THE CHINA MAIL, JANUARY 26, 1989.
Rugby Trial Disappointing
D.H. Taylor & Henderson Are Impressive
BERRY DESERVES PLACE AS WING FORWARD
(By "REFEREE")
A disappointing Interport Rugby trial was held on the Club ground yesterday when Probables beat Possibles by five goals and three tries (34 points) to two goals and a try (13 points) after lead- - ing by 26 clear points at the interval.
Changes were made at half-time on both sides, and this con- siderably altered the aspect of the game, Possibles coming into prominence as a result of better work among the backs.
Owing to the many absentees and the fact that several officers of the Medway, including Lt. Talbot (serum-half), Lt. Darling
My Fifteen
(second-row-forward) and Lt. Taking into consideration the Anderson (wing-forward), will season's performances, yester- not be.available for the Interport day's trial and the fact that the match, the task of the selectors Medway and Submarines will not
for a fine try. be here for the match, I would was made fairly difficult.
select the following to represent
MANY ABSENTEES A. J. G. Taylor, middle-of-the- Hong Kong against Malaya in the back-row in the Probables fifteen, Interport match on the Club did not arrive until half time and ground on Saturday, February 11 his place was filled by Redman, (reading from full-back, right to while Possibles missed several of left): their players, among whom were Lt. Walters, who has only just left a sick bed, J. Hutchison, who is still on the injured list, and L. Sea Romans and A. B. Thatcher, both of whom are ill.
a
The absence of these four men from Possibles' line-up made world of difference, for although Ellis, who filled the stand-off-half's berth in the first half was very fast off the mark, he was not in the same class as Hutchison, whose touch-finding and fine defence were missed.
CENTRE WIDE_OPEN
Most of Probables' scores were made through the centre, where Bidwell and Boe, Possibles' centres, often failed to tackle, while MacGrath's positioning at full-back was also often at fault.
With many of the positions in the Colony team filled by "certain- ties," the selectors' attention was concentrated on applicants
back rows of the pack.
for
Pay.-Lt. Stevens (Kent)
* *
D. II. Stewart (Club) W. E. Grieve (Club) P. O. Askwith (Dainty) D. H. Taylor (P.R.U.F.C.)
*
*
Lt. W. Elliot (Eagle) J. R. Henderson (Club)
**
** * K. A. Watson (Club) K. W. Salter (Club) · Lt. Cuthbertson (R. Scots)
*k * *
A. F. Walkden (Club) W. E. Peers (Club).
* ** ***
Lt. R. E. Crawford (R. C. Sigs.) A. J. G. Taylor (Club) Pte. Berry (Middlesex)
tries: Stewart's
splendid backing
A thrilling moment in last Saturday's local International Final when L/Cpl. Boe (Scotland) broke through the English back division
Also seen in the above picture is J. Hutchison***** (Scotland's stand-off-half), who gave a brilliant display. ("China Mail" photo).
Two Surprise Selections
Walters And Berry
Out of Luck
(By "REFEREE") Selection of the Colony Rugby fifteen to meet Malaya in the In- |terport match on Saturday, Feb- ruary 11, on the Club ground, has two major surprises, these being the inclusion of H. D. Bidwell, the Club skipper, at right-wing threequarter, a position he has not yet filled this season, and Lt. Griffiths as a wing-forward.
Colony XV
Following yesterday's trial, the following fifteen players were sel- ected to represent the Colony against Malaya in the Interport Rugby match on the Club ground on Saturday, February 11 (reading from full-back, right to left):
Lt. J. E. Stevens (Kent)
** * *
H. D. Bidwell (Club) W. E. Grieve (Club) P. O. Askwith (Dainty) D. H. Stewart (Club) ̈
* *
Lt. W. Elliot (Eagle) J. R. Henderson (Club)
* 堂
K. A. Watson (Club) K. W. Salter (Club)
Lt. Cuthbertson (R. Scots)
** *
A. F. Walkden (Club) W. E. Peers (Club)
* * *
Lt. Griffiths (Medway) A. J. G. Taylor (Club) · Lt. R. E. Crawford (R.C. Sigs.)
With these two exceptions, the team represents the best the Colony can field with the talent available-it came as a disap- pointment to learn definitely that up and opportunism were features. Lt. Talbot (scrum-half), Lt. Possibles' wing three-quarters, Darling (second-row forward) Chadwick and Thomas, did not and Lt. Anderson (wing-forward) come up expectations. Although the will not be able to play as they the wing-threequarter positions, the former had Bidwell supporting him leave the Colony by the Medway scrum half, and the second and on the inside, he was tackled al-and Submarines on a Southern Taylor, Crawford, Anderson and
most immediately when in posses-cruise on February 8.
Berry were the pick of the back D. H. Taylor, of the Police Rug-sion. Thomas is also very fast, with
The Selectors would have considered | row forwards, while Griffiths shone by team, made his debut, Alling the but little else.
