BIG UPSET

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20057, 2 October 1939, Page 4

BIG UPSET

ALL BLACK TRIALS N.Z. TEAM BEATEN THE REST WINS 22-3 P. REID OUTSTANDING SCRUMMAGING POOR (I’ur I’ioss Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. The All Black Rugby trials were brought to a conclusion on Saturday and produced one of the biggest upsets for years, when an apparently strong New Zealand fifteen was beaten hands down by The Rest. The final 'score was The Rest 22 points. New Zealand 3. Tf the sole selector, Mr E. McKenzie, were asked at this stage to announce any certainties for the tour of South Africa should it eventuate, his task would be no easy one. Unquestionably the outstanding performer on the day was P. Reid, the Hawke's Bay live-eighth, who was a disappointment in the North v. South match. Alert for the slightest chance, he was always up with the play and showed a clean pair of heels (o the New Zealand backs. On several occasion he and Crossman were superior on the run of the play to Grace and Welch. Sullivan tried earnestly to sharpen up the attack, but even his efforts failed to achieve much. Wesney watched him like a hawk, and the •honours were slightly in favour of Sullivan because of his greater versatility. Neither was able to make much play for the wingers. None of the wing-three-quarters, least of all Southerland, was able to shine. • Taylor Best Full-back Both full-backs, Taylor and Johns — the latter making his first appearance at the trials —were the essence of soundness. Taylor figured in all the trials and was 'the best of the fullbacks. Johns took the opportunity afforded him on Saturday to show that lie will be a strong contender for All Black honours in the near future. The New Zealand forwards had a marked advantage in weight, hut they did little to prove it. Ward and Williams were the soundest, and Rhind thoroughly merited his inclusion, but the forwards who captured the imagination most were mainly in The Rest pack. Wynyard, the tall Waikato All Black, who also was making his first appearance at the trials, did not bear the jaded appearance of some of the players and gave one of his best displays. Cassidy, Wellington, and Warender, Waikato, were another pair who caught the eye. Hooking: Duel Interest centred in the hooking duel between Lambourn and Catley and it ended slightly in favour of Lambourn, but the test was not satisfactory. The scrummaging for the greater part was very poor. Rarely were the scrums parallel to the touch line. There was little incident in the first spell, which finished 6—3 in favour of The Rest. The second spell was just a canter for The Rest. Reid (2) and Wynyard (2) scored tries for The Rest. Wesney and McAuliffe each converted a try and each kicked a penalty goal. For New Zealand, Taylor kicked a penalty goal. . Early Trial Match

The early trial was mainly responsible for providing Hunter, the speedy Canterbury centre, with the opportunity of showing his class. Not available for earlier trials, he seized the opportunity on Saturday with avidity and was the best centre on the day. The early game was between teams captained by McKenzie, Ashburton, and Moss, Hawke’s Bay, and it provided a high-scoring and exciting finish, the final tally being 29—a11. Hunter secured three tries on each occasion, badly beating the defence.