RUGBY FOOTBALL NORTH ISLAND PROBABLES BEAT POSSIBLES

Grey River Argus, 16 September 1948, Page 3

RUGBY FOOTBALL NORTH ISLAND PROBABLES BEAT POSSIBLES

In- Final Game P.A. PALMERSTON N., Sept 15 Thirty-seven North island An mack candidates gave <a rugged but spectacular display or rootuall oeiore tn<_ New Zealand selectors and a crowd estimated at about nine tnousand,. at Laimerston North to-day. The match, the iinal North Island trial, was played in pertect weather on a fairly nara dry ground. The Probables beat the x-ussioies by 25 to 18.

Two outstanding features of the game were a relentless struggle between opposing wing three-quarters, etna the nooning or the Waikato veteran, E. H. Catiey, who piayeu tmougnout and ouinookea each ox two men matched against him. Particular interest was centred on the two first-five-eighths, Wellington's o. W. Deiamore, ano a young AucKiander, N. H. Black, who has had a phenomenal rise to top line football this season. Both men were at me peaiv ot form, and there was little between tnem, but, though Black had the advantage of Caney’s hooking, honours on the day ended slightly in Delamore’s favour, ueiamore moved at a terrific pace, handled well and combined easily with his half-back T. Ingram (Hawke’s Bay) and second liveeighth, F. R. Allen, (Auckland). Biack played inside K. Gudsell (Wanganui) in the first half, and G. R. Brunskill (Waikato) in the second, and worked smoothly with both oi tnem. He seemed more at home with W. Conrad (Waikato) at half-back than with the elusive little Taranaki half, W. Cameron, who broke through on his own, and left the opposing c-acks standing. ' Black’s play wd.s not up to the polished standard he produced against Wellington last Saturday, but he was nevertheless a good five-eighth, and his cover defence was up against formidable opposition in both Gudsell and Brunskill. He was well marked throughout. the game, and showed no great superiority- over either of the other two men. Gudsell’s defence was sound and he was rarely beaten, even by Alien’s deceptive swerve. On attack, Gudsell was always dangerous and had Alien fully extended. Gudsell made an opening for one Probables try and carried another almost lone-handed attack, to the goal line. The defence of both back lines was such that attacking movements were frequently blocked out by the time the ball reached the three-quarter line. The two centres, J. R. O’Hearn (Waikato) and A. Bullick (Waikato) were steady on defence, but their attacking play did not show much enterprise. Solid tackling of the wings did not allow any long spectacular runs down the side line, and the most successful winger was the Aucklander, B. Sweet, who skilfully changed his tactics to infield play,» and scored two excellent tries. Sweet found early in the game that he could not get past B. McGougan (Bay of Plenty) down the touch line. At the first opportunity he cut across outside his first fiveeighth, and scored near the posts. His second attempt won him the last try of the match. ~ McGougan impressed as a sona three-quarter, and as a powerful place kick. After the full-back Scott, had failed with two early attempts at goal, McGougan took most of the Possibles’ kicks. He converted two tries with amazingly long, high kicks. ' . , ~ , ~ The selectors tried three hallbacks. Ingram (Hawke’s Bay) played for the Possibles throughout the game, while Conrad and Cameron played in turn behind the Probables scrum. After an early phase of erratic passing, Ingram settled down to play a solid game. Conrad concentrated on serving his outside backs, and did so in a workmanlike manner. He was followed by Cameron. who' was the most enterprising of the three, and adequately demonstrated his ability to make openings and use them. It was his speed and quick thinking that enabled Sweet to score an almost unopposed try. Another feature of the back play was a duel between the full-backs, tlie Aucklander Scott, and Sherlock, of Wanganui. Far from being overshadowed, Sherlock held his own in everv department of full-back play, and he was the most successful place kick on the field. He excelled at filling an extra place in the Probables’ backline on attack, where his remarkable pace was useful. On one occasion he got through to Scott on such a move before he was stopped. Scott showed clearly that he is still a very capable full-back. Two evenly-matched forward packs played a hard, tight game, and left the selectors an unenviable task in picking the best of them. The Aucklanders, McHugh, Johnstone, Thornton, Hughes and Fraser (Hawke’s Bay), Rowan 'and Catiey (Waikato) were outstanding. Hughes and McCormick hooked in turn. against Catley, who won a majority of the scrums in each half. Thornton was on his best form and appeared to be everywhere. Cnee, after a solo run of about 40 yards he was caught at. the goal-line and narrowly deprived of a try. The teams as they took the field were: — Possibles: Scott (Auckland); B. McGougan (Bay of Plenty), J. R. O’Hearn (Waikato), P. King (Wellington); F. R. Allen (Auckland, captain), G. W. Deiamore (Wellington); T. Ingram (Hawke’s Bay); D. Carlson (Taranaki). I. Shaw (Poverty Bay), M. McHugh (Auckland), R. Johnstone (Auckland), I. Fraser (North Auckland), J. Simpson (Auckland), A. M. Hughes, D. Christian (Auckland). Probables- G. Sherlock (Wan’ganui); E. Boggs (Auckland), A. Bullock (Waikato), B. Sweet (Auckland); K. Gudsell (Wanganui), N. H. Black (Auckland), W. Conrad (Waikato); N. R. Thornton (Auckland), P. Crowley (Auckland), H. Fraser (Hawke’s Bay). I. Mathieson (Wairarapa). G. Henderson (W’airarapa), D. Ancel (Taranaki), E. H. Catiey (Waikato), A. Rowan (Waikato). D. O’Donnell (Wellington 4 ), and G. H. Gilmour (Auckland), both of whom were injured last Saturday, were unable to play. For the second half, A. Thomas (Bush), C. Vowles (Waikato) and J. McCormick (Hawke’s Bay) replaced Shaw, Fraser and Hughes in the Possibles’ pack and E. Bresnehan (Manawatu), G. Kmg (Poverty Bay), W. Cameron (Taranaki) and R. G. Brunskill (Waikato) replaced Mathieson, Ancel, Conrad and Gudsell for the Probables. For the Probables tries were scored by Rowan (2), Sweet (2) and Crowley. Henderson kicked a penalty goal. Sherlock converted two tries and kicked a penalty. The Possibles’ tries were scored by Deiamore, King, McHugh and McGougan. Two were converted by McGougan and one by Scott.

Wanganui v.' Auckland P.A. WANGANUI, Sept. 15 Wanganui reps defeated North Auckland tourists in their second '■ugbv fixture at Wanganui to-day by 22 points to 6. Both teams were below full strength. A very scrappy exhibition resulted. ’ J. Whale, M. Dixon, H. Rowley and A. Webby scored tries for Wanganui, D. Beard converting two and kicking two pen; alties. For the visitors, H. . Adlopi scored a try and B. Beazley kicked a penalty.