REPRESENTATIVE FOOTBALL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 21 July 1934, Page 5

REPRESENTATIVE FOOTBALL.

(The Editor.) Sir, —As an interested spectator of the Wairarapa v. Wellington match, may I be permitted to give my impressions of the game. There is no doubt that Wairarapa won* the match by superior play both in back and forward divisions. One wonders how our “ All Blacks’’ will get on in Australia if some of their players play as they did on Wednesday. Take the half-back. To my mind and many others sitting by me, I consider his play was hardly up to senior standard, his passes being • vile. Hardly a good pass was sent to Lilburne, who had to scoop tlie ball from the ground. Most of the passes were along the ground and the fiveeighths was smothered before he could gather them in, while the wingers hardly took a pass all the day. To see pass after pass being dropped made me wonder why such players could be invV.eluded in a representative team. With behind their pack the Welling-

ton team might have done much better 4 as he outshone Kilby in every movement. His defence was excellent and passes to Himona were perfect, ’jpie latter was splendid. Eon Devine if lie continues to play as he did in this match, will undoubtedly wear the Silver Fern. Stringfellow, Fitzgerald and Booth all played great football, while Hemi at full-back was splendid, his fielding and kicking being almost equal to Nepia’s play. The forwards worked together excellently and were a credit to Wairarapa. Trass, I consider equal to any forward in the Wellington team, and Reid, MeCalmont and Howard were very conspicuous, their dribbling being a treat to see. Every forward was on the ball from start to finish and they worried the opposing backs in great style. One wonders when they see brilliant backs of two seasons ago, such as Ball and Fuller, playing so badly, and it must have been heart-breaking to their forwards to see them drop pass aftei pass and fail to tackle time and again. However had Wellington fielded its best team I certainly think Wairarapa bn the day’s play would have defeated them. Now, Sir, this may bring forth criticism from more qualified persons myself but I wish to extend to Wairarapa team my hearty congratulations on their well-deserve<j win. I am, etc., ‘‘TOUCHLINE. ’ ’