SELECTION OF FOOTBALLERS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5304, 25 July 1928, Page 2

SELECTION OF FOOTBALLERS.

(To tlie Editor.)

Sin—As an, old follower of our national game of Rugby in the district I beg space to point out a few of the many i neons iSjteiieies if the Paeroa representative selector; when selecting players in the Thames Valley Union; during the last two years. Case No. 1: H. Stoupe ; Waikato representative, Piako representative in, 1927. Paehoa representative selector’s openly expressed opinion, in his exact words, “not a footballer’s bootlace.” Have the Auckland selectors er-red in selecting 'him for. the Auckland touring team ? Case No. 2: G. Towers.; second emergency Piako representatives 1927, and on- form nightly so. Selected by the sole selector for the Thames Valley touring team. May be bias. Case No. 3: E. Smart; a former University and Hauraki Plains representative. In Paeroa representatives this year. What on ? Certainly n.ot on season's. form, but possibly on reputation. Case No. 4 : R. Swann ; 1927 Paeroa representative. On season’s form one of the' best backs in the- union. Played out of position on the wing in, most, adversje weather conditions against Hauraki Plains. The consequence was that he played l a poor game, and has not again beten considered. Was the' same treatment meted out in ease No. 3 ? Decidedly n.ot, as the said player, is still selected.

Case No. 5 : J. Vert'an ; Paeroa and Matamata representative,. 1927- A promising wing three-quarte”, but perhaps not quite up to representative standard. Has he been given a trial, as on h’s season's club form he deserves; it.

Case No. 6: J. Malontey ; a formei Thames Valley repres&nitat'ive. Playc.d two club games, and selected in Paeroa representative team on two occa’ sions. Displayed wretched form throughout, but is still

The' last act of the selector in pitting two forwards in the team for Tauranga as emergency backs bor/ers on the ridiculous. What 'is the Paeroa Rugby Union doing to allow this sort of thing ? Is the selector the governing body ?

OLD WAITEKAURI REP.

S'r, —In regard to the Paeroa Seiiio.ii representative team which was chosen tc- travel fo Tauranga on Saturday last I noticed that a player, who, to my knowledge, has always played a forward game, was selected as third emergency back. Had this certain player, been chosen for the same position as a forward it would have been in order, I understand that, he was asked to play when the first representative team was selected,* but had stated' that he did not wish to play in representative; matches. The reason for his selection was obvious. Why did not the selector give one of t'e nineteen other backs a chance of the trip ? This kind of selecting ■is not eincouraging to players, or in the best interests of football. I only hope that should this happen again tlie Paeroa Rugby Upion will take some stand in the matter. FAIR SPIN.