AUSTRALIAN RUGBY

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 95, 8 May 1937, Page 14

AUSTRALIAN RUGBY

N.S.W. AND QUEENSLAND COftiffiKT ON N.S.W. TEAM ONE MATCH DRAWN AND ONE LOST New South Wales, last week-end, sent a team to Brisbane to play Queensland in annual fixtures. The first match, played on Saturday of last week, was drawn 17-all and the other, played last Monday, was won by Queensland, 9 to 3. The comment on the New South Wales team just after its selection, as puhlished in the Sydney Referee, is interesting: — The five State selectors, Messrs. Blackwood, Pratt, Malcom, Breckenridge, and Dr. Ross, have been able to "cover" all matches, and some of them found time to visit Newcastle and observe form there. The result has been that the selection has been based on current form, and past reputations have gone for little. The selection of Cyril Towers is a splendid thing for N.S.W. and Australian football. His brilliant .tactical play will make a world of difference to big football this year. Quite a few players were not available for selection among whem were Kelaher, the winger, and Pauling, the forward. Notable omissions are A. Martel (East's breakaway), R. J. Walden, vice-captain of the Australian team in New Zealand last year, and W. McLaughlin, outer-centre of the Australian side, who is replaced by Towers. McLaughlin need not be dismayed, for he has plenty of football of the highest calibre left in him, The choice of Clifford, of St. George, at full-back, is to be commended. This player is likely to go far in the game. Although he has come suddenly into the State team, his play in all respects is such as to make him a worthy last line of defence. The range of his punt-kicking is extaordinary and he uses his left foot with particular dexterity. ■ The invaluable qualities of resource and quick action are part of his make-up. Rankin is the captain, and Cerutti the vice-captain and leader of the forwards. They should prove successful, each having had plenty of experience. Groves, a newcomer to interstate football, has earned praise for his exhibitions in the forwards for Northern Suburbs. Groves is a fair-halred heavyweight. It is good to see that that brilliant front-row forward, Chud Paton. has again earned his State jersey. He is an expert in his position. The policy of the selectors in sending both Richards and Collins for the five-eighth position will allow experiments to be made with' a view to seeing which of them will be most sultable in conjunction with the other backs. Gibbons ls the fastest, brightest and most dependable of the half-backs, and though they talk about his slight physique, he has always proven his ability to stand up to the knocks. Good Winger Jack Gray-Spence is the best substilute for Kelaher on the wing. His handling, tackling, ability to centre the ball with deft kicking and general alertness will make him popular jn Queensland. The team was selected as under:— Full-back: M. Clifford (St. George). Three-quarters: F, W. O'Brien (Gordon), Jack Gray-Spence (St. George), C. H. Towers (Randwick), and R. Rankin (Drummoyne). Five-eighths: P. K. Collins (Western Suburbs), and V. Richards (Randwick). Half-back: E, de C, Gibbons (Northern Suburbs), Forwards: A. J. Hodgson (Manly), R. L. F. Kelly (Western Suburbs), K. S. Windon (Randwick), J. Groves (Northern Suburbs), F. Hutchlnson (University), J. Turnbull (Eastern Suburbs), W. Cerutti (Parramatta), vice-captain, A. Stone (Eastern Suburbs), C. K. Paton (Manly), and J. H. Malone (Drummoyne).