RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Franklin Times, Volume XXII, Issue 91, 5 August 1932, Page 5

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

S. AUCKLAND v. THAMES.

TO-MORROW'S GAME. Providing climatic conditions are •favourable local Rugby enthusiasts should see a good game at Pukekohe to-morrow, when South Auckland and Thames will meet in the first of the .home and home matches this season. The South Auckland team is expected to make a good showing, but the game wiii be very close, as Thames is fielding a solid combination. Against Auckland A recently, Thames put up a hard fight in the first spell and held

its own, but the effort could not be sustained in the second spell, and > Thames were badly beaten. . South Auckland put up a creditable performance against Auckland B, and had it not been for Bush's goal kicking South might have won. To-morrow, the South Auckland .forwards should hold their own with Thames, but the home backs are not what one can call a reliable set, judging by the display of some of the men ;at Waiuku last Saturday. The South Auckland selectors have retained Xempe and James at five-eighths, but on their display for Waiuku last Saturday they did not earn their places. Probably their display was somewhat marred by the slowness of the Waiuku half in getting the ball away. Realising the failure of his inside backs to cope with the thrusts of the Pukekohc backs, the selector reshuffled his backs and a winger exchanged places with the first five-eighths. It is hoped tthat their loss of form was only temporary, as both showed their ability against Auckland B. However if the back machine does not work too smoothly at the start, there is plenty of material available in the backs to :rectify weaknesses. There are no fewer than five five-eignThs playing .i -the backs. Johnson, the full back, is suffering from the effects of a knee injury, and unless the injured limb is ;sound, he should not play in fairness to his colleagues, in view of the decision not to allow replacements. In his game last Saturday Johnson refrained from kicking and preferred to i ipass rather than kick. He will find to-morrow that powerful, rousing kicks, will be an advantage to his •side, especially if a gale is blowing. It is the duty of the selectors to make rabsoluiely sure that none but sound players take the field. No one will say that Johnson is not a good full iback, but a man nursing an injury canmot give of his best. The South Auckland team has undergone several alterations compared with that which played Auckland. Nathan, Bush and Geraghty (forwards), Ross and Carter (backs) have been replaced. Ross is in hospital with a broken leg. Garter is not playing up to his best form. Geraghty is not available, while Nathan and Bush "have been dropped. No one knows why Nathan has been dropped, except the selectors. The reason cannot be that he is not good enough, for he was one of South's best forwards against Auckland B. The new comers, however, should justify their inclusion

The curtain raiser will be played between Drury and Tuakau, the winners of the Pukekohe and Franklin third grade competitions. School matches commence at 10 a.m. and will be continued at 1.30 p.m. In all there should be plenty *to interest spectators. The representative teams are:— South Auckland. Full back: L. Johnston (Franklin). Three-quarters: R. White (Pukekohe), J. Wood (Pukekohe), A. Jack:son (Waiuku). Five-eighths: B. James (Waiuku), L.Kempe'(Waiuku). Half back: T. Hogan (Pukekohe). Front row: M. Taua (Franklin}, H. Fulton (Pukekohe), J. Bregman (Waiuku). :... I ' Second row: B. Guise (Pukekohe),: •G. Bell (Franklin), G. L. Ghitty (Pukekohe), L. McAlpine (Pukekohe). Back row: A. Kerebs (Waiuku). Reserves: Forward, McFarlane (Waiuku) ; back, McGlashan (Waiuku). • 11. Stoupe (Manukau), who was a certainty for a place, was badly in-; jured in the Franklin-Manukau game. Thames. Fullback: R. Morgan.-..Three-quarters: W;>' Savage, T. .Dufty, L. Gloyn. : - Five-eighths: J. Arthur, "J. Garv.ey;. . • '•'•••'• : ] Halfback: R. Vedder. Forwards: J. Gordon, W: Pollock, A. Winder, J. Strange, A. Bailey, G. Percy, W. Percy, C. Abraham. Emei'gencies: C. Cameron, A. McConnell (forwards); J. Maxwell, D. Fraser (backs). Mr R. Freeman, of Waiuku, has been appointed referee, and Mr J. Dean manager of the South Auckland team. Guise wil captain South Auckland and' Dufty will lead Thames. : . SCHOOL COMPETITIONS. Teams to represent the;-,,-,,Manukau subfunion at Pukekob.e li: tp 7 .inpi*row will | be drawn from the ; Drury, Papakura, Takanihi, lArdmore and Clevedon. schools. . '. :^-,i \. ] r .<-,\"- For the Morrison shield,: the team will Include four Manurewa boys, three Clevedon, one Arrimore and seven Papakura. ; >, The team defending the Gratitude cup will!be drawn, from, Drury and Takariini, in addition to the above-.,

SOUTH AUCKLAND UNION.

THE NO REPLACEMENT RULE

The management committee of the South Auckland Rugby Union, met on Wednesday evening, when there were present: Messrs H. Curd (voted to the

chair), C. 11. Jemison (Pukekohe), R

! Evans, J. Mill (Franklin), E. S. Barri- ; ball, A. James (Waiuku), B. Flanagan (Manukau), P. T. Paterson (Primary Schools), F. H. Hewitt (Referees' Association), W. J. Short (secretary) and W. G. Patterson (assistant secretary). Mr J. Dean was appointed manager of the team to meet Thames on Saturday and Mr W. J. Short manager of the team to meet Auckland at Eden Park on August 20. Mr R. Freeman (Waiuku) was appoined to referee the Thames-South Auckland match and Mr H. Pleydell to referee the curtain raiser between Drury and Tuakau thirds.

The question of "reinstating the Rugby game at Papakura was referred to the president, Mr Curd and the secretary, i

The secretary was asked to arrange games for the junior and third grade representative teams, and if possible to arrange a match away from home. It was decided to vote £5 and to ask sub-unions to vote £3 3s towards the expenses of the South Auckland Roller Mills Shield team.

The secretary reported that the gate takings at the Auckland B match amounted to £3l.

It was decided to adopt the no replacement rule under protest, and to ask the Auckland Rugby Union to support any proposal to abolish the rule brought forward at the special meeting of the New Zealand Rugby Union. Mr Evans, who had asked for permission to stage a match between Drury and Bombay on Saturday next and whose request had been declined, considered the rule, which prevented the playing of senior matches when the South Auckland team was playing at home, should be more elastic. He submitted that a senior game at Drury would not affect the gate of the representative match. In giving notice m move at the next annual meeting that, the rule be rescinded, Mr Evans admitted that there was a likelihood of the thing being abused and it required careful consideration. Accounts totalling £8 13s 9d were passed for payment. Mr W. J. Short was appointed to replace Mr W. Bilkey on the senior selection committee. i

SECONDARY SCHOOLS AT PLAY.

WESLEY AND ST. STEPHEN'S DRAW

Games between the junior and senior fifteens of Wesley College and St. Stephen's school, were played at Paerata yesterday, both ending in a draw— six points each.