CONCLUDING P.B. REP. RUGBY CONTEST

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22438, 19 September 1947, Page 4 (Supplement)

CONCLUDING P.B. REP. RUGBY CONTEST

EAST COAST GAME STRONG FIFTEENS COMPETITIONS ENDING JUNIORS AND THIRDS The return match with East Coast to be played on the Ruatoria ground tomorrow will mark the conclusion of the season’s, programme of the Poverty Bay Rugby representatives, and the finals in the respective junior and t.lrird-grade knock-out series on the Gisborne Oval will be the last games in (lie 1917 competitions of the union-

On the Wniroa ground the sub-union Western and Eastern teams are to meet in the annual encounter. The Wairoa junior reps, play Hastings juniors on McLean Park, Napier, the match being the curtain-raiser to the Hawke’s BayWellington rep- fixture.

Tim Barry Cup will bo at stake for the second occasion this season in tomorrow’s game at Kuatoria. East Coast took the trophy from Wairoa last season and dofonded it successfully against Wniroa and Poverty Bay. Last, month East Coast survivod a strong challenge from Wairoa on the Tikitiki ground, the game ending in a draw three-all.

In the first of this scasozTs homc-and-home matches between the two unions. Poverty Bay defeated East Coast, 111-nil. on the Gisborne ground, the former achieving their iiftli successive victory and maintaining their tin heal mi record. Last season Povery Bay defeated East Coast, 3 9-10, on the Gisborne Oval, but East Coast turned the tables with a 9-8 decision at Tokcrnaru Bay.

The Coast fifteen selected for tomorrow is probably the strongest combination to take the lield for that union this season, though it does not include the veteran fallback. George Nepia, who was an outstanding figure in tin* Maori All Black v. Tairawhiti game at Kunioria last week.

Fast Game Expected The Poverty Bay team includes 11 of the first fifteen of the successful touring team. The full-back, B. Preston, is not available owing to a recent injury and the threequarter, E. Carrington, is on tour with (ho Maori All Blacks, as is tlso the forward, \V. Carrington, while the front-row forward, J. Ferguson, is also nursing an injury. Tho replacements are well up to standard, however, and a powerful side, keen to conclude the, season with an unbroken record of victory will take the field. Both sess pace in both rear and forward divisions and if weather conditions provo favourable the contest should produce a wry fast display of Rugby. Tho teams, reading from full-back to frontrow, arc announced as follows: — East Coast.—J. Takarangi; I. James, X. Goddard, 1). Tamihere; L. Blanc*. d. Oates; X. Williams; W. Jenson; B. Walker, T. MeClulchic, G. Stubbing*?, W. Forrester; T. Lincoln, H. Rangiuia, 1). McNeill. Reserves: Backs, IV Brown, H. -Mackey. J. Marakai; forward's, N. Mackey, J. Walker. W. Rowlands. Poverty Bay.—lf. McMillan* R. Geirard, W. Edwards, J. Barbour; R. McKinley. It. Clay: S. Lee; B. Birrell, G. King. J. Shaw, W. Yarle.y, G. Elliott; W. Brown, N. Sumrnersby, V. Hata. Reserves: Backs. It. McGregor. E. T. Read, A. Archibald; forwards, I\. Humphreys, T. Donovan, K. Larsen. The season’s junior champions, H. 5.0.8. (A), meet H. 5.0.8. (B) in the final of the division knock-out competition on the Gisborne ground, while in the third-grade knockout contest, the final is to be contended by H. 5.0.8. and Old Boys, who took the runner-up and third positions respectively in tin* season’s championship of that division, van by High School (1).