Horowhenua May Have Chance To Provide Try-out Team For New Zealand Fifteen

Chronicle (Levin), 1 June 1949, Page 7

Horowhenua May Have Chance To Provide Try-out Team For New Zealand Fifteen

The possibility that Horowhenua might provide a try-out game for the New Zealand team on the Wednesday prior to the first test with Australia was mooted. at-the meeting laSt week of the council of the New Zealand Rugby Union/ The suggestion came from Mr. N. A. McKenzie, who said it was only right that those selected should be given the chance of aequiring combination and justifying their selection. In the past, he said, the union had been apt to throw the players together and expect them to turn on a first class performance.

A union such as Horowhenua might provi'de a suilable game, said Mr. McKenzie. There was a risk of injuries, but that risk- had to be taken. On the otlier hcnd, he was sure players wauld welcome the odportunity to acquire combination. The point arose, however, that the AustraTans would be playing a combiiied Manawatu-Horowhenua team on .the date suggested, and the question of avoiding a counterattraction had to be consi'dered. The council deeided to defer the matter until its next meeting, when it would be in a better position to arrange such a match. Meanwhile, however, there is an opportuni y for the Horowhenua union to do some heavy spadework and push for such a game. Not only would it provi'de a big attraction if (as was the inference) it was held at Levin, but it would also give some of our seniors excellent experience. Why Not Manawhenua? If the question of the inadvisabi1ity of proViding a countsr-attrac-tion was seriously pursue'd, the obvious answer woind be to make the game a curtain-raiser to the Manawhenua-Australia match at Palmerston North. As most of our stars would be playing in the latter match, it might also be advisable for the team to be chosen from the best of the balance of the two unions, thus ensuring that the opposition for the N.Z. team would be reahy worthwhile. Such a game would also give more of our players an opportunity of playing before the eyes of he New Zealand selectors, who are bound to be present. It is honed that the Horowhenua management committee will in anv case follow up the original suggestion and see that Horowhenua is given the task of providing a tryout team.