RUGBY FOOTBALL

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 171, 17 April 1934, Page 14

RUGBY FOOTBALL

Opening Championship Games SATURDAY’S FIXTURES The Wellington Rugby Union will start its ehampionship competitions on_ Saturday next. The following are the fixtures, grounds, and referees: Senior A, First Division. Athletic v. Wellington College Old Boys, Athletic Park, 3 p.m., A. De CHI- - „ , Petone v. Wellington, Petone No. I. o p.m., J. Wilson. „ , ’ o Poneke v. Eastbourne. Eastbourne, o p.m.. G. Heley. — Hutt v. Marist, Hutt Recreation No. 1, 3 p.m., J. King. Senior A. Second Division. Oriental v. Melrose-Selwyn, Athletic Park, 1.30 p.m.. J. Bennett. St. Patrick’s Old Boys v. Miramar, Polo No. 1. 3 p.m.. 11. B. Simmonds. Johnsonville v. Berlianipore, Johnsonville No. 1. 3 p.m., J. Gilchrist. University v. Onslow. Nairnville No. 1, 3 p.m.. 11. Anslow. Senior B. Hutt v. Marist. Hutt Recreation No. 2, 3 p.m., G. Rathbone; Petone v. Wellington, Petojie No. 2, 3 p.m., T. E. Cole; Poneke v. University, Lyall Bay No. L. 3 p.m.. A. R. Morice; Eastbourne v. Porirua. Porirua. 3 p.m., A. Hooper; Oriental v. Athletic, Lyall Bay No. -. 3 p.m.. K. G. Dunn; Upper Hutt v. Wellington College Old Boys. Maidstone Park, 3 p.m., D, C. Lawson. Secondary Schools. First Grade. —Silverstreani A v. St. Patrick’s. Silverstreani. 3 p.m.. S. L. Bedell’: Rongotai A v. Wellington *Collegf A. Wellington College, 10.30 a.in.; Hutt Valley A v. Technical A. Hutt Valley, 3 p.m.. W. T. Wilson; Hutt Valley B v. Technical B, Hutt Valley. 3 p.m.. C. Cudbv; Rongotai B v. Scots College. Scots. 3 p.m.. J. Bodman ; Silverstreani B v. Wellington College B. Silverstreani, 3 p.m.. J. W. Moynihan; Silverstreani C v. Wellington College C. Wellington College. 3 p.m.. F. Berginan. Second Grade.—Petone Technical v. Silverstreani A, Silverstreani, 1.45 p.m., H. MeKegney; Wellesley v. Wellington College A., Wellington College, 3 p.m., F. Chapman ; Technical College v. St. Patrick’s College, Lyall Bay No. 3, 3p.m., F. Whaler; Silverstreani B v. Rongotai A, Silverstreani, 1.45 p.m., O. J. PlPummer: Wellington College B v. Rongotai B. Wellington College, 3 p.m., N. J. Kitchen: Hutt Valley v. Wellington College C. Hutt Valley. 3 p.m.. F. M. Ryan. Third Grade. —Scots v. Technical, Scots. 1.45 p.ni., I. J. McCartney; Silverstream A v. St. Patrick’s A. Silverstream, 1.45 p.m.. M. Corkin ; Wellington College A v. Rongotai A. Wellington College. 1.45 p.m., 11. Flinders: Wellington College B v. Hutt Valley A, Hutt Valley. I. p.m., L. G. Scott; Petone Technical v. Silverstreani B. Petone No. 1. 1.45 p.m.. O. D. Cleland; St. Patrick’s B v. Wellington College C. Wellington College. 1.45 p.m.. F. McGreevy: Wellington College D v. Hutt Valley B. Hutt Valley, 1.45 p.m.. P. J. O'Neil! ; Rongotai Bv. Hutt Valley C, Hutt Valiev, 1.45 p.m., R. Love. Fourth Grade. —Silverstreani A v. St, Patrick's A. Silverstreani. 1.45 p.m, A. Monigatti; Wellington College A v. Rongotai A, Wellington College. 1.45 P.m, 11. Meacham; Wellington College B v. Rongotai B. Wellington College, 1.45 p.m, J. 11. Saunders; Wellington College 1C v. Wellesley. Wellington College. 10.30 a.in.; Technical v. Wellington College D, Wellington College. 10.30 a.m.; Croydon v. Rongotai D, Croydon, 3 p.m., T. Laws. MANAWATU CLUBS Good Spirit in Evidence Dominion Special Service Palmerston North, April 16. Next Saturday week ha.s been set down ns the official opening date for the Manawatu Rugby Union's club championships, but most of the clubw have already commenced their field activities, and tiiis afternoon a number , of friendly matches were played in the district. Nominations have not yet closed, but it would appear that the seven senior teams that competed for tlie Hankins Shield will again be playing for that trophy. Prospects for most of the clubs are bright, although one or two have suffered severely by the loss of players through transfer or retirement. Feilding Old Boys. Feilding Old Boys, last year’s champions, are quietly optimistic that they will retain their leadership, and though this is open to doubt, the strength of the team warrants their optimism. Waldin will lead Eade, C. Elliott, Knyvetf, Whisker, Wilson, Mitchell. Adams, Grant and Edhouse of last year’s pack, with a valuable acquisition in Devine, the Wairnrapa forward, and a promising player in Finlay, last year's Feilding High School captain. From these 12 forwards the greens should be able to select a very strong elub pack. Of the backs, Dewe, Simpleski, Bramwell, T. Amadio and F. Elliott are playing again the defections being in the half-back (Irvine) and fullback (Trass) positions. Waugh. the Bunnythorpe junior, is a candidate as half-back, and two new backs who have joined up with the club are Myers (Wellington) nnd Burgesw, the Te Kawau re-, presentative. Kia Toa. Kia Toa will lie minus the services of five of their stalwarts. Strange. Griffin, R. Wasley (backs), Summers and Heatley (forwards) all having decided to retire, nnd while new players are offering, it would appear that some juniors will te called up to fill the vacancies in senior ranks. McKenzie. Speedy. Crawford (2). and Kerrigan of the scrummagers. O'Keefe, G. Wasley. Simpson nnd Carr (backs) are available again, nnd old players who have returned to the district are Williams and Comber.-and Matson has recovered from his injuries. Mnson is a new forward, nnd H. Dustin (Wellington) and Robinson (Foxton) are possibilities as backs. St. Patrick’s. St. Patrick’s did well in their first year of senior football, and with practically the>.whole of last season’s regulars at their call, the team should be able to at least hold its own with most other clubs. McKay. Findlay. Dawick, M. Gillespie, R. Gillespie, Spelman, Small (backs). Lane. Burgess. Nesbit. Lyons. Smith, and Madgwick (forwards) will form the nucleus of the fifteen, new members being Powell, Walters, and Anderson. Juniors who may be promoted are O’Dea and Barnao.

