RUGBY SOUND STANDARD IN TRIAL GAME

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28265, 1 May 1957, Page 14

RUGBY SOUND STANDARD IN TRIAL GAME

The final South Island All Black trial at Lancaster Park yesterday was not an occasion on which great reputations were made or lost: there were a few individuals who stood out, a general air of competence, and the lack of combination typical of a trial match, where players often revert to their primary school days and follow a policy of running with the ball until they are stopped.

A crowd of about 4000 enjoyed the sunshine, a few spectacular tries, and the lack of tension about the match, a relief after several seasons of shield and Springbok matches. The New Zealand selectors (Messrs J. L. Sullivan, R. A. Everest and R. R. King) will take north with them a reminder that South Island forward play is of a high standard, and that the island can also provide three or four backs of real competence. The Probables beat the Possibles, by 22 points to nine, and for a solid hour was clearly the better team.

The teams were:— Probables: D. L. Ashby (S.); P. Mcllroy (O.), A. E. G. Elsom (C.), F. Gugich (W.C.); H. J. Levien (O.), S. G. Bremner (C.); B. J. Molloy (C.); A. J. Soper (S.); G. Anderson (B.), N. Teague <C.), T. Edgerton (W.C.), W. D. Gillespie CO.); E. Hem (C.), Young (C.), W. J. Whineray (C.). Possibles: W. C. Wilson (O.); M. J. Dixon (C.), J. R. Watt (S.), R. M. Smith (C.); E. M. Flaherty (M.C.), W. R. Archer (S.); L. J. Townsend (O.); H. C. Burry (C.); J. B. Buxton (O.), S. F. Hill (C.), K. F. Meates (C.), T. D. Coughlan (S.C.); F. S. McAtamney (O.), J. Anderson (O.), J. Shaw (B.). The abbreviations used in the team lists are: 8., Buller; C., Canterbury; 0., Otago; S., Southland; M.C., Mid-Canterbury; W.C., West Coast. The use of the kick-in-touch rule which will be played on the Australian tour did not prevent the match from looking very like a meeting of two good teams too early in the season for either to have won much understanding among its players. There* were some very good movements in the first spell, fewer in the second, when the pace slackened appreciably. In all, there were 65 lineouts, a much higher total than one might have expected with the restriction on line-kicking, but the total was probably smaller than in the average club match, and the reduction carried with it a drop in the number of set scrums. Playing conditions could hardly have been better, but trial matches being what they are, there were very few orthodox attacking movements, a complete lack of the rhythmic passing and backingup of a well-trained team. Individual players did some astonishing things from time to time, but recollections of the game remained pictures of individuals, so that in at least one way, the trial was without much value. For the first 10 minutes and the last 10, the Possibles looked the better team, and for almost the whole match the Possibles had rather more than an even share of possession. This was brought about largely by the splendid jumping of Hill and Meates in the line-outs. Their domination was not seriously challenged until the second spell, when Whinerary managed to counter them successfully. Possibles won the line-outs, 15-7, in the first spell, but was only six ahead, 25-19, at the finish. The Full-backs Ashby was the better of the full-backs, although he was not as often under pressure as Wilson. Ashby, a high scorer for Southland—as Canterbury players may recall—is strongly built, fast, and determined. He seemed untroubled by the change in linekicking technique, and not many adapted themselves to it so readily.

The losing team’s three-quarters line was the stronger and more formidable, although the wings on both sides seldom saw the ball unless it was during one of the many scrambling passages in the game. Dixon, irrepressible as ever, successfully made his own play once or twice, and Smith, after achieving nothing with two attempts to join an open side movement from the blind, produced a thrilling run down the touch-line in which he left his marker, Mcllroy, and beat several other defenders before sending in a well-judged kick towards the middle. Watt was clearly Elsom’s superior, although Elsom twice achieved spectacular solo efforts of which Watt w:s probably incapable. Watt- was sounder with his tackling—it was strange to see Elsom miss his man at all, but he failed several times—he handled better, and for the first half at least, he was one of the outstand-; ing backs. Elsom’s first try was an extraordinary one. He picked up a rolling ball on the run, magnificently, and cleaved a way through most of the defence. He had to run 35 yards to score, with Dixon along side him for the last 20 yards, apparently under the impression that Elsom intended to pass. Later in the game a burst by Elsom which carried him between two defenders led to another spectacular try, but he was not consistent in any phase of his play.

