NORTH PLAYERS HAVE WON 21 OF 40 GAMES

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22759, 4 October 1948, Page 7

NORTH PLAYERS HAVE WON 21 OF 40 GAMES

Saturday’s Rugby encounter between the North and South Island representatives was the fortieth in a series which commenced in Wellington in the 1897 season. North won that game, 16 —3 and have gained the decision on 20 other occasions.

No games were played between 1897 and 1902, but the inter-island match has since been an annual event except for the 1930 season and the interruptions caused by the two World Wars. Including that of Saturday, 24 games have been played in Wellington, eight in Christchurch, three in Auckland, two in Dunedin, two in Invercargill and one (won. 12 —8, by North in 1912) in Napier. The North players have won 21 games, those of the South 10 and three have been drawn. Points totals are: North 676; South 494. Players from P.B. Union

When he was chosen for last season’s game, won, 13—11, bv North in Invercargill, the forward G. F. King was the ninth Poverty Bay representative to take the field with a full North Island team. Others have also played for North Island Minor unions, The first P.B. player for the North Island was J. Poynter, who went into the 1894 side against the touring N.S.W. team. Next from this district to achieve the distinction was the fiveeighth A. P. Kaipara, who played for the North Island in 1910, 1911 and 1912.

Other North Island reps, from Poverty Bay have been: C. Hyland, threequarter,' who scored a try which helped the tally of 19—9 in favour of North in 1911; W. M. Paratene, hooker, 1912; W. J. Langlands, five-eighth, wuo scored a try in the 1925 game and converted one in 1928; I. D. Bramwell, halfback, 1928; A. G. McPhail. forward, 1929; and A. J. McAneney, three-quar-ter, 1939. In 1914 Kaipara also played for the North Island B team against South Island B. In 1928 Langlands and Bramwell and E. R. Thomas, also of Poverty Bay, played for North Island Minor Unions against South Island Minor Unions and the corresponding North team of 1939 included McAneney and three Poverty Bay forwards. G. H. Phillips, R. Rogers and H. C. Anderson.