Massey College. The Massey College students should field their beet fifteen since the college opened this season, and they made a good start this afternoon by defeating Kia Toa 15-11 .after a bright, fast and open match. Cooper. Pease. Sutton. Greenough. Pierce (forwards), Metcalfe, blytm Douglas, and Missen (backs) are turning out again, and in Walters, the Nortj Island nominee, and O'Sullivan, the college has two strong forwards from Taranaki. Blair, also from Taranaki, and House (Hutt) are po-sibles as backs, ns also are Coles and Campbell. 1.133 junior players. United.

United hope to hn.ve the services of Mabcy as well ns 11. Ormond, both o whom have been out of the district, and with most of last year’s men at call, the senior side should be at least equally a* strong as last year. Penman Apalari. Fenton (backs). A. Ward, R, Ward Flowers, Glastonbury. Burchall, and Nicholls (forwards) will have new club mates in Davies (Miramar). King (Southern Hawke's Bay), and Bowel (Bunnvthorpe) in the rearguard, and Hart, Tataria. and Spiers m the torwards. with n possible promotion from ‘he juniors in Hubbard. R. Ormond, the

1933 captain, has declared that he will not be available this season but it would not be surprising to see him turn out with his team again. Findlay, of last year's .-•erum. may be placed iii the fiveeighth line. Old Boys. Old Boys will field a very young sidt, six of their forwards having retired. Henry. Howell, R. Cutler, O’Dea and Yortt (forwards), with Dang. Bradley. Wehipeihana. Olliver, and Tillich (backs) are the nucleus of the side, and with the return of Irvine ami Docker and the promotion of two promising juniors in Buick and Stubbs, the backs should play fast. open football. A. Cutler has enrolled with Old Boys. and Louisson, Lovelock anil Thomas may be brought up from the junior pack to the bcui ora.