For most of the game the inside back combination of Molloy and Bremner was distinctly better than that of Townsend and Archer. In his first major trial, Molloy acquitted himself splendidly. His passes were of good length, and accurate. Bremner Confident Molloy was quick to seize an opening, he covered well in de-' fence. Bremner was confident and assured, and his strong running and tackling marked him out. But in the final 15 minutes Townsend and Archer were at their best Molloy made one or two errors, and Bremner was beaten by Archer two or three times. At that stage Townsend’s passing was of great length, and he helped Archer end the game on a high note. The Probables second fiveeighths, Levien, did little of note in the first spell, but he made some very determined runs later. His speed twice left defenders clutching ludicrously when he won possession in broken play, but like most of the other outside backs, he seldom looked likely to make an opening from set play. If Whineray misses All Black

selection this year, it will be more than merely surprising. He never flagged throughout the match, and with his strength and stamina he allies shrewdness, fortitude, and handling ability above the average. The others in his front row. Hern and Young, were also in fine form. Hern seldom emerged from the tight play, and Young was rarely visible, until he came up outside Levien to score a very fine try.

One of the other outstanding forwards was the Southland number eight, Soper. He is a far more polished footballer than he seemed to be when he played in Christchurch last year. Soper has beefi sprinting competitively during the summer, and he is extremely fit. He was the best loose forward on the ground, although G. Anderson, less gifted in some respects, was a tremendous trier from first to last. Teague played a particularly useful game, and so did Gillespie. The many admirers of Burry’s play were bitterly disappointed at his ill-fortune. Burry was injured in Saturday’s club match, and he received a hard knock again yesterday. He continued after a brief spell, but was hurt again and had to leave the field. He was unable to do himself justice, and it was a great pity, for he has never played better than he has this season.

Buxton recalled some of Canterbury’s recent glories with his dashing game from the flank. He led some spirited attacks and showed his usual all-round competence. Coughlan played well, but the outstanding Possibles forwards were Hill and Meates. While Meates was especially prominent in the line-outs, Hill did more than his share there and was outstanding in nearly everything he did. Few forwards can match Hill for zeal or wholehearted determination. He is a certainty for the Australian tour. The Scoring

Watt kicked two penalty goals for Possibles in the first few minutes, but when Young won the first of the two tight heads he took from J. Anderson, Probables scored. Bremner burst half-way through the defence and from the ruck Molloy was quickly through an opening. Ashby converted the try. When Wilson, attempting to take a high kick, knocked forward Elsom swooped on the ball and was away before the defenders had set themselves. He ran 35 yards to score near the corner. A penalty goal by Ashby made the score 11-6 at the interval.

Ashby showed his usefulness on attack when he was outside Elsom after a cut-through, but he failed to convert his try. Then Levien ran through half the Possibles team to send Young over. Ashby converted. A few minutes from time Watt kicked his third penalty goal, a somewhat profitless business, and just before the end Soper made a splendid dash from a line-out from which G. Anderson scored a try. The referee was Mr L Armishaw.

Australian Players Injured

(N.Z. Press Association Copyright) (Rec. 10 p.m.) SYDNEY, April 30 Two of Australia’s top prospects to meet the All Blacks, the fast flank forwards John Thornett and Mac Hughes, are out of action with injuries. Thornett, who mured New Zealand with the 1955 Wallabies, has withdrawn from next Saturday’s City v. Country matches because of a broken jaw. Hughes, a test player against South Africa and New Zealand, missed selection because of a leg muscle injury. As part of the New South Wales Rugby Union’s intensive preparations for the All Blacks’ visit, two Sydney City teams will play two Country sides on Saturday. The Australian captain, Alan Cameron, who missed a club match last Saturday because of ia knee injury, has been passed fit to play for the City A team.

AUSTRALIAN ARMY TEAM

Possible Visit To N.Z. Next Year j (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, April 30. An Australian Army Rugby team might tour New Zealand next season and play matches against minor unions and Services’ teams, said the manager of the New Zealand Army indoor basketball team (Captain W. H. Dyson), who returned with the team in the Wanganella this morning. Captain Dyson said the basketball team had won eight of the 11 matches. All the matches were played in New South Wales and Victoria. He said the team was the first New Zealand Army sports team to travel overseas on tour. Captain Dyson said the Australians were keen to pay a return visit in either Rugby or indoor basketball. If a Rugby team was sent, it would probably play some of the weaker unions, the Combined Services’ side, and probably an test against a New Zealand Army team.