ALL BLACK TRIAL

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 996, 12 June 1930, Page 6

ALL BLACK TRIAL

YESTERDAY’S MATCH AT WELLINGTON REVIEW OF THE PLAY Special to THE SUN WELDING TON, Today. Arctic weather and a wailing Wellington southerly made the condilions at Athletic Park suitable for-any-thing but a test of international football yesterday and the thin line of watchers who came to see the All Black trial match was in marked contrast to the immense crowd which fought for admission a week ago. The strong wind chilled the backs to the bone, made handling a problem of the first importance and frequently rocketed the ball back over the kicker’s head when a player sought to use his boot to good purpose. In the circumstances the forwards had a day out and royally enjoyed themselves. Stewart was a notable withdrawal, having injured a, foot during play against England last Saturday. The selectors were present in force and tried out all the players available, notably replacing Innes, the promising Canterbury youngster, with Mackenzie, the Wellington five-eighth. The wisdom of this move was doubtful. as both Mackenzie and Johnson are first five-eighths and have always been a notoriously bad combination. A fact which emerged from the match was that even in the conditions which he hated Nepia is not far short of his old form. His gathering, tackling and much of his line-kicking was suggestive of the old briliant Nepia. The wing three-quarters had few chances, but of them G. Hart, the nippy Canterbury man. was much the best. He played with rare determination and revealed pace and skill. The others were mediocre, though Minns showed some flashes of real wing-threequarter form. Lucas at centre was never himself. He detested the conditions and was happy only when the match was over. He did not shine save in one glorious break through. Cooke was Cooke and that was all there was to it. The will o’ the wisp back is as elusive, sharp into his stride, and uncanny as ever in his judgment of where a man will go or when he will fumble. He now reinforces his genius with the coolness and the wisdom of much experience. He was plainly a certainty for the first All Black team.-

Johnson, on the other hand, kicked too much and handicapped Innes by his failure to combine, and though arduous in defence and solid was definitely below international form. Innes showed that the Canterbury enthusiasts who rate him as a highly promising back are not wide of the mark. He has the dash and grit of a real international, and when seasoned he will be an acquisition. It would have been no surprise to see him in the team ahead of Mark Nicholls, who was sound and able in judgment, but who no longer has his old vim, though he can show pace at times. Lilburne, Johnson's opponent, was safe always, and his tackling and rush stopping were masterly. He reaped honourfor much of his work. Of the halves, Corner had probablv the hardest passage, and shaped better than anyone else, considering the manner in which he was swamped by eager forwards all playing for their places. Solomon, of Auckland, was in fin© form. Outstanding forwards were Irvine (Wairarapa) in the loose. Harlett (Southland), Finlayson (North Auckland) and McWilliams (Auckland).