RUGBY TRIALS

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20246, 15 July 1937, Page 10

RUGBY TRIALS

THE FINAL TEAMS. NEW ZEALAND v. REST. RUSSELL NOT INCLUDED. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Thursday. For the final All Black trial on Saturday tiie selectors have chosen a New Zealand team and “ The Rest ” from those participating in the earlier trials. The All Blacks are to be chosen at the end of the month. The te’ams announced are:—New Zealand. Full-back: Taylor (Otago). Threequarters: Sullivan (Taranaki), Mitchell (Southland), Dick (Auckland). Five-eighths: Hooper (Canterbury), Trevathan (Olago). Ilalf-back: McAuliffe (Canterbury). Forwards: Dalton (Hawke’s Ray), Hadley (Auckland . Jackson Hawke’s Bay), Rankin (Canterbury . Mililken (Canterbury), King (West Coast), Gre’en (Otago) and Parkhill (Otago). The Rest. Full-back: Gilbert (West Coast). Three-quarters: Morrison (South Canterbury), Solomon (Auckland), Cobden (Canterbury). Five-eighths: Griffiths (Wellington), Grossman (King Country). Half-back: Simon (Otago). Forwards: Hattersley (Canterbury). Lambourn (Wellington), Pearce (Auckland), McKenzie (Manawatu . Reid (Hawke's Bay), Williams Canterbury) , Ward (Southland) and Scandre'tt (West Coast). Reserves for either side:—Backs: Easton (North Otago), Killeen (Auckland), Brinsden (Nelson), Saxton (South Canterbury). Forwards: Orman (Buller), Fowler (Taranaki), Fraser-Smith (Wellington), Trustrum (King Country).

PLETHORA OF MATCHES. SELECTORS’ DIFFICULT TASK. HALF-BACKS DISAPPOINTING. (Special to Times.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday. In view of the difficulties experienced by the selectors in making tiie changes for to-day’s All Black trial i matches it was evident that too many I matches had been crammed into a I short period. In addition to that, fer | one half of one of the games one team was one man short and another finished the game with 13 players, there being no fit players available to fill the gaps. The engagements were far from satisfactory, principally through playing games on tiie Monday. The selectors. who realise the mistakes, will no doubt suggest the curtailment of matches in the next trials in one centre. The selectors have decided to dispense with the first of next Saturday's final trials, hut the players not required for the otlier match will be permitted to remain here at tiie New Zealand Rugby Union's expense. The effect of playing in the early i match was again evident to-day, when ! one team, led by Best, and the other by Lambourne, failed lo show ttie form expected of players in the running for New Zealand honours. But, of course, previous games are taken into account. Halfback Problem. Whether Griffiths or Solomon would solve the halfback problem is a point attracting a lot of interest. Neither was prominent but they were handicapped by the general, poor standard of play and Griffiths, in particular, by the weakness of the Wanganui fiveeighths. However, lie gave a better display than Solomon. Hook was not seen at his best and Easton, who is good, fell short of Taylor and Gilbert. The forwards played well, but as a trial match the gyme was ragged and could count nothing so far as the selection of a New Zealand team was concerned. Gilbert and Taylor gave good displays as fullbacks. Gilbert being slightly the better, giving just a shade more sense of security. Dick, of ! Auckland, was a first-class winger. Tiie five-eighths’ play was generally good, Killeen showing that the position suits turn better than centre th?•«».* quarter. Grossman did not come up to expectations. Love at centre three-quarter, called on at th'» last minute, played a good game, beating Mitchell at times. He plays second division football in Marlborough. Mitchell was not up to his usual form, his leg giving him a good deal of trouble. REQUEST TO H. SIMON. HALFBACK FOR FINAL TRIAL. (bv T**!*>gr-''d tcan.i»Mn« DUNEDIN, Wednesday. The Otago halfback 11. Simon has been requested to lake part in the final Rugby trial in Wellington on Saturday. lie will probably leave for Wellington. REFEREES CHOSEN. SPRINGBOKS’ TOUR. Ri WELLINGTON. Wednesday. The following referees have been appointed for pening matches of the Springboks’ New Zealand tour: Auckland, July 24.—Mr A. Thompson King Country). Waikato-Thames Valley-King Country. July 28. Mr j. a. Malcolm Auckland). Taranaki, July 31.—Mr A. de Clifton (Wellington).