PAEROA REP. FOOTBALL TEAM.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4593, 1 August 1923, Page 2

PAEROA REP. FOOTBALL TEAM.

(To the Editor.) Sir,—l noticed in your issue of Monday last the Paeroa ropresenta live football team to meet Piako on Saturday next. While the selector is to be congratulated on picking a fairly good team, I am at a loss to understand why D. Smith was omitted. Several footballers who have been regular attenders at the club games this season are also unable to understand why Smith was left out. Smith plays a five-eighths game with his head, and a heady player is very rare in local football this season. Smith and Royal (Hikutaia club) would make an excellent combination at fiveeighths. Both players use their heads and hands, and not so much the boot. It may be argued that Smith is too young and light: this may be so, but Smith has proved the goods, overcoming these handicaps. “Get ’em young” should be the motto. If the Paeroa representatives are to win games this season none but the best should go in the team. I sincerely trust the Union's good selector can stand up under a bit of criticism. ' No doubt his selection is a fearless one, and the best in his opinion ; nevertheless, how Smith was overlooked is a matter of wonder. No doubt most of, the “fans” will bear me out in this letter. I sincerely trust that Paeroa will prove the victors on Saturday, not by good luck, but by good football. In conclusion I would say, just watch Des. Smith, and if all’s well you will see Paeroa’s future Thames Valley representative. RUGBYITE.