Lt. Walters, who, although he has only intermittently. In the unavoidable left and right wing threequarter ASKWITH LEAVES FIELD just left hospital following an attack absence of Anderson, who will be berths respectively in the different Grieve and Askwith, who are as- of septicaemia, has broken a bone in halves.
sured of their places as
his wrist, but who would have been away from the Colony, Berry should centre-
the logical choice for the wing berth get his place in the pack. three-quarters in the Interport fif-in view of his performances this sea- teen, came into prominence early in son, and his fine understanding the game when both dropped the Askwith. ball on several occasions when scores looked certain. Both improved con- siderably, however, as the game progressed and held their own.
Taylor's only fault yesterday was his tackling, which was a trifle, high although he took man and ball in a strangle-hold. He displayed fine judgment, ran his fast and straight and used
LT. GRIFFITHS WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE
with
DISCOVERY OF WALTERS' WRIST INJURY WAS JUST MADE KNOWN TO ME THIS MORNING BY LT.. CDR. HEL- BERT, ONE OF THE SELEC- TORS.
Lt.
He is heavily but well built and uses his weight to the best advan- tage. Probably one of his best at- tributes is that he is rarely lagging behind in the loose.
FIRST HALF Probables:-Lt. Lomax, (R.A.); D. Askwith was unfortunately
Then again, the selection of
H. Stewart (Club), P. O. Askwith kicked on the back of the head Griffiths, of the Medway, for a wing- H. Taylor (Police R.U.F.C.); Lt. W. (Dainty), W. E, Grieve (Club) and D. carly in the second half and re-forward berth comes as a surprise. A vacancy has occurred in the
tired from the game.
Berry, of the Middlesex and one of the Elliot (Eagle) and Lt. E. B. Talbot Colony Interport Rugby team to
(Medway); K. A. Watson (Club), K. With Hutchison on the injured season's best forwards, seemed a cer- W. Salter (Club); 2/Lt. N. H. Cuth- meet Malaya as it is now learn-
tainty to me: ed that Lt. Griffiths, of H.M.S. list and Elliot a certainty because
bertson (R. Scots); A. F. Walkden Medway, will not be here at the
of his fine form in the Triangular Forwards on both sides were dig-(Club),, Lt. G. P. Darling (Medway); time of the match.
Lt. I. M. Anderson (Medway), J. Red- Tournament series, the next most appointing in the set scrums, and,man (Club) and Lt. R. E. Crawford. ANTANANARUM.......................................................... important position was that of although Darling and Anderson Possibles:-W, MacGrath (Club); G. weight to advantage. His altertness scrum half.
were at the top of their form in the K. Chadwick (Club), H. D. Bidwell was responsible for a good try in HENDERSON IMPRÉSSES
loose, the selectors must have felt (Club), L/Cpl. Boe (R. Scots), F. O. Thomas (Eagle); Surg. Lt. Ellis (Med- the second half, when he intercept- Both Talbot and Henderson per- a little disheartened at the prospect way) and J. R. Henderson. (Club); Lt. ed a pass. Although he lacked a formed very creditably yesterday, of fielding a pack minus the out-Pumphrey (Medway), E. A. Staples swerve, his, side-step and hand-off | Talbot, having the advantage of standing talent of the Colony. (Eagle), Sub. Lt, Hain (Eagle); Lt. proved very effective.
playing behind a quick heeling SALTER HOOKED WELL Griffiths (Navy), Lt. Boddington (Med- STEWART SHINES
way); L/Sgt. Pago (5th A.A. Regt.), pack in the first half, got the ball
Salter was in good form as hook-w. E. Feers (Club) and Pte. Berry Stewart, Probables' other wing away quicker, though Henderson er until he injured his head and (Middlesex). threequarters, waą“ in excellent made the most of his opportunities. left the field for a short interval.
SECOND HALF form and followed us his fine per-In
F. the second
Probables: Lt.
0. half the
Lomax; scrum- | Probables' heeling was quite good, formance in last Saturday's Inter-halves changed jerseys and both but could have been cleaner and with; G. K. Chadwick; Lt. Elliot, J. R. Thomas, W. E Grieve, P. 0. Ask- national Final with an equally again gaye good service, especially quicker while their work in the Honderson; K. A. Watson, K. W. Sal- good display yesterday His, in-Talbot, who gave a sparkling dis-lineouts and in the loose was very tor, L. Cuthbertson; A. F. Walkden, clusion in the team is a certainty. play throughout, being directly ras- ragged and uninspiring.
Et Darling; Lt. Anderson, J. Redman and Lt. Crawford, It must be admitted, however, that ponsible for at least four tries. Walkden is certainly worth his bot much was seen of him during As Talbot will not be available, place, while Peers worked very the first-half, when he played out the Selectors can feel highly satis-hard, although I would have much side to Grieve, but he was very fied with Henderson, whose, form preferred to have seen Darling in much in the picture in the second this latter part of the season has the second row. Unfortunately the half, when he scored two dazzling|been consistently impressive. latter will not be available.
Possibles:Surg. Lt. Ellis; D: H. Tavlor, M. W. MacGrath, H. D. Bid well and D. H. Stewart, M. G. Car- ruthers and Lt. Talbot: W. E. Peers, F. A. Staples, P. J. Cullinan: L-Bod- dington. Lt. Pumphroy; Pte. Barry, 1A. J. G. Taylor and Lt. Griffiths.