TO-DAY’S RUGBY MATCH

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 278, 20 August 1938, Page 19

TO-DAY’S RUGBY MATCH

Wellington And Hawke’s Bay To Meet

ALL BLACKS TO PLAY

The Wellington representative Rugby team will play its third match of the present season at: Athletic Park to-day, against the touring Hawke’s Bay team. Anxious to develop combination in view of their Ranfurly Shield fixture with Otago on August 31, the Hawke’s Bayside can be expected to produce football of tile most attractive sort. Wellington also are to travel south later in the season and will make a bid for the shield if it is still in that part of Ute country. Apart from the meeting of two strong unions, an added attraction will be the presence in both teams of All Blacks who took part in the recent tour of Australia. They are Bowman, Jackson and Dalton (Hawke’s Bay) and Griffiths, Wright, Tindill and Lambourn (Wellington). Much interest will centre in the form of Bowman, who played in all the Tests tn Australia, giving displays which entitled him to be ranked as one of the best forwards in New Zealand. Wright scored freely in all games in which he participated. Griffiths was criticised for his penchant for line-kicking, but the Australian papers gave him credit for being very accurate, saving his forwards, and gaining Considerable stretches of ground.

Provided both scrums pack well, the game should serve to settle the argument as to whether Dalton is superior to Lambourn as a hooker. It will be remembered that the former was preferred in the North Island team. The form of the former AH Black, R. Ward, will also be watched, with interest. Many enthusiasts claim that he was unlucky to miss selection iu the All Blacks this year. Hawke’s Bay Pack, With a pack considered to be the equal of the best it has produced, Hawke's Bay can be expected to set a fast pace in the forwards. The Clothier-Bradley combination behind the serum is a very seasoned one. Reid, the second five-eighth, is considered to have a promising future. A product of St. Patrick’s College, Reid played for Victoria College in 1936. In 1937 he represented the North Island universities and Hawke’s Bhy. Le Quesne will till the centre berth, with Fox and Apsey on the wings and Dyer full-back. The Wellington team has undergone many changes this season, and it is generally conceded that Mr. Nicholls's latest selection is the soundest on form disclosed in club games. After their excellent displays last Saturday, Pringle and O'Brien (Poneke) may be considered unlucky not to be in the final choice. The front row, given adequate weight, should have every opportunity of dominating possession in the scrums, Lambourn and Clayton, in particular, being experienced and versatile, while Hegglun is an enterprising and fast forward. Griffen and Todd are newcomers in the middle row. The former is an ex-Hawke's Bay representative who has been at the top of his form in recent club games. The return of Wales to the side should give it the dash and alertness in loose play which has been missing in earlier games. The presence of Tindill and Griffiths should give confidence to the Wellington rearguard, which is very fast, Jones, Fulton, Edwards and Wright being likely to demoralise any opposition given the opportunities. Crisp has been in magnificent form at full-back this season. The teams are:— Hawke’s Bay: Dyer; Fox, Le Quesne. Apsey; Reid, Bradley; Clothier (captain): Ward, O’Brien, Bowman, McKenzie, Wilson, Jackson, Dalton and Hannigan. Reserves: Backs, Garnett, Devine, Palmer; forwards, Dallimore, Keeble. „ , Wellington: Crisp; Wright. Fulton, Edwards; Jones, Griffiths (captain) : Tindill ; Wales, Gunn, Guy, Griffen, Todd. Hegglun, Lambourn and Clayton. Reserves : Baeks, Wareham, Sargisson, O'Halloran; forwards, Pringle, McNicol and Miller. . The referee will be Mr. J. Gilchrist, of Wellington. The match will start at 3 p.m. , , , , , A curtain-raiser will be played between Wellington and Wairarapa juniors, starting at 1.30 p.m.

QUADRANGULAR COLLEGE TOURNAMENT Draw For Dannevirke Games Dannevirke, August 19. Following is the draw for the quadrangular college Rugby tournament, to be held this year at Rugby Park, Dttnnevirke, starting to-morrovy To-morrow: Scots College v. Hutt Valiev High School, 1.30 p.m.; Wairarapa High School v. Dannevirke High School, 3 p.m. Monday : Losers v. losers, at. 1.30 p.m., winers v. winners, at 3 p.m.

FOURTH GRADE RUGBY

Wanganui Representatives Dominion Special Service Wanganui, August 19. The following Wanganui fourth grade Rugby players have been chosen to play Rangitikei in Marton on Saturday, and Hawern in Wanganui on August 27 Baeks: M. Signal (P.), H. Bidwell (K,), J, Bergerson (P.). M, Moosemau (P.L K. Terry (P.). D. Comrie (KJ. W. Phillips (P.), R. Janies (15..), J. Tufty (P.). Forwards: A. Northover (I). W. Ward (K.), S. Warner (K.L A. Larsen (K.l. J. Williams (K.), G. Paterson, W. Glasgow (P.), W. Cox (P.l, G, Robinson (K.L E. Bennett (I*.).