FOOTBALL.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 October 1927, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

ALL BLACKS.

FINAL SELECTION., BY TELEGHAPH —PRESS ASSN., COPYRIGHT. WELLINGTON, Oct. 5. The following were selected to-day, after tlio Probablo-Possibles match to add to the thirteen already selected for the All Black Rugby tour of South Africa. Lilburne (Canterbury). Lucas (Auckland). Sheen (Auckland). Rushbrook (Wellington). Cooke (Wellington). Johnson (Wellington). Strang (South Canterbury i. Nicholls (Wellington). Scrimshaw (Canterbury) - Burrowes (Canterbury). Hadley (Auckland). Alley (Canterbury). Snow (Nelson). McWilliams (Auckland). Ward (Taranaki). THE FIRST THIRTEEN CHOSEN. Robilliard (Canterbury). Grenside (Hawke’s Bay). Lindsay (Otago). McGregor (Canterbury). Dailey (Canterbury). Swain (Hawke’s Bay). Hole (Otago). M. Brownlie (Hawke’s Bay). Finlayson (North Auckland). Hazlett (Southland). Stewart (South Canterbury). C. Brownlie (Hawke’s Bay). Harvey (Wairarapa).

THE FINAL TRIAL MATCH. WELLINGTON, Oct. 5. The final trial match today to select file All Black team to tour South Africa in 1928, drew an attendance to the Athletic Park of about IS, OOO. The game, apart from being onesided—the Possibles winning by 44 points to the Probables 9 —was most disappointing, at times sinking even to well below club standard. The Possibles won because they played more as a team, while several of the Probables seemed to be wandering aimlessly about the field like lost sheep, and were never in their right positions to stop etiher the ball or the man. The handling of both sides was faulty, that of the Probables particularly so, and there was far too much tackling high. For the winners, Cooke was at top, while Johnson was very patchy at fiveeighth, although they did not get very much help from McManus at half-hack, who, however, brightened up in parts and shone out better than Holden, the Probables’ full-back. Butler played a sound, defensive game at full-back. His tackling was deadly. Hook, on the wing, got few chances, and scarcely then shone to advantage. Stringfellow made a good centre-three-quarter, running straight and with dash. Lucas played a brilliant game on the left wing. Scrimshaw was easily a better wingforward than Porter, who, most of the time, danced round the scrum to no useful purpose, and always collared high whenever he thought of tackling. His was essentially a waiting game, and Scrimshaw’s always a forcing game.

Freitas, Alley and Burrows were the pick of the Possibles’ forwards. Heazlowood was equally sound with Butler at full-back until injured in the second spell in saving Lucas from scoring. He was replaced by Lilburne, who played right up to his best form. Rushbrook, on the right wing, made determined runs, but be lacks a swerve.

Stewart on the other wing, played a great game, his strong running being a feature. He was several times well clowned by Butler.

Brown was not outstanding at centre.

Rerridge and Strang were by no means an effective combination at fiveeighths.

Snow, Knight, Ward and Hadley were the pick of the forwards. The Possibles played against a strong northerly wind in the first spell, and led at half time by 12 to 3. Many good chances for the Possibles went begging through dropped passes. The Possibles’ scorers were Coulston, McWilliams, Stringfellow (2), Cooke (2), Godfrey, Scrimshaw (2), Johnson, and Lucas (2). Four of the tries were converted. The Probables’ scorers were : Strang (a penalty goal), Stewart and Snow. The teams were:— Possibles.—Butler; Hook, Stringfellow, Lucas; Cooke, Johnson; McManus ; Scrimshaw (wing forward) ; McWilliams, Bird, Godfrey, Freitas, Alley* Coulston, and Burrows. ■ Probables.—Heazlewood ; Ruslibrook, Brown, Stewart; Berridge, Strang; Holden; Porter (wing forward); Marslin, Snow, Knight, Ward, Conrad, Hadley and Young.

POSSIBLES v. PROBABLES. A CRITICISM. WELLINGTON, Oct. 6. The final trial of the Possibles against Probables was a mere caricature of a game and would better have been entitled Possibles v. Impossibles. If the selectors in choosing the Probables really had some idea, they would probably bo in the final selection, they must have blinked their eyes while- watching them yesterday. Penalties were still too much in evidence, but the defence of the Possibles against the strong wind was admirable. and a vast improvement on the North v. South match. No try was obtained against them, but they secured four themselves with the wind against them. They simply ran over their opponents as they liked, until Lilburne replaced Heazlewood at fullback. Ho did some splendid collaring, stopped several more tries, and no doubt won through to the final selection by his performance. The Auckland back contingent, especially Lucas, were in much better form than on Saturday, but the bright and particular star of the day, and the delight of the crowd, was Cooke, who was flashing about like a swallow, scored twice himself and made numerous openings for others. Scrimshaw’s speed and fast following got (him three tries and a place in the team.

One of the greatest surprises on -he final selection is Ruslibrook. a young Wellington player, who until a few weeks aco had never been heard 01, except in club matches. He usually placed five-eighths, and was only tried as wing three-quarter, when the selector was hard up for someone to nil tho position. Another surprise is the exclusion of Snodgrass, who many good judges were of opinion, should have been in the J 92-1 team and on his play on Saturday thoroughly deserved a place in the All Blacks. Nicholls and Sheen have obviously been chosen not on form in trials, but because of their known general ability much on the same principle as Demster was put into .the cricket team, though he had been a failure most of the season. Both these men, however, have played brilliantly in inter-Union games and no doubt the selectors think the Nicholls-Cooke combination will still be as big a factor for success as it was in England.