RUGBY FOOTBALL

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 70, 20 September 1939, Page 11

RUGBY FOOTBALL

MORE DEFECTIONS

In addition to the advice received on Monday that J. W. and S, E. Purdue, of Southland, are not available for, the North Island v. South Island Rugby

match at Athletic Park on Saturday

and T. G. Fowler, of Taranaki, for the New Zealand trials, the first of which, is also to be held on Saturday, other defections have since been notified.

As the result of "the injury he received in the representative ihatch against Wairarapa last Saturday J. R. Sherratt (Wellington), one of the three-quarters selected to take part in the trials, is unfortunately unable to play. He suffered a torn muscle ia one of his legs, and he will be laid up for three weeks. C. Brown (Taranaki), selected as one of the-five-eighths, is also reported to be not available* In view of this C. A. Crossman (King Country) has been invited to replace Brown and C. C. Perkins (Waikato) to replace Sherratt in the trials. .There is also some doubt about D. S. Dalton, who was selected as one of the forwards, being fit to play on account of a leg injury. <•

The actual teams to take part in the first trial match. on Saturday will not be announced until Friday. ;,;

Seven of the eight Southlanders who have been selected to play for the South Island against the North Island did not return south with the Southland team on the completion of its northern tour. They are C. K. Saxton, A. G. Sutherland, D. B. Herron, R. H. Ward, M. P. Grace, V. L. George, and W. G. Sherriff, and have remained ia Wellington., The other Southland member, A. W. Wesney, returned to th« south. ■'■ ' >

The rest; of the players for the intei?island match and also the trials will assemble in Wellington tomorrow and on Friday. •