RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 188, 10 August 1934, Page 13

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

AUCKLAND V. NORTHLAND. REP. GAME AT EDEN PARK. CAN VISITORS WIN AGAIN 5 HERE? . .The first Rugby representative match of .the season at Eden Park will take place to-morrow, when North Auckland will meet the blue and whites. No doubt the <■' visitors will have benefited considerably i by their engagement at Hamilton, and 'as the side is. drawn from many quarters ■■'.; of the far-flung north, it would take a ■jTstiff- practice under match conditions to ..'secure anything like combination. ! Not-only will the .Northlandera be a in'uch more eerious proposition to-morrow, .. but they- have a reputation at Eden Park to; live up to, and they can be depended .-. iipon to strain every muscle to accomplish the hat-trick. Yes, it is a fact that in •;>j;h'eir last two matches at the headquarters 6f Rugby in Auckland the visitors were victorious. ;'-i The game commences at 2.30 instead of .3 o'clock, in order to enable the spectators to reach their homes after the finish in Hime to listen in to the broadcast of the "Test,at,the Sydnev Cricket Ground. . The teams are:— North Auckland. . h .(White jerseys.) Full-back: Kerr. Three-quarters: Franich, Campbell, \Davie: - " r .Five-eighths.—Cooney, Lawrie. '.Half-back: Fergus. Forwards: Cooper, Whiu, Morrissey,lieDonald, McCracken, FitzglT>T>on, Linnell, Bowling. Reserves: Back, McFarlane; forward, /McKenzie. . Auckland. (Blue and white.) . Full-back: Matheson. Three-quarters: Kedgley, Pearson, Hammon. Five-eighths: Hedge, Murdoch. ' Half-back: W. Frankham. Forwards: Pepper, Bond, Finlayson, Bush, Ross, Pearce, Lockington, Smith, • Hardie (one to be omitted). % Reserves: Backs, Wales, Inglis. Sir. Fred Paull will referee. Of the twelve encounters between the ■ two unions, Auckland won nine and lobt three, scoring 198 points to 152. Results: 1022, at Whangarei—Auckland won, B—o. 1922, at Auckland—Auckland won, 17—13. 11123, at Whangarei—Auckland won, 33—6. 1924, at Auckland—Auckland won, 11—8. 1926, at Auckland—Auckland won, 15—14. 1927, at Whangafei—Auckland won, 21—3. 1928, at Auckland—Auckland won, 23 — -22. 1929, at Dargaville—Auckland won, 15— U. 1930, at Auckland—Northland won, 22—11. 1931, at Whangarei—Northland won, 22—8. 1932, at Auckland—Northland won, IG—ll. 1933, at Dargaville—Auckland won, 25 —11.

DEFEAT OF NORTH AUCKLAND. . At Rugby Park, Hamilton, yesterday the touring North. Auckland team was defeated by Waikato by 22 points to 7. With a wind favouring them in the first spell the home team put on 11 points to nil, although the actual play showed little advantage to either side, the forwards being well matched, and the Waikato inside backs swinging the balance, after Davies and Allen had kicked a penalty Konl each, and a breakaway by Russell ami Story, enabling the latter to score a try just on half-time. Allen converted the try. Jn the second spell North. Auckland attacked strongly, but were unable to break through. Eventually Kerr potted a goal. Consistently elusive dashes by Solomon, the Waikato half, held the North Aucklanders at bay, and from a cross-

kick by the same player Oliver, got the ball in a position to make*-a fast breakaway, from which he scored a try. The best back movement of the day gave Waikato another try, Allen scoring and Aitken converting. Northland retaliated and Campbell scored a try, which was not converted. Just before time Oliver, the Waikato wing three-quarter, made another breakway dash and-outpaced the field for another try, bringing the score at the whistle: Waikato 22 North Auckland 7 Mr. A. C. Watkins was referee.

HAWKE'S BAY ON WARPATH.

GAME AT PTJKEKOHE.

WAIXATO'S "WIN.

MORE TROTTBI.E OVER SHIELD. THREE CHALLENGES IN WEEK. (By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.") NAPIER, th'ie day. Dissatisfaction is expressed by officials of the Hawke's Bay Rugby Union at the decision of the New Zealand Union that three matches to be played in this province, on September 1, 6 and 8, against Taranaki, Wanganui and Auckland respectively, must each be Ranfurly Shield challenges.

It is averred that too much strain is imposed on the team, and it is not fair to players to have to defend the trophy throe time 9 in one week.

The chairman of the Hawke's Bay Union, Mr. J. W. Norrie, stated that the decision had apparently been given in conformity with the second paragraph ot the rules governing the shield, as follows: "Such union ehall hold it subject to the right of challenge by an affiliated union, but shall not be called upon to play more challenge matches in a season than management committee of the New Zealand Rugby Union considers advisable; providing that any union meeting the holders of the shield in the course of its ordinary union matches, •shall have right to declare beforehand to the >>ew Zealand Union, and to the union holding the shield, that such match shall also be a challenge match."

"The New Zealand Union was asked whether the Hawke's Bay Union was compelled to accept all three matches as challenge matches," said Mr. Norrie. "The Hawke's Bay Union does not consider that it is fair to players to be called upon to play three matches for the shield within one week, nor is it fair to the public, on whom the cost of attending three matches in such a short epaci! would be a drain. The decision is especially unfair to the country members of the team, several of whom come from considerable distances, and will have to remain in Napier for the greater part of the week. If the matches had not all been Ranfurly Shield games the teams would have been varied, and their presence not required on each occasion."

"Thie treatment is typical of what the Hawke's Bay Union has always received from the parent body when mattere pertaining to the Ranf urly Shield were discussed," said Mr. N. A. McKenzie, sole selector for Hawke's Bay. "It is also in direct contravention to the protection which was afforded to Southland by the parent body after that union had 'lifted' the shield from Wairarapa. It is quite impossible to expect the team to play two matches in three days ?nd give of its best. To say the least of it, the decision is not 'eporting.' "

The fact still remains that the Hawke's Bay Union accepted, without protest, these three games, which the delegates to the New Zealand annual conference in May arranged, and the Bay was represented at the fixture's conference. The official list issued by the Press Association shows the Taranaki, Wanganui and Auckland matches as set down for September 1, 6 and 8. Before Auckland suggested that its game be for the ehield, Hawke'e

I Bay intended the game to be a challenge ! for the trophy, because of its jubilee '■ celebrations. And this was decided in face I of a direct prior challenge by at least ! one of the other two unions concerned I (Taranaki and Wanganui), and another challenge (Manatwau), which, however, was a special one, and was refused. A great deal is said about fairness to Bay players. Would it be fair for the "Magpies" not to field ite beet fifteen against all vieiting teams after purposely arranging the Taranaki, Wangauui and Auckland fixtures to coincide with jubilee week? And does not the Hawke's Bay chairman admit that the challenges arc in accordance with the regulation governing the Ranfurly Shield?

AUCKLAND B V. SOUTH AUCKLAND. Auckland B Rugby representative team Chosen to play South Auckland nt Fnkekohe to-morrow :—Full-back. Hoazlowood : three-quarters. Buckley, Turbott, Currey ; five-elchths, .Tessup, Poulton: hnlf-baek, Aro : forwards. Jury. Mcßeth, Scarborough, Constable, Weber, McOrory, Morgnn Williams. Keserves : Slyfloldf Jensen, Mills.