TEST FOOTBALL

Hokitika Guardian, 30 May 1924, Page 4

TEST FOOTBALL

COMMENT ON WEDNESDAY’S PLAY.

The Christchurch “Press” commenting , )tl the game on Wednesday pays the following exceptionally good tribute to the West Coaster .1. Steel:— COMMENTS ON THE PLAYERS. The one man standing out above all other players was the West Coast aing-threc-qunrtcr Steel, who played for the Probables. His chances of scoring were limited, hut always Steel was the right man in the right place. On defence or attack he was its .solid as it rock, and the first and last tries of the game showed him to be a great player, lie was opposed by a really good tackier in Snodgrass, but on receiving the ball early in the first spell he set straight for the line, with tacklcrs all ready to get him. He fended o!f a c tuple and smasTied straight into Snodgrass. The biller wilted, and Steel went in like a Hash to score a great try. It was a brilliant eirort. At times Steel came across field to protect bis backs, while his fielding, tackling, anil kicking were alike firstclass. On bis form of yesterday Steel looks to be the best back in New /.calami to-day. McGregor and Lawson at five-eighths for the Possibles both played up to their best torni. and appeared to have a perfect understanding with the half-back, Dailey, and the centre three-quarter, Klvy. McGregor j was often in the picture, and his brilliancy was enhanced by tin* fact that the tackling by some meniliers of the Probables’ team was by no means consistent. He is a useful type of liveeighths, anil would do well in any company. Perry anil Hell, men with big reputations in Rugby football to uphold, played for the Probables, hut at no stage of the game did tlio\ exhibit All Black form. They may have been hampered in attacking movements through the inability of St George to secure the ball at the back of the scrum, but there appeared to he no real excuse for the weak tackling displayed. Bell anil Perry have both proved themselves on previous oeiassions. and their displays are hard to understand. Maybe they are not so keen as some ol the rising platens. Klvv (Possibles') and Cilmoiir (Probables) played reullv well; in fact, the former surprised Christchurch spectators by bis good display, (.ilmoiir, wlm bails from Southland was always a willing worker, and looks like gaining a place in the South Island team. Kiev's anticipation and clever taking of the ball were somewhat discountenanced by bis teiuT.oicy to give bail

passes. At half-back Dallov outshone Si George, principally on account of receiving the hall more often from iho .“(•ruin, hut hath passed cleanly, and did a oicat lot of work on defence. St. George's clever footwork not Ins side out of many a difficulty.

Though Harris was only on the field for a short time, lie cave the impression of being a great full-hack. 11 is handlin'! was above suspicion, and he showed a great, idea of when and where to kick, Faii'bi'other made several mistakes early in the name, hut. like Harris, he was not afraid to open up the play, and his kicking was excellent. His potted until towards the finish was one out ol the hox. .Vest to Steel, Snodgrass was the host wing three-ipiai’ler. and the Nelson player was distinctly unfortunate in running up against a man of .Steel's calibre. Snodgrass is a class wing three-quarter, possessing a good kick and a determined dash lor the line. In the forwards there were several who stool out well above the others. First and foremost was .1. Richardson, who was always in the forefront ol

everything that was going, hut there seemed to he a general weakness in line-out work amongst the others. Richardson followed fast throughout, handling ju irreproachable style, and altogether was head and shoulderabove every other scrum forward <>n the ground. None showed a knowledge of the game nor a will to do the work like the big Southland torv.ard. Parker at wing-forward was a sl-'r from start to finish, his great speed standing him in good stead in' evorv

movement, lie also handled the lad! very well, and his fast following m> censed havoc amongst the oppnxing hacks.

Williams (Otago'). Ward (Onnlerhiirv). O’Regan (Most Coast). (lail> and Mathieson (Southland). am 1 Mu tiro (Otago) were always doing tb-ir hit in tlie iteavv forward work and the following up. All should have a great chance of playing for the South Lined against the North. Doling the game there were d y

Hi'lTllllfi, I lie Blacks securing on Id occasions and the Whiles 10 times, while the remaining s. rums ended in no advantage to either sid*’- There were .<j line outs altogether, and Blacks had 7 free-kicks given against them, while the Whites were penalised If) times.