Choosing 1949 Rugby Reps

Chronicle (Levin), 11 June 1949, Page 4

Choosing 1949 Rugby Reps

Next week. sole rugoy selector in the Horowhenua, Mr. D. J. Oliver, vnll submit his flrst fifteen. In the following article, specially written, ■ "FiveEighths" gives what he considers the best Horowhenua fifteen. .Se'dom has a selector in Horowhenua had such talent from which -to chose his first fifteen than has Mr. Oliver. This applies parhcularly to the forwards. From my close observation of the -season's line-up, this would .be my choice: Fron,t rowr Noonanu.Mil.roy,. Doyle. Locks: Woods (if .available) and Ray Robinson. Side row: Bryant and Lincoln. Last down: Ray Robinson. Half: Tritt. Fiveeightlis: Fuller and Wallace. Threequarters: Poututu, Galloway, Smith. Full-back: Mortimer. Doyle's 15 stone odd and afi round play justifies him for a. front row berth. Ian Robinson is a good hooker, but I still pi'efer Milroy, as he has had more exjperience and in these days of ehanging tactics in

the front row this may be very necessary. Noonan (Foxton) shows he has learned his f ootball well and is a heavy, rugged player. Woods is good and locks well with Robinson, but if he is not available then Winterburn must be the man for this position. Of the break-aways, Lincoln and Bryant pick themselves. Roy Robinson, last down, is a good man for this position! He knows when to trap the ball and9 also how to deliver it smartly to his haU. Tritt, on.his game in the -MaoriPakeha match, justifies his position as half-back, but in previous club games H. Laye (Foxton) has been playing the befcter football of the two. Fuller (Sha,nnon) in the same game looked 'the answer to what Horowhenua is short of — a good five-eighths. Wallace at second, is out on his own. Galloway, who has keen anticipation/ an eye for an opening and good solid defensive work is the man for centre. Ross Smith and Poututu _ should capably fill the wing positions. I would like to have seen the latter first in bigger games. Colin Mortimer (Shannon) is the logical pick for full-back. Unlucky players are: Geoff Sciascia, I. Robinson, Henry M. Moynihan, Foster (Otaki) , H. Laye! and Campbell (Hui Mai)j . t ^ , .