FINAL SOUTH ISLAND TRIAL

Chronicle (Levin), 13 September 1948, Page 7

FINAL SOUTH ISLAND TRIAL

CHRISTCHCTtCH, Sept. 12. Tlie final tost for Soutli Island plavers to paiii All Black honours, was played at Lancaster I'ark and provided a keen study for a crowd of 13,000. la many liri«rjit llashes of plav the backs siiowoti real talent and also some weaknesses that wiJl always l>e found when rea. issues are at stake. (ienerally the dis play of football was marked more Uy solidity llian brilliance and the backs had the idea of making a seoring maehine instead of a collection oi , llashy iiuli\ iduals. The reccut rain had taken the sting out of tho ground which was in ideal coiulitiou for fast, open fooiball, and the light 4easterly breezt did not add 1o the diffieulties oi handliug t-lie ball. Of individual brilliance there was just sutlieient to show that the Soutli island lias backs as fast and ac eomplished and a team of hard rueking forwards as good as could ever l>e found in New Zealand, men who dribblcd cleverly and tackled with vigour and were not over-anxious to handle when footwork was called for. (Ienerally it was a satisfactorv trial and after sucli a fine display several forwards may be regarded as unlucky in that they are not to be given a further tiial. If the North Island forward standard is as high, then New Zealand { will lield a paek as good as has represented New Zealand for manv vears.