ALL BLACK TRIALS

Evening Star, Issue 23383, 28 September 1939, Page 4

ALL BLACK TRIALS

THE SECOND SERIES POOR LIHE-OUT PLAY SEVERAL USEFUL BACKS [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, September 27. Tlio second series of All Black trials at Athletic Park to-day ran true to type, largely because of injuries and the return homo of some of tho leading players. The teams underwent many changes and played accordingly. There was neither the atmosphere nor tho quality that marked Saturday’s trial, and the North-South match. The conditions were ideal, and there were about 4,000 spectators present. Wesney’s team defeated Crossman’s team by 31 points to 19 in the first game, which was vastly superior to the second, in which Barton’s team had an easy win against M'Auliffe’s team by 26 points to 3. But the actual results were immaterial, though the extent to which the teams settled down had a bearing on the form of the players. In the first game there was some semblance of cohesive and constructive work. There was at least a clear pattern of attack, but the second game was very much akin to a cross-word puzzle, and must have given the solo selector (Mr E. M'Kenzie) a headache trying to piece together the scraps that contributed to something worth while.

Both games emphasised the paucity of good' line-out forwards in the country. Of the 32 forwards, there were scarcely more than three or four who took the ball cleanly. For the most part the ball hobbled about the line-outs with the players becoming tangled on the wrong side of the rucks, which were clumsily packed, thus preventing quick heeling. It was extremely difficult for the players to show their true worth when football slumps in this manner.

There were some who came through the ordeal with credit, but many •were no. better than average club standard. A number of useful backs wore seen in action, but few rose to great heights. To sum up, the trials contributed little to what is already known of those who played. King, M'Kcnzie, Herron, Jackson, George, Bowman, Parkhill, Saxton, Sullivan, and Sutherland were either standing down to-day or had returned home. Taylor was the

best of tho full-backs, though he failed to reproduce the form of Saturday. Morrison was on the field for one spell only, but opportunities came his way, and he clearly showed that he is in the best class. Wesney was the essence of soundness, and a cut above- the other centres on the day. Grace and Crossman were the pick of the five-eighths, with two newcomers in Brady (Auckland) and Welch (Wanganui) making a good impression. Tindill was easily tho best half. Forwards who impressed -were Williams, Mason, Cassidy, Ward, M'Lean, M'Phail, and McDonald. Catley had an interesting hooking duel with Lambourne, the honours going to the latter, 3 but not by a very substantial margin. { FIRST GAME. In the early game Grossman im- ' pressed by the manner in which he > jumped into form. He showed real ! enterprise on attack, and covered up ’ splendidly in defence. He maintained ■ this form till well into the second spell, ! and generally outpointed his vis-a-vis, Pearman, but the latter picked up a 1 few points in the concluding stages. ’ once beating Crossman badly with a perfect sidestep. “ Brady showed a good eye for an opening, and is a five-eighth of distinct possibilities. Schubert caught the eye with his speed, but found M'Aneny a handful to cope with at times. Schubert was the more polished of tho pair, and looks like going further. A hooking duel between M'Kenzie (Ashburton) and Hearn (Canterbury) was won by the former by 16 to 12, but Hearn impressed as the better allrounder. He was one of the few proficient line-out forwards, repeatedly taking the ball cleanly and feeding his half. For all-round solidness Williams was probably the best forward in this match. He displayed great strength at times, frequently rolling back several opponents, but he showed a tendency to hang' on to the ball, and incurred several penalties. Todd was good in patches. His work in the line-outs was better than most, but not as consistently good as his display on Saturday. Mason and Taylor were the two best front-row forwards. The latter was participating in his first trial, and is clearly destined to go further in big football. Kenny and Warrender did a great deal of serviceable work. They were constantly on the ball. SECOND MATCH. In the second game neither of the full-backs. Dyer and Easton, was impressive, Roberts was tho pick of the ; three-quarters, but had limited oppor- ; tunities. Cunningham, the North Auckland winger, fell from grace and failed to live up to his reputation. 1 Grace was outstanding as a fiveeighth, but a newcomer in Welch (Wanganui) showed enterprise and ability above the average. Lambourne hooked 14 scrums to Catley’s 11. but the packing was clumsy, the referee continually having to straighten up the packs. The line-out honours went to M'Lean (Taranaki) and Cassidy (Wellington). M'Donald (Otago) was the most pro- ( (iciont forward in the rucks. In the i loose Ward was outstanding. Also pro- t ininent for good work wore M'Bhuil I (Canterbury) and Ilegglmn (Welling- I ton). i