AUCKLAND V. NORTHERN WAIROA

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIII, Issue VI, 5 August 1899, Page 198

AUCKLAND V. NORTHERN WAIROA

THE AUCKLAND TEAM. Mr Arneil has chosen the following team to represent Auckland against Northern Wairoa next- Saturday at Potter’s Paddock:— Full-back. Cifrdno; three-quarters, Absolum, McPike, Pillenger; fiveeighths, Gerrard; half, Nicholson; forwards, Irvine, Gillet, Neighbour, Scott. Matheson, Gallagher, Eaton; wings, Pitt and Clarke. Emergencies: Donovan, Renwick, Asher, Hay. Young (backs), and Murray. McGregor, A. Wilson, Doran and J. Brady (forwards). Mr Arneil has selected the above team to represent Auckland against Northern Wairoa on Saturday next. The team ought certainly to be quite good enough to win.but in myopinion Mr Arniel has not been at all happy in his selection. Taking the full baek first, I don’t think Cardno is the best man we have in the position, and granting that H. Smith has played a bit below his best form this season, he is £till head and shoulders above Cardno. No fault can be found with the three quarters, and I am pleased that the selector has recognised the sterling nature of Pillenger's play. I should hare preferred to have seen four three quarters and no wings, but the Auckland authorities seem wedded to these players. The fiveeighths seems to me one of the biggest blots on the selection. It almost looks as if Mr Arneil had made up his mind that Gerrard must be in the team at all costs, and finding that he could not put him in as three quarter (his usual position) has picked him as five-eighths, a place for which he has absolutely no qualifications, at least if Saturday's play be taken as a guide. There are any number of fiveeighths in Auckland who can play a' far better game in the position than any he has shown. Not much fault can be found with Nicholson at half, but I still think that Young has prov--ed himself a better man. The forwards with two exceptions are right enough, but there are I think a number of players far superior to Gallagher and Eaton. The former was originally selected to play in the front row. but failed badly in that position, and is now relegated to the back row to the exclusion of Murray, his master in any forward position. I don’t know what Eaton is in for unless for his plaice kicking, and surely that is not sufficient ground for his selection, seeing that the team has, in McPike,a reliable place kick. If we are to play wings, I should like to have the best available, and in my opinion both Brady and Doran are far better than Pitt. I prefer Brady, as he plays off side less than any wing player we have, which is a big consideration when playing with a strict referee.