THEY'RE NERVY

NZ Truth, Issue 1180, 12 July 1928, Page 16

THEY'RE NERVY

About Picking Rep. Team In South (From "N.Z. Truth's" Christchurch Rep.) -•_ The Canterbury Rugby Union at present is suffering from an attack of nerves, and although the first match for the Ranfurly Shield will be played next Saturday, the selectors, after last Saturday's extra trial game, were unable to pick a team. THE first gallop together that the . Ranfurly. -Shield- team will have will be next Saturday 'm the game against South Canterbury. . A "Probables v. Possibles match was played, last Saturday, and this, with the other trials, should have been sufficient to enable the selectors to pick out a team m time to give it a week of intensive training, i . . ' •. Although, the . South Canterbury match is not regarded very seriously the Wairarapa game on the following Wednesday is a horse of another color. Saturday's game provided some interesting football, and confirmed the impressions already formed of most of the players engaged. Tempered Steel J. ' Jack Steel started off m true representative style and scored one slashing try. Then he had to with an injury to the shoulder "that was broken earlier m the season. It looks as if he is. definitely out of the picture. Neil Dorreen was m great attacking fbrm, and his defence was fairly sound. He was too . good for Monty Calder, who played opposite him. The defensive work of the backs waH patchy, some of it good and some of it "iffy." C. D.. Chesley was played for one spell at full-back, and for the other on £he wing. ; Jack Harris was not playing, owing to injuries, and it looks as if Chesley will , have, to fill his place, -if the ex-All 'Black cannot go through with all his representative engagements. ' ■ It is a. pity, that Chesley is not played consistently,; on7th© : ; wing, for it is m that position ■ lie should be representing Canterbury. ' - . Charlie Oliver was m great form, but Dave Hay, at first five-eighths, and &£. L. Page, at half, need practice' together. In the second half of the game they showed improvement iri concerted, work, and their run together on Saturday should put them, m fine trim for the Wairarapa match. The Selectors can hardly go past them. The forward team will be big/solid and fast, and there will be plenty of speed amongst the backs. On attack the team will be very dangerous. It should be solid m defence, but that remains to be seen. '.<:- Apparently the selectors after Saturday's game were unable to estimate the relative merits as lock of J. Manihera, Tom -Robinson and T. Lawson, and the filling of this position has been worrying them all the season. Either Manihera or Lawson should be able to ' fill it with satisfaction. The team should have been picked last Saturday; and given a thorough preparation for the Wairarapa match. But despite the indecision of the selectors, Canterbury should field a fast, fit arid determined fifteen, which, with the advantage of playing on their own ground, -should take a power of beating.