WAIKATO'S CHANCE TO MAKE RUGBY HISTORY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 180, 1 August 1941, Page 4

WAIKATO'S CHANCE TO MAKE RUGBY HISTORY

Having beaten Auckland 14—12 at Hamilton on King's Birthday the Waikato Rugby representatives have the opportunity at Eden Park to-morrow to record their first double success in the liistoiy of the inatehef: between the two sides-. Only twice before the first match. th;s season had Waikato beaten Auckland, and then the latter sido was not truly a representative one. The success this peaeon was well earned. For once they outplayed Auckland in the backs, a department of the game which had generally been their j weakness. Waikato has consistently had a ptfft: of powerful graftera whose efforts have been less consistently supported by the rearpiiard. Five of the Auckland team to-morrow-did not play in the previous same., and tie Waikato to-morrow is considered just ns strong ae at the beginning of the season it*; prospects are favourable. It appears that much will depend on the performance of the Auckland backs ■which have bcv:i ptrenffthened by the inclusion of two players from the Army tean.— T>. Brady and Schubert. The former is a flaps fivcoighth, but the player inside him. K. Mcßan (University) ia aiinkinp: his debut with the. representatives after about six yeans in club football. The. selector has impressed on the backs generally the virtue of usinfr their hands in preference fo tho l>oot. and if ilcßac works -well with Brady the outride backs will pet opportunities. The Auckland forwards will liaxe an experienced skipper in H. F. McLean, while another of the veteran player.*, in R. Hull, come* back into the pack. Gilmoup, an absentee because of an injured thumb, will he replaced in the front row by J. Bourke. a Ponsonby player -who was occasionally chosen as an emergency last season. The other players have all hsd experience in an Auckland side. Aβ mentioned before, the Waikato pack comprises men of robust physique who play 3 hard frame. It has <iu expert hooker In E. H. Catley. and an outstanding hnttl'-r in W. H. Warrender. who played in the All Black 'trials in 1039. The match ■will start nl 2.45 p.m.. and there will be a eurtain-raisTr between the Grammar and Xorthcote third grade teams at 1.15 p.m.