HOOKING DUEL

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20921, 28 September 1939, Page 13

HOOKING DUEL

ALL BLACK TRIALS CATLEY AND LAMBOURNE TAYLOR WINS HONOURS (By Telegraph.—Press Association) WELLINGTON, Wednesday The second series of All Black trials at Athletic Park today ran true to type. Largely because of injuries and the return home of some of the leading players, the teams underwent many changes and played accordingly. There was neither the atmosphere nor the quality that marked Saturday’s trial and the North and South Island match. The conditions were ideal and the crowd totalled 4000.

Wesney’s team defeated Crossman’s team by 31 points to 19 in the first game, which was vastly superior to the second, in which Barton’s team had an easy win against McAuliffe’s team by 26 points to 3. The actual results, however, were immaterial, although the extent to which the teams settled down had a bearing on the form of the players.

Both games emphasised the paucity of good line-out forwards in the country. Of the 3 forwards there was scarcely more than three or four who took the ball cleanly. There were some who came through the ordeal with credit, but many were no better than the average club standard. Quite a number of useful backs was seen in action, but few rose to great heights. To sum up, the trials contributed little to what was already known. Impressive Forwards Of those who played on Saturday, King McKenzie, Herron, Jackson, George, Bowman, Parkhill, Saxton, Sullivan and Sutherland were either standing down today or had returned home. Grace and Crossman were the pick of the five-eighths, with two newcomers, in Brady (Auckland) and Welch (Wanganui) making a good impression. Tindill was easily the best half. Forwards who impressed were Williams, Mason, Cassidy, Ward, McLean, McPhail and McDonald. Catley had an interesting hooking duel with Lamboume, the honours going to the latter, but not by a very substantial margin. In the early game Crossman im- | pressed by the manner in which he jumped into form. He showed real enterprise on attack and covered up splendidly on defence. He maintained this form until well into the second spell and generally outpointed his opponent, Pearman. The latter, however, was superior in the concluding stages, once beating Crossman badly with a perfect side-step. Brady showed a good eye for an opening and is a five-eighths of distinct possibilities. Southern Hookers The hooking duel between McKenzie (Ashburton) and Hearn (Canterbury) was won by the former by 16 to 12, but Hearn impressed as the better all-rounder. He was one of the few proficient line-out forwards, repeatedly taking the ball cleanly and feeding his half back. For all-round solidness Williams was probably the best forward in this match. Mason and Taylor were the two best front-row forwards. The latter was participating in his first trial and is clearly destined to figure in more. In the loose Kenny and Warrender did a great deal of serviceable work. They were constantly on the ball. Cunningham, the North Auckland winger, fell from grace and failed to live up to his reputation on Saturday. Grace was the outstanding fiveeighths, but a newcomer in Welch (Wanganui) showed enterprise and ability above the average. Lambourne hooked the ball from 14 scrums to Catley’s 11, but the packing was clumsy, the referee continually having to straighten up the packs. Line-out honours went to McLean (Taranaki) and Cassidy (Wellington). McDonald (Otago) was the most proficient forward in the rucks, while in the loose Ward was outstanding. Also prominent for good work were McPhail (Canterbury) and liegglum (Wellington).