douglas graduated to the Wanganui Collegiate School, where he learnt his football, and it was not long before he found a place as a wing three-quarters in the first fifteen. On the conclusion of his scholastic studies he linked up with Wanganui Old Boys and went straight into the senior fifteen. From there he graduated to the representative side, and proved far more speedv than his associates. This speed brought him before the notice of Mr Ted M’Kenzie, and he was eventuallv selected for a place in this season’s North Island side. North’s Custodian. Arthur Collins (Taranaki), full-back for the North Island team, plays for the Stratford Club, which last year won the provincial championship. In 1927 Collins secured representative honours, and each year his consistent form has appealed to the Taranaki selectors. Collins, who is twenty-four years of age. graduated from junior football in Stratford in 1925 when he played for the senior team of his home town. He continued to improve until to-da}' - , in Taranaki at any rate, it is conceded that he has justly earned his inclusion in the North Island team. In club football Collins has certainly had an advantage in playing behind a fairly strong pack, but on various occasions he showed that he can play a good defensive game. There was never anv question of his ability to tackle; neither has there been any doubt regarding his kicking powers. When the goal posts are within striking distance Collins is dangerous, and in the field his accurate kicks are placed with a commendable strategy. Collins takes his football seriously, yet on the field he never loses his calm demeanour whatever the fortunes of the game may be. In height. sft lOin and weighing round about list 71b. Collins can stand up to hard knocks, a quality which he showed in a few appearances in the boxing ring some back.

Canterbury’s Full-back. 'l' Vi noiifc* +ll'l 4" A LJ /vl-varfc til

ine news mat vv. JKODerts, xne Albion and Canterbury full-back, ha been asked to stand by at Lancaste Park when the South Island meets th< North on Saturday, will be welcomec by Canterbury Rugby enthusiasts, fo it was generally felt that Roberts, i young player stil improving, anc with many foot ball years be fore him, wa f worthy of a place ii the South Islanc side. Roberts ha i been in senior foot ball in Christchurcl for several season; now, and a gooc future in the game w„s predicted foi him when he firsi came under notice Then his tackling and rush stopping were inclined to be uncertain, but his fielding and kicking attracted instanl attention. With experience his defen sive play has improved till it is of the right standard, and his kicking is a* good as ever. He is cool and fast, an excellent stamp for the last line of de fence. Roberts played a few games foi Canterbury in 1930, and was the reguiai man last year. As well as plenty ol representative experience, he has the lesson of a match against the Aus tralian side in 1931, so a big occasion is not likelv to bustle him now.

Always in the Thick. li/. Lucy, from Otago, and a member of to-morrow's South Island team, is the hard-working type of forward that is welcomed in most teams. Never letting up from the kick-off of a game, he is always in the thick of things, and uses his weight of 13.11 to the very best advantage, and is equally at home in the loose, following up smartly and being quick . at seizing an opportunity near the line. E. Lucy. Graduating from the junior grades of the I Union Club, he obtained a place in the senior pack, and was the mainstay of that team for several seasons. Since 1930 he has played for the Kaikorai team, and has been one of the outstanding packmen of that side, which has always been noted for its forward play. He represented Otago in 1929 and 1930, and last year was a member of the Otago team that did so well in the north.

Football Without Feet. In mentioning the English Rugby League team, now in Sydney, the “Star’s” correspondent says: “If they are as good as their manager says, even Australia’s chosen champions will not have much chance against them. Mr Anderton has said that they are the fastest team that ever left England, and as an added attraction he has assured us beforehand that ‘ spectators will seldom see any player kick the ball.’ To me, this seems a curious advertisement for a football team. What is the game coming to when a representative team prides itself on refusing to kick the ball? Why not have thirteen backs and drop the so-called ‘forwards’ altogether? But this is dangerous ground, and I had better stop in time.”