LEAGUE & LEAGUERS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1830, 16 August 1913, Page 12

LEAGUE & LEAGUERS.

fßx "PLEETIOOr."! THE REPRESENTATIVE MEN, The Trial . Match. '• The trial game on Saturday provided a splendid exhibition of "League," also was a little remarkablo. First one side would get across, and then the other would take a hand. It was all rather exciting to watch, and eventually a capital garno wound up with the figures reading, 30—29. It goes, without saying that every man was on his mettle that day, and good individual form was shown all round. The inimitable Bradley may be singled out for special mention. He hit the eye all the time. The Selected Backs. The representative team which is to play Canterbury seems to have given general satisfaction. . The full-back position 1 has been given to Finlayson. He is a good "full," and 60 is M'Guire. Each can tackle and take the ball well, but Finlayson a stronger kick, and faster than M'Guire. The 'writer is inclined to think that M'Guire uses his head more than Finlayson, but the latter is usually full of confidence, not easily bustled or flustered, and is sure to give a good exhibition, if he just remembers to run, and put his threequarters into action, instead of always kicking. The full-back in a League game is really as much a jiart of the attack as anyone else. The three-quarter line is strong. Proebstel, on the wing, has been improving every Saturday ; Kelly, at centre, is a champion, but Strickland has yet to prove himself. He is fast, but could put more dash into his play. The fact is that he does not get moving quickly enough. Once he has made up his mind to "clap on all sail," it, is a different matter, but he is sometimes alow in making up his mind. The five-eighths, are tho best playing. Bradley is now undoubtedly the most versatile footballer in Wellington, and his

place-kicking is wonderful. Albert Hoiuso is fast getting in tho necessary form expected from him, but Marshall,' of Newtown, would have improved the team. Unfortunately, he has not played the required number of matches under the League, viz., four. Barber is half, and; although on the slow side, he is easily the best half playing. The Selected Forwards. Tho forwards aro a good lot. Turner, from the Hutt Club, is playing his first representative game, and has been playing well all the season. "Jack" Spencer and Bensmann were, of course, certain to get places. Parker, from Petone, was the best forward in tho trial game. He is a good, heady player. Manning has been given a chance to distinguish him6elf,'nnd his inclusion has given general ■satisfaction. Wilson is a very useful man in any. team. He has plenty of dash and skill, and oan play either back or forward. Ho follows up well, and handles the ball splendidly,' Men Who Just "Missed."

So much for thle soleoted men. There are, however, players left out who are just as good as some who were chosen, but, o£ course, one cannot pack twenty men into thirteeu places. M'Guire is certainly worth his place in any team. Marshall, Pooley, and Collins were not eligible. Whitley, if he played wing-threo-quarter, would take a lot of beating, but he refuses to play in that position, and therefore puts himself out of court. Bussell and Utiku, tho halves, are improving, and should get a game before long. K. George ha 3 been playing very consistently this year, and was worth a plaoe, but first emergency was as near as he could get. Sullivan, Brooks, Campbell, Childs, and Lawler are also all good men—Brooks especially. Campbell has not been playing up to his usual form lately, but his place-kicking would have been an asset.

A S ( tray Note. The match, Petone A v. Petone C, was in many respects a good one. The visible fault with Petone C, however, appeared to be lack of combination. The "A" team showed that they apparently trained collectively—a very great factor in tho success of a club. Tho "C" team had good backs in good fettle, but one seemed to have little idea what the other was going to do. On the other hand, tho "A" team showed that they had studied tho fine points to somo extent. Their rushes took a lot of stopping, and generally the scrums worked out to their advantage.