RUGBY FOOTBALL

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22804, 1 September 1939, Page 4

RUGBY FOOTBALL

SHIELD-HOLDERS IN CITY SOUTHLAND V. CANTERBURY TO-MORROW BOTH TEAMS AT FULL STRENGTH New Zealand’s champion provincial Rugby team, Southland, arrived in Christchurch last evening and will meet Canterbury in the second match of Its northern tour at Lancaster Park to-morrow. Holder of the Ranfurly Shield, Southland is unbeaten so far this season and hopes to maintain its record in the present very strenuous tour which takes in matches against South Canterbury, Canterbury, Wellington, Auckland, Wanganui, and Taranaki. The, large touring party includes 23 players. Southland, in five .matches this season, has scored 161' points to the 13 scored by' its opponents, the team’s record being as follows:—v. Otago, 23-4; v. Manawatu, 17-3; v. Bush, 38-0; v.- Ashburton, 50-0; v. South Canterbury, 33-6. Southland’s line has not yet been crossed this season. This is an "extraordinarily fine record, even though most of Southland’s opponents so far have not been strong teams. To-morrow’s match against Canterbury is expected to be one of the shield-holders' acid tests. Both sides will be at full strength, Southland—a rarity in these days—having been able, to get all its best players to-tour; This’ is o1 special interest in view of the forthcoming selection of the South -Island team. Both proVinces may expect fairly strong representation, and. the opposing players to-morrow will, in many cases, be close rivals for the higher honour of representing the island. To Repair a Record? Southland’s record in Christchurch Is not a good one. It is 19 years since a Southland team won a match at Lancaster Park. That is a record of failure which the present touring team hopes to repair. Canterbury has won eight matches against Southland in Christchurch since the southern province’s last success in 1921. On the other hand record ‘in Invercargill is not impressive—consistent)' defeats since 1926. Of the 41 matches between the two unions since they were inaugurated in 1890, Canterbury has won 28 and lost 12, one having been drawn. Southland, as is well known, has a great pack of forwards this season and last and reliable backs. Canterbury has the best back line that has represented, the province for Several seasons and a forward pack which held its own against the strongest in the North Island. v Canterbury’s chief hope of success lies in winning sufficient share of possession to .give -its undoubtedly menacing back line sufficient opportunities. In 'any case it should be a last and spectacular game.' '. The Teams The opposing teams will be:— Southland Full-back —J. W. Fleming, 13-0. Three-quarters—A. G. Sutherland 12-5, A. W. Wesney 12-3, R. G. Mahony IL6. Five-eighths—M. P. Grace 11-10, C. K. Saxton (captain) 10-10, Half-back—J. W. Purdue 11-7. Forwards Back-ranker: A.' R. Marshall 13-7. Middle row—R. H. Ward 14-6. S. E. PUrdue 15-3, D. B, Herron 15-7, G. H Graham 13-6. Front, row—V.' L. George 15-4, W. G.Sherrift 19-4, V C. -Soper 14-5. Emergencies—Backs: E. Calvert 12-7, R. Gibb 11-10, C, F< McKenzie 11-9, W. Stewart 11-9. Forwards: F. McEwan 14-2, J. Newall 12-10, T. Fordyce 13-7, A. West 13-0. < Canterbury ' Full-back—G. T. Nolan. Three-quarters: J. S. Cartwright, A. G. Hunter, R. L. Roberts. ■! Flve-eighths-rW. Burgess, F. Allen. Half-back—J. J. McAuliffe (captain). Forwards—Back-ranker: W. A. Hearn./ 1 - • Middle row—D. Herman, C. W. Williams, B. Chandler. G. ST Walter. Front row—P. K.; Rhlnd, J, Rainey, N. J. McPhail. .. . • Emergencies^-Backs—Ji Ballantyne, B. Mahoney, A. L. Ellis. Forwards; D. Hayles, T. C.. Knowles, 'S. Campbell. The referee will be Mr E. A. Empson. - ■ TRAMWAYS?. TOURNEY AUCKLAND RETAINS KOHN SHIELD ' / ■ ■ : - (raxss .• _ DUNEDIN. August. 31, In the final of. the tramways: Rugby tournament for the Kohn Shield, Auckland, the holders,/ drew with Wellington, fl-all. Auckland will retain the shield. ,„On Tuesday Auckland beat Dunedin and Wellington beat-Christchurch. • To-day, In jk curtain-raiser -to the final, Christchurch beat Dunedin, 13-D, • ALTERATION IN GROUNDS The third grade match between Merlvale and Athletic, set down to be played on the douth ground,' Lancaster Park, at 1,30 p.m., has been' transferred •to ground No. 32. South Hagley Park, and will commence at 2.45 pm.. The Southern V. Llnwood third grade match, set down to be played on No. : 13 . North_ Park; has been transferred to No, 10 Nfcrih Park. ASSOCIATION CODE ENGLISH RESULTS LONDON, August 30. Association footbaU, results yesterday were:— First Division Arsenal 1. Blackburn Rovers 0. ' Chelsea 1. Manchester United 1. Derby County 2, Portsmouth 0. Charlton Athletic 1. Leeds United 0. Liverpool 4, Middlesbrough 1. Preston North End 0, Sheffield United 0. -i -Huddersfield Town 2. Sunderland 1. , Second Division ; Birmingham 2, Leicester CJty 0. Luton Town 3, Bradford 0. Manchester City 1, Bury 1. . Swansea Town 3: Southampton 1. ' -Third Division Southern Section ■. Bournemouth 2, Queen’s Park Rangers 2. Brighton and Hove Albion 2, Aldershot 1. Norwich County 2. Bristol City 1. Ipsgvlch Town 2, Bristol Rovers 0. i Reading- 6, Crystal Palace 0. - Cardiff City -L Swindon Town 0. .Torquay United 0, Walsall 0. Mansfield Town 2, Watford 1. , ■ .Third Division .. ' , • Northern. Section Chester 1. Doncaster Rovers 0. Gateshead 3, Hartlepools United'o. New Brighton" 2,. Bradford City 1, . At Belfast, In an Inter-League Association match. the Scottish League team beat the Irish team by .3 goals to 2, after the Irish led at half-time; 1-0. ~ _. .