Tryout For Auckland

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1021, 11 July 1930, Page 8

Tryout For Auckland

THAMES CLASH TOMORROW

Visitors’ Fine Forwards

AUCKLAND’S strength for its clash with Britain a week hence will be fully tested tomorrow in the first representative match to played at Eden Park this season, against Thames. The visiting team is reported to be a strong combination this season, and outstanding in the forwards, and with good weather and ground conditions the crowd should he treated to a fast, spectacular game.

If nothing else, the match will provide a good try-out for the Auckland pack, on which so much reliance will be placed, in the game against BritIn announcing the Auckland fifteen the selector, Mr. G. W. Nicholson, has not paused any surprises, and he is to be commended in his choice of Haslam, the Technical Old Boys’ centre threequarter. in an endeavour to eradicate the weakness in the five-eighths line. A determined-running back, of penetrative ability, Haslam should make good at second five-jeighths, as ho is not only a dashing attacking player, but fairly sound on defence. The Auckland pack is fast and heavy, and can be relied upon to give a good account of itself. In the choice of Hadley and Palmer as hookers, the selector is apparently relying upon their experience as representative front-rankers. although it was generally expected that Finlayson. who has been hooking well for Grafton would be given the position in preference to Palmer. The Auckland threequarter line is the best available, the iissociation of Lucas. Minns and L. Hook being regarded as a foregone conclusion. The teams are:— THAMES Fullback: R. Buchan. Threequarters: F. Moran, C. Darling, L. White. Five-eighths: A. Goudie, J. Arthur. Halfback: J. Ake. Hover: T. Dufty. Forwards: A. Lomas, W. Percy, W. Brunton, A. Winder, J. Strange, G. Pollock, G. Percy. Emergencies: R. Do veil, L. Edwards, K. Strange, A. Morrison. AUCKLAND Fullback: Butler (University). Threequarters: Hook (Ponsonby), Lucas (Ponsonby), Minns (University). Five-eighths: Jamieson (Ponsonby), llaslam (Technical). Halfback: Corner (Grammar). Rover: Solomon (Ponsonby). Forwards: Hadley (Marist), Palmer (Ponsonby), A. Knight, L. Knight (Grammar), McWilliams (Ponsonby), Finlayson (Grafton), W. Batty (Grammar). Reserves: Anderson, Greville, Cammick.

player in the team for his size. He runs with great dash and determination. Moran, on the opposite wing, is tricky and fast, but is inclined to harg on too long. The fullback, Buchan, apajrt from a tendency to “wait for the bounce,” is sound and his place-kiok-ing is an asset. The halfback, Ake, from the Coromandel Sub-Union, is a sound performer at the base of the scrum. He learned his football in the Wairarapa district and is a small and elusive player.