TARANAKI ON TOUR

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 49, 26 August 1938, Page 11

TARANAKI ON TOUR

MATCH WITH WELLINGTON

In the course of their southern tour, on which they hope to press a claim to possession of the Ranfurly Shield, Taranaki Rugby football representatives will have a match with Wellington's elect at Athletic Park tomorrow afternoon. There is always a keen anticipation of Taranaki-Wellington clashes, as so many of them in the long series of contests have had exciting finishes and have produced spectacular features. It is expected that tomorrow's match will be no exception to the rule. The fact that J. L. Sullivan will be captaining the visitors lends added interest to the match, as this brilliant New Zealand representative has supplied many of the highlights in important games. The Taranaki team was due in Wellington this evening, with the Hon. R. Masters as manager. Wellington's team, which was narrowly defeated by Hawke's Bay in quite a thrilling match at Athletic Park last Saturday, has been amended | a little for tomorrow's match, the Wellington selector (Mr. M. F. Nicholls) having in mind the preparation of the side* for the southern tour, on which i Wellington will play for the Ranfurly , Shield, if the trophy is still in Otago's! possession. Griffiths and Guy will not be available for the southern tour, and they have been replaced by Sargisson and Fraser Smith. The only other change is that Fleming replaces Crisp as full-back. The local representatives will be captained by Fraser Smith (who led the Wellington side against Wairarapa). The teams are: — * TARANAKI. Full-back: J. Simpson. Three-quarters: A. Wetton, P. Toro, A. Pepperill. Five-eighths: J. L. Sullivan, C. Brown. Half-back: L. Arnold. Forwards: P. Murphy, J. Mac Lean, J. Coull, H. Benton, F. Whitaker, R. Walker, G. Fowler, and W. Young. Emergencies.—Backs: B. Neilson, J. Meuli. Forwards: R- Young and T. Joyce. > WELLINGTON. Full-back: J. Fleming. Three-quarters: L. H. Edwards, W. J. Fulton, A. Wright. Five-eighths: D. Jones, E. Sargisson. Half-back: E. W. Tindill. Forwards: G. Wales, J. Gunn, F. H. Fraser Smith, E. Griffen, E. Todd, T. Hegglun, A. Lambourn, and J. Clayton. Emergencies.—Backs: N. Burns, J. L. Griffiths, W. Thompson. Forwards: K. Guy and C. Pringle. "Home-and-home" matches are played by Wellington and T&ranaki each season, and tomorrow's match will be the second in Which these provinces have met this.year. Wellington played Taranaki at Hawera earlier in the season, and the match was won in the last few minutes by Taranaki by 9 points to 8. The teams for tomorrow's match differ somewhat from those which met at Hawera, and they are regarded as being much better equipped at this stage of the season after having ! had other matches. . : ■

The Taranaki team is to go from Wellington to Invercargill, and, after the match there with Southland next Wednesday, will meet Otago in a match which is hoped to.be for the Ranfurly Shield.. Subsequent Taranaki engagements'will be with.South Canterbury and Canterbury. Wellington's southern tour is to be undertaken next month—after the match with Auckland at Athletic Park on September 10.