RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Franklin Times, Volume XXI, Issue 68, 12 June 1931, Page 5

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

TO-MORROW'S ATTRACTION. S. AUCKLAND v. THAMES. ————— « The first representative Rugby mutch of the season as far as South Auckland is concerned, will be played a! Pukekohe to-morrow between the Thames and South Auckland teams. When the teams met last year at Thames, South Auckland scored a convincing victory, and there is every reason to assume that the dose will be repealed to-morrow. On paper the local team appears stronger, but it will suffer to the extent that it has not had a chance of developing combination which was the chief factor in last year's victory. While the team appears very solid on defence, it seems as though the attacking qualities of last year are not as strong for the sole reason that Wood and Lawrie are being played closer to the scrum due to the selectors being unable to find a first five-eighth approaching the standard required. This meant removing Wood from second to first five-eighth, and Lawrie from centre to second five-eighth. Walters is being played at centre and should .justify his inclusion, but he would undoubtedly have been a tower of strength on the wing. With Lawrie at centre and Wood at second fiveeighths the attack would have been strengthened considerably. Hira at full back is playing as soundly as ever, and the same applies to Stephens on the wing. Costar is a newcomer to South Auckland and is said to be playing great football. Rae has beaten Moyle for his place behind the pack, due perhaps to his wider experience. Moyle is considered very unlucky as he is playing sound football. On last year's form he deserved a place. Guise, the wing forward, hails from Welling- 1 ton, and so far has played sterling! football. He understands the wing: forward game thoroughly, and appears to have moulded his play on the style adopted by Cliff Porter, the All Blacks' captain.' He should justify his inclusion. The forwards are all wellknown and should acquit themselves well. Crosbie and Bush are unlucky not to have earned places as both are playing at the top of their form. The selectors are to be congratulated on their choice of players, seeing that the team was chosen under, difficulties, the selectors having only club football as a guide. The Thames team is solid as usual and can be depended on to fight every inch of the way. The teams are:—

South Auckland: Ilira: Stephens, Walters, Coster; Lawrie, Wood; Rae; Guise; Atchison, Fulton; Lee; Kerebs, Stanford: Dunn. Baker. Beserves: backs, James, Moyle: forwards, Crosbie, Bush. Thames: G. Hool; L. White, R. Buchan, S. McMahon: T. Dufty, L. Edwards; W. Savage: W. Pollock; G. Pollock, Kinloch: J. Strange; Abraham, G. Percy: A. Lomas, E. Hayward. Emergencies: J. Arthur, K. Strange.

THE CURTAIN RAISERS. Several curtain raisers will be played, the teams being as follow: — Old Boys juniors: W. Brown, P. Johns, A. Jamieson, M. Hodgins, P. Griffin. C. Moon, A. Moffitt, E. Russell, R. Meyers, O. Mahoney. K. Cooper, C. Dunk, K. Reynolds, R. Craig and Bagshaw. Ramblers juniors: G. Pteenson, N. Adams, J. Moses, Gray. Rawhitu, Buchan. Pleydell. Parlon. Potatu, Rcwhia. Mansfield. Bartlett, Morrin, Cantell. Clarke, Ford. W. Grant, Eaton and Watson. Patumahoe juniors.— Backs: N. Howe, K. Hunter, Reynolds. Patterson, .T. Brafiy. Hope. Sheppard. Forwards, Johnson (wing). C. Carter. Turner, Pilkington. H. Carter. Fausett, Henry MeCullum. Emergencies: Priestly, Bellhouse, M. Hunter. White Star juniors: Sutton, Johnstone (2). Preece, Barrett, Reynolds (3), McKean, Rack. Whitelaw, Moffitt, Wright, Pix, Hunt. Wharfe, and Cronin.

S. AUCKLAND v. AUCKLAND B

The secretary of the- South Auckland Rugby Union. Mr W. J. Short, received advice from the Auckland Rugby Union 10-day- that matches between Auckland B and South Auckland had been fixed for July 4 at Auckland and August. 8 at Pukekohe.

THE PUKEKOHE UNION.

THE SENIOR DRAW

The senior draw for the second round is as follows: —

June 20. No. 1 ground: United v. Old Boys; No. 2 ground. Kia Ora Ramblers: Patumahoe a bye.

June 27, No. 1 ground: United v Kia Ora; at Patumahoe, Old Boys v Patumahoe; Ramblers a bye.

