PATRIOTIC RUGBY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20635, 15 August 1941, Page 8

PATRIOTIC RUGBY

PRE-WAR CHAMPIONS CANNIBALS V.- OLD-TIMERS Patriotic funds are to receive the benefit of admission fees at the Oval on August 23, when players who formerly ranked high in the national game will provide the principal attraction. Cannibals v. Old-Timers. The Cannibals’ side will comprise men who formerly played for New Zealand and for major and minor union districts outside Gisborne Old-Timers’ representatives will be chosen from among the former Poverty Bay representatives still able and willing to gel down to training. The number of these is surprisingly large, and the committee sponsoring the match lias still to complete its selection from among tne talent offering. Most of the places in the team have been filled, but a few are still in doubt, and probably will not be filled finally until next week. Some idea of the quality represented m the Cannibals’ team may be gained from the fact that M. J. Brownlie, renowned Hawke’s Bay and All Black forward, with liis brother Cyril, will be taking part in the match. George Nepia, Hawke’s Bay, All Black and New Zealand Maori player, has agreed to make an appearance, and his playing days are not so far distant that he can have lost his touch. D. Wright, Auckland representative half-back, who was a great favourite with the public, and on whose behalf a petition for his inclusion in the 1924 All Black side was sent to the New Zealand union, is yet another bright star. Jimmy Mill, Hawke’s Bay and All Black half-back; I. I). Brantwell, Hawke’s Bay, King Country, Wellington and Poverty Bay representative; L. Martin, Canterbury, University and Poverty Bay representative; K. S. Stacy, New Zealand University and Auckland representative, and P. Brady, an Auckland League representative who was selected to represent New Zealand on an Australian tour, are others who should help materially to build up a good team. For the Poverty Bay Old-Timers, the committee has secured W. Langlands, E. K. Thomas, R. Rogers, and G. Phillips, All Black trial players; together with E. Fitzmaurice, V. S. Caulton, G. Marshall, A. Campbell. A. Owen, A. Milligan, A. Vickers, and B. Hods, who took prominent parts in representative football in the district until recent years.

The Gisborne City Band lias offered its services in connection with the feature, and the Mayor, Mr. N. H. Bull, luih accepted an invitation to kick-olf in the match, though lie will not take part in the play.