WELL-MATCHED TEAMS.

Shannon News, 30 May 1924, Page 4

WELL-MATCHED TEAMS.

MAGNIFICENT AND CLOSE GAME

PROBABLES 22, POSSIBLES 22.

CHRISTCHURCH, Last Night

Between 5000 and GOOU speciatois eaw tli e probable South Island team defeat tlie possible team at Lancastei Park to-day by 23 points to 22, after one of the fastest- and most exciting games ever seen in Christchurch. At half time the scores were even. J 0 all—and at about ten minutes from time, the scor e was 22 to 20, in lavour of the Possibles, whose game it appeared to be, but immediately afterwards, a'splendid-try was scored by Steel, which gave the victory to the Probables by a single point, the score thus finishing even closer than in the North Island Probables v. Possibles match last week. Ther e was not a great deal oL difference between the teams, although when it came to getting possession of the ball, the Possibles’"forwards had much the better of the play, particularly in the first spell, the ball being hooked cleanly and rapidly by the front, rankers. A good exhibition was given ot all branches of the game, and as might have been expected in sttch an important match, in which the best available players of the Island wer c participating, considerable individual resource and brilliancy wero shown. Although many passes wore dropped b>\ both sets of backs, some pretty bouts were seen, in which both vanguard and rearguard co-operated in true All Black style. The ground was naturally on the heavy side after the recent weather, but the day was fine and the ball-was never too heavy to militate against good kicking’ or too greasy to prevent passing being Indulged In. , Tries ■were scored in the first spell by Steel and Gilrnour (2). two of which were converted by 11 r <_> former player, who also kicked a penally goat for the Probables; -while for the Possibles, the try-getters were Parker (2) •Master and McGregor. I.awsoij and Snodgrass each converting one. In the second spell, those who scored tries for th c Posiblcs werc Kobbiliard and Elvey. while for the Probables,. Fairbrotlier potted *a goal and Steel scored a try.

Thc two full backs. Fairbrother (Probables) and Harris (Possibles), played splendidly, thc latter giving the better exhibition up to the time he had to leave th e field, injured, his place being taken by Davis (Duller), who went back from wing threequarter to make room for Robilliard. Snodgrass. Elvey and Robilliard (Possibles) were a fine lot of threequarters and although thc first-named badly missed Steel in t.lic opening staged, of the game, he made amends lalcr. Elvey played pretty football at times, frequently catching’ the eye, while Robilliard’s try in the seoond spell, when he accepted a pass from Dailey and left Bell and Pony standing, was a brilliant effort. Steel, Gilrnour and MacDonald also justified their inclusion, tlie iirst-named being as good as ever, scoring a try which few other men would have obtained when lie ran down the Hue and bumped Snodgrass aside to score at the corner.

Then; were two splendid pairs of five-cightlis opposing each oilier. McGregor and Lawson (Possibles), and Bell and Perry (Probables). Of the four, McGregor was the most brilliant, which is saying a lot.

Great interest was taken in flic (wo halves, Dailey and St. George. The former played a magnificent game, getting- the ball away quickly, kicking well, marking- in Pot corners. and tackling in deadly fashion. Ho showed up better than his vis-a-vis, who. however, although he was not getting as much of the ball as Dalley yet showed himself to he a tip-top half-back, a little behind the Canterbury man.

Of the two great packs of forwards Parker, White, Masters and Snow were most in chc picture for‘the Possibles, McLeary and Mnnro kept, up their reputations as hookers, while for the Probablesr Williams. Richardson, and Ward were always noticeable, •■with the others always handy. MPN TO meet Till: north “CERTAINTIES” WILL jjr ANXOU NC E D :: .\ TUR DA Y. WILL NOT P,E REQUIRED TO PLAY. CHRISTCHURCH. Last Night The l'ojJow.ing- have been s«-. looted hi represent the So.ufh Islana against North at Wellington on Saturday:— Full-baek.—Fairbrother (South Canterbury). Three-quarters.—-Steed (West Coast), Gilmour (Southland), Robilliard (Canterbury). Five-eighths.-— McGregor (Canterbury), and D. Perry (Otago) captain. Hall-back. —St. George (Otago). Wing-forward. - Parker (Canterbury). Hookers—M e.Clea ry (Canterbury) and Munro (Otago).

Lock.—Masters (Canterbury) Supports.—Richardson, (Southland), Stewart (South Canterbury). Back Row.—White (Southland), and Turpin (Canterbury). Emergency backs.— Dally '(Canterbury). Elvcy (Canterbury),' and Bell (Southland). Forwards. -Williams (Otago). Tunnicliffe (Buller). O’Rcgan (West ('oast), Blic.’ (Southland).

At tile conclusion of the North v. South Island game on Saturday) the selectors will announce the names of a number of certainties for the All Black team These men will be dropped from the Possibles v. Probables match in Wellington on Tuesday, so that other players may be tried out. NO COLOUR BAR. , i •MAORI TEAM FOR EXHIBITION? WELLINGTON, Last Night. At the New Zealand Rugby Union

to-night the chairman said the colour line was not being drawn in the AH Black team aud any player worthy of a place would be selected. A proposal that, a Maori team bo -sent to England to compete in the great Rugby tournament ac the Exhibition was considered, and it was decided it was too late to arrange a visit this season. mat'cer will be brought before the English Union, when the conferences are held in England.