RUGBY RIVALRY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 200, 23 August 1940, Page 10

RUGBY RIVALRY.

AUCKLAND V. TARANAKI.

VISITING BACKS INCLUDE ALL BLACK STAR, J. SULLIVAN. Football rivalry extending over C 5 years is revived by the meeting at Eden Pai'k tomorrow of Auckland and Tarnnaki, a matcii in which Auckland will be endeavouring to maintain its unbeaten record of this season. Apart from Ilawke's Bay, whom Auckland defeated. Taranaki appears the toughest proposition to face the local reps, this year. Four of the Taranaki backs—Brown, Jack Sullivan. C. F. Sullivan nnd the full-back; 11. E. Johns—are members of the Tukapn Club, which incidentally is probably the only club in New Zealand still persisting (and not unsuccessfully) with the 2 —3—2 scrum formation. A third member of the Sullivan family often plays for Tukaim. Colin Sulliviin. who plays on the wins, is the 21-year-old brother of the All Blackcentre. He bears an extraordinary resemblance to him in build and style, and showed in the trials last year that he is well endowed with the speed and football sense which have made 3. L. Sullivan famous. Cclin Sullivan's hrst game for Taranaki was against Auckland last year, when he was originally chosen as second emergency, but got a game when neither his brother nor Eric Smith was able to play. 11. E. Johns is another rising Taranaki stnr. Johns liist represented Taranaki in 1!I2S, when he played against Auckland at Eden Park. Last year, in the trials at Wellington, be proved himself distinctly the heat of the full backs on view. He fields the ball beautifully nnd is a most accurate kick. It will be interesting to study the merits of Hare and Johns to-morrow, as they are contrasting physical types, Johns being much more nimble than the Auckland man. Of the other Tarnnaki backs. C. Brown is well-known as a veteran lirst flve-elghlb Weteie. the original choice as second tiveeightb. went to Fiji with the Maori team of 1038. but h;'s now been replaced by Novak, a schoolboy prodigy of last year. Hayinan (wing) and Gladding (half) are other newcomer* Gladding is half-back for the Ingle wood senior team which has won the northern division of the Tarnnaki championship this season. Gladding succeeded L. Arnold, now in Egypt with the First Echelon, as Inglewood's half-back. A very tine dropkick from the base of the scrum against Tukapa last Saturday proved that If is a resourceful player. This timely "l>ot"T;ave Inglewood victory by 10 points to 6. There are some unknown quantities in the Taranaki pack, but the Taranaki tradition of sound forward play is a guarantee that the pack will be formidable. The beet-known forward is A. Richard«, who has been in the Tnranaki side for several years, anil played against the Springboks. Murphy is another typical Taranaki forward, and Con. Crowley, whose club is Knponga, cnrri-« on a famous name in Taranaki Rugby. His father and uncle were among the greateet of i>re-Gr«it War Taranaki forwards. Interesting Points. Jack Sullivan mr.de his first appearance for Taranak! at Eden Park in 1934, when barely 10. He scored a try, and did so again in l!)3C and 1935. "Wetton, one of (he Tararfaki emergencies, played a great game on the wing against the 1937 Springboks, but has now developed into a forward. His club is Clifton. Novak, the second five-eighth, was a New Plymouth High Schrtol star last year. He has given brilliant displays for New Plymouth Old Boye this ntnson. Honours With Auckland. Auckland's rivalry with Taranaki dates from 1875, when the pioneer Auckland touring team led by T. Henderson stopped ashore at New Plymouth-, after losing all Mβ. matches in the South—and got another beating. The score Is lost in the mists of antiquity.. The matches were renewed in 18S7, and except during the Great War, have continued without intermission ever since. More matches have been played between Auckland and Taran.ikl than between any other two provinces in New Zealand. The total of matches playoj is 58. Thte exceeds by one the matches played between Auckland and Wellington. Ancklnnd has won 37 games, Taranaki Iβ, and five have been drawn. ■.Taranaki in 1903 inflicted on Auckland Its firet defeat in six years. Another great match was that of 1913, in which Taranaki lifted the Ranfurly Shield. The Auckland union by that time was "fed up" with the shield, regarding it as a nuisance, and was not sorry to see it go. It is not generally realised that Auckland beat Taranaki at New Plymouth later the eame year, but the shield was not at stake. Fifteens selected: — Taranaki. Fnll-bnck. —Johns. Three-quarters. —C. F. Sullivan, J. L. Sullivan. Hayman. Five-eighths. — Wetere, C. Brown (captnin). Half-back. —Gladding. Back row.—Cleverley. Middle Row. — Richards, Patterson, Crowley, Murfitt. Front Row.—Murphy, Walker, A. Lllley. Auckland. Full-back.—Hare. Three-quarters.—Schubert. Wiles, Molloy. Five-eighths.—Pearmon (captain). Barlow. Half-back.—Tetzlaff. Back Row.—Mills. Second Row.—Ryan, Priest, Smith, Barry. Front Row.—Hull. Johnson, Gilmour. Referee.—Mr. G. Peace.

/ GALLAHER SHIELD.

SECOND ROUND COMMENCES. Despite the Auckland-Taranaki match, the Rugby Union hae decided to make a start to-morrow afternoon with the second round of the senior championship. The gamee in the first division are widely scattered. Th« only one to be played at E<ten Park will be on No. 2 ground, between Marist and Training College. Th« other .allocations are: —Suburbs v. Takapuna, nt Showgrounds; Grafton v. North Shore, at Devonport ; Ponsonby v. University, at Kllerslie Domain; Otnhuhu v. Technical, at Ofahuhu. Tea me selected :— NORTH SHORE.—O. Sheehan, Raynes, Graham, Robertson. A.. Slylield. Stancich, Sweetman, Shand, Martin, A. Scott. Mnssey, J. Goodacre. Speight. Peter Sheehan, Exler. Reserves :• Doyle, Laing, Sydford. MARIST OLD BOYS.—Sorenson. Hardy, Bell-Booth, Patterson, Neary, Rae, MeCullough, Cooney. Bond, Langford, McCabe, Sullivan, King, Belgrade, Washer, George, Hogan, Keidj-, Lane, FMdec.