July 4, No. 1 ground: United v. Ramblers; No. 2 ground, Patumahoe v. Kia Ora; Old Boys a bye.

July 18, No. 1 ground: Old Boys v Ramblers: at Patumahoe. United v Patumahoe; Kia Ora a bye.

August 1, No. 1 ground: Ramblers v. Patumahoe: No. 2 ground. Old Boys v. Kia Ora; United a bye. FRANKLIN SUB-UNION.

MEETING OF DELEGATES

A meeting of the Franklin Rugby Sub-union was held at Tuakau last evening. Mr S. .T. Woodcock presiding.

[ No Further Action. Delegates present were: Messrs A. .1. Maiden, R. Wilcox (Tuakau), G. Bel!, H. Geraghty (Pukekawa), S. J. Woodcock, G. Pope (Pokeno), E. 11. Dawe, J. Dunn (Clevedon), A. McGowan, W. Lawson (Te Kohanga), J. Mill, R. Evans (Bombay), H. A. Murray, W. Walter (Onewhero), P. Smyth (St. Stephen's college), together with Messrs P. A. Hillary and F. Bagnall (joint secretaries). Te Kohanga club forwarded a lettter regarding the fining of Tuakau for being 20 minutes late for a match against Te Kohanga.—Mr McGowan pointed out that, rule 47 stated that such matches should be re-played, but other delegates considered that a protest should have been entered by I lie club to the last meeting of the subunion.—An amendment that no further action be taken was carried, the motion being to defer the matter.

On behalf of the Onewhero club, Mr Murray asked thai the OnewheroTe Kohanga junior match, which was drawn, be awarded to his club. He pointed out that Onewhero scored a try which was disallowed by the referee. Te Kohanga club captain and a line umpire both agreed that the try was a fair one. It was stated that as a player was taking back the ball to endeavour to convert the whistle was sounded, the referee ordering a five-yard scrum. —The referee explained that the ball was cross-kicked, a man taking it when offside, and he sounded the whistle immediately and ordered a scrum. —Delegates declined to take any action, it being pointed out that the referee had full charge of the game.

In reply to a letter from the Kia Ora club (Pukekohe) asking for clearances for J. and H. Happi, it decided to advise that the sub-union was not disposed to grant them. A Pokeno junior player who admitted using obscene language to a St. Stephen's college player on Saturday, was suspended for one playing Saturday.

A referee reported that the Pukekawa juniors were 20 minutes late for a match against Onewhero. —As it was stated that the lorry in which they had travelled had been precipitated over a bank earlier in the day, it was decided to defer action pending an explanation from the club concerned.

It was decided to suspend all matches on Saturday on acoount of the South Auckland-Thames match at Pukekohe.

The sub-union agreed to request the South Auckland Union for permission to continue matches when the South Auckland team was engaged, as it was pressed for time.

; After lengthy discussion it was decided to play the second round outright.

Fleming Cup Match.

' Speaking in regard to the Fleming cup match, Mr Maiden said it was an important .fixture as the proceeds were devoted to the injured players' fund. —It was decided to play the match on July i, Clevedon club being given permission to play another match.—Mr G. N. Asher was asked to select the teams.

H. Cooper was reinstated. It was agreed to lodge a challenge With the South Auckland Union for the Massey cup.

The question of boundaries between Onewhero and Te Kohanga clubs was discussed at length. The meeting resolved to take no further action regarding J. Bayly, provided Onewhero refrained from playing him in the future.

It was agreed to suspend all club matches for the three championships when the representative teams were engaged, and to play Imperial shield and Rodgers cup matches.

The sub-union's delegates to South Auckland U|nion were instructed to vote for one round only of inter-sub - union matches, in view of the length of the Franklin inter-elub competitions.

It being stated that the headmaster of St. Stephen's college would not permit scholars to play unless as a school team, the sub-union agreed to communicate with him pointing out it desired that college players selected should be included in the representative teams.

Challenges were received from Pokeno club for the rmpp.ria.l shield and the Rodgers cup. The advisability of extending the sub-union's territory further south was referred to. —Mr Hillary reported that he had communicated with Walkare sub-union on the subject but had not received a reply.—The matter was referred to the president and the secretaries for action.

Delegates were asked to report any player or spectator who used obscene language on the grounds before, during or after a match.