NORTH ISLAND TRIALS

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28266, 2 May 1957, Page 12

NORTH ISLAND TRIALS

McMullen Most Impressive (New Zea Land Press Association) PALMERSTON NORTH, May 1. Although there were periods of unaccountably poor passing and handling, both North Island All Black Rugby trials in Palmerston North today proved conclusively that New Zealand will be able to field speedy and enterprising backs and powerful forwards for the tour to Australia this month. Judged purely and simply _as trial matches, both games were of obvious benefit to the All Black selectors. Easily the most gratifying features were the brilliance of the Auckland centre three-quarter, F. McMullen, who engineered one try, and later side-stepped his way past three or four defenders to score two himself; several gloriously penetrative runs by R. H. Brown, last year’s All Black centre three-quarters and first-five-eighths, who scored three tries; the accurate passing of A. R. Reid, and a magnificent game by the Wellington forward, D. N. Mclntosh.

Under the ideal conditions, and before a crowd of between 6000 and 7000, most of the players, however, acquitted themselves well. In the early stages, Mclntosh’s Possibles team held a decided advantage forward, and the three Aucklanders, K. R. Davis (halfback), T. R. Lineen (second fiveeighths), and McMullen, kept the team on attack by straight running and good handling. Later in the game, Reid’s team held command, and it was noticeable that this advantage was achieved as much by the personal contributions of the All Black trio, Reid, Brown, and W. N. Gray, as it was by the efficiency of J. S. B. Hutchison, C. E. Meads, and P. S. Burke in the forwards.

Strong Forwards Meads worked tirelessly in the loose, in spite of the fact that he was often caught off-side, and Hutchison and Burke were a tower of strength in the line-outs. The duels between the wing threequarters added greatly to the interest in the attacking play. W. S. S. Freebaim and D. Green, both of whom scored spectacular tries, were the most impressive. D. B. Clarke, the hero of last season’s third and fourth tests, had a much better match than D. Wright, although it was noticeable throughout the play that he had difficulty in adapting himself to the new’ kick-into-touch rule. Clarke, however, kicked a fine field goal, two penalties, and two conversions, and narrowly missed a penalty from two yards inside his own half. Both packs staged a battle royal in all departments of forward play and in spite of the fact that a good many rucks and line-outs had an inconclusive outcome, there was a good deal to enthuse about in the energy of the loose play. In this department. Meads, Mclntosh, and R. Blake played extremely well, while Mac Ewan, I. M. H. Vodanovich, I. J. Clarke, and M. W. Wooster toiled to good effect in the tight. Mac Ewan, however, did not hold his usual dominance in the line-outs, where Burke and Hutchison were a tower of strength for the opposition. J. K. Sage outhooked P. Cooper, a last-minute replacement for R. C. Hemi, who is still suffering from a slightly pulled leg muscle. For Possibles, who won by 28 points to 19, Brown (3), Blake, and Green scored tries. D. B. Clarke kicked two conversions, two penalty goals, and a field goal. For Probables, McMullen (2), Lineen, M. J. McDonald, and Freebairn scored and D. Wright kicked two conversions. Kicked 18 Points

K. Karaka, the young East Coast Maori full-back, had the most successful day of hjs short career when he kicked five penalties and a field goal, to give Possibles 24 points to 15 in an earlier game. Karaka was competent in all other departments of play. Particularly in the accuracy and length of his line-kicking. For the most part, however, play was scrappy, with neither backline functioning as a happy unit. The best prospects among the backs seemed to be the young Taranaki first five-eighths, J. McCulloch, who handled good and difficult passes with the same certainty, a lively winger, B. V. Scown, and R. Keepa, the Bay of Plenty half-back. H. C. Marrett seemed a better back than B. Watson, who has been preferred for Saturday’s trials. Among the forwards, the players to create a fine impression were D. R. Green. H. L. White, K. A. Murphy, J. B. Darragh, and E. A. R. Pickering, who came more into the picture as the game progressed. The standard of forward play in this match, however, fell considerably below the standard set in the later game. R. R Cossey and J. B. Darragh were the only try scorers for Possibles, Karaka adding 18 points with his boot. For Probables, Pickering, Marrett, and L. C. Russell scored tries, and R. G. Oswald kicked three conversions. s.