RUGBY FOOTBALL

Grey River Argus, 14 August 1937, Page 10

RUGBY FOOTBALL

TO-DAY’S TEST .. Brand Not to Play LYSTER ON THE WING. iPer Press Association]. WELLINGTON, August 13. G. H. Brand, the South African full-back, who strained a ligament in the match against Wellington last Saturday, has not recovered sufficiently to take his place in the team to-morrow. Turner will occupy the last line of defence. The position of left wing threequarter for the. Springboks will be taken by P. J. Lyster, the Natal player. ALL BLACKS FIT. OTAKI, August 13.. After practice yesterday, the All Blacks indulged in golf and shooting, then visited the school. They will have quiet talks to-day, and leave for Wellintgon on Saturday morning. All are fit. CANTERBURY TEAM FOR TO-DAY. CHRISTCHURCH, August 12. The Canterbury Rugby football selector (Mr. W. J. Whitham) this evening announced the following Canterbury representative side to meet Otago at Lancaster Park tomorrow afternoon. The game will start at 12.30 p.m., the early start having been arranged to allow enthusiasts to listen-in to the broadcast of the first Test between South Africa and New Zealand: — Full-back: G. T. Nolan. Three-quarters: G. B. Eathorne, J. C. Pawson, R. Chinnery. Five-eighths: K. S. Mortlock, R Garrett. Half-back: J. J. McAuliffe. Forwards: J. O. Hatterslev, W. Fleming, N. J. McPhail, C. Pablecheque, W. Coll, C. W. Williams, E. Whillans, F. J. Foley. Emergencies: Backs—L. Brown, D. P. White, J. D. Carmichael. Forwards —R. Burke, D. Herman, G. S. Walter. TO-DAY’S GAMES. Blaketown and Cobden at 1.30, and Stars and Pirates at 3 p.m. should provide first-class football at Rugby Park this afternoon. Excelsiors play United at Hokitika, while other senior games will be Kiwis v. Ross at Hokitika, and Celtic v. Kumara at Kumara. Junior and third grade fixtures will be played at the Park, the Recreation Ground, and Cobden. TEAMS FOR TO-DAY. Celtic seniors (bus leaves P.O. 12.30, game to start at 1.30): Hcaphy, Davis, Reid, Murray, James, Clancy, Collins, Griffen, Rea, O’Connell, O’Connor, Mauglian, Shaffrey, Dudley, Honey (2). Cobden seniors v. Blaketown: Staines, Lindbom (2). Tennent, Vaughan, Gilmour, Eggleton. Kiely, Kirkwood, Thompson, Spencer, Birchfield, Moss, Keith, King, Matterson, Owensworth, Manning. Meet Australasian 1 p.m. United v. Excelsiors: Adams, Kibble, Gilbert, Calwell, Hendry, Costello, Vincent, Rose, Grooby, Whibley, Hopkinson, Glen, Molloy, Blair, Daly, Chapman, Polson. Bus leaves Rec. 1.15.

Cobden juniors v. Blaketown, at Cobden, 3 p.m.—Clark, Hector, Gilmour, Allan, Keddie, Boucher, Willis, McMillan, Burn, Rankin, Watkin, Newton, McLaughlin, Jackson, Cook. Cobden thirds v. Stars, at Cobden, 1.30: Groufsky, Vaughan, Pike, M. Girvin, Culling, Stewart, McSherry, Dowell, Sorrenson, Pentecost (2), Burrell, Gibson, Brown, Devlin, Morrinson (2), Skeats, Wilson. United juniors v. Kumara: Hogg, Perrin, Morrison, Smith, Ferguson, Ashby, Garde, s Hamilton, Dewar, Swift, Paton, Bellis, Judd, Haglund, Howard, Kyle. United thirds v. Celtic: Nott, Leitch, Rae (2), Thomas, Beck, Conza, Bellis, Lewis, Batty, McKenzie, Naylor, Morrish, Lovell, McCarthy, Williams, Sumner, Ramsay, Groom, Bennett.

NOTES AND COMMENTS. Now that the Seddon Shield has removed to the sister town, club football will again be the major consideration. The Shield as in 1923 was destined not to remain long in the possession of West Coast, but the new holders merited their victory, Buller playing dashing football, which should have earned for them a greater margin. As it was Buler went close to losing the game, and would have been extremely unlucky on the run of the play not to have succeeded. It was a fighting game on the part of the challengers, which was fought to the finish. The Buller te«m underwent a sincere preparation prior to the match and on the score of fitness the team was a credit. Buller should retain the trophy in the remaining match with Golden BayMotueka and Nelson. ******* Strong Side: The combined team chosen to represent Buller-West Coast against the Springboks on Wednesday week is a strong side, and comprises seven Buller and eight Coast players with two Buller emergencies. However, M. Davidson, owing to injury is unavailable and will most likely be replaced by W. Vincent. There is also a possibility of A Strachan being unavailable and if this were so, it would be a very wise move on the part of the selectors to move Gilbert up to centre and put A Dunn (Buller) into the fullback position. Dunn played a brilliant game against West Coast and it was a big surprise to many keen followers of rugby to find ifiat this player was not included in the team. Deserved Places: On their splendid games in the Buller Coast game, both wingers chosen. J. Hill and R. Roberts deserved their place in the combined team to play the Springbok. ****** Off Colour: G. Gilbert was not his usual self in the Buller-West Coast Seddon Shield game, particularly on defence, as several times early in the game he failed to tackle effectively and on one occasion was completely beaten by Strachan. x * * * * * * * Heady Players: Two good leaders in a team makes all the difference, and G. Orman in the Buller pack, and S. Stewart,

amongst the backs went a long way towards Buller’s success last Saturday. Hard to Beat: The South Africans’ pre-test matches in this country have not .been very impressive as dress rehearsals for to-day’s clash. In spite -?f Springbok victories many people are anticipating a comfortable win for New Zealand, but it is very easy to commit the error of taking the South Africans’ known form as a true reflection of their ability. The Springboks are going to be difficult to defeat in the international games. ****** "Boy” is “Master”: There is no mistaking the fact that the Springboks are keen students of ) Rugby, and the student par excellence is “Boy” Louw. It is not unusual to see him wandering off to bed fairly early, but it often happens that the light is not switched off until much later. A book on Rugby will interest him immensely, and if it has to do with the rules, then “Boy” will be tempted to burn the midnight oil. They call him “Master,” and, by all accounts, he is a master at teaching boys how to play Rugby. He is a bank clerk by profession. As a player, he has scarcely shown his best on the New Zealand tour.' Ranked as South Africa’s No. 1 forward on the last four of Great Britain, he is a really great forward at his best, and as a tiger for work he has been one of the side’s greatest assets on the present tour. ******* Eddo’s Loss: A jolly good sort is Ebbo Bastard Like his captain, he is a farmer in in Natal, and he is most interested in farming here and in Australia. As a player—well, there is none keener. When the team reached Australia, Ebbo was the only man who sported a moustache, and on the way over to New Zealand other members of the side declared that they did not see why he should have his upper lip adorned. So they decided there and ■ then to have the moustache removed. Quite a party of them paraded in Ebbo’s cabin decked up as barbers, and Fanie Louw was appointed to carry out the operation. Off came ■ one half of Ebbo’s moustache; the other half (right or left) was allowed to remain. Ebbo himself wasted no time in completing the job, and it was he who enjoyed the whole thing best ' of all. He’s a stout fellow . Another member of the team to lose his moustache is George van Reenan. Perhaps he sensed trouble on leaving South Africa. At any rate George did not have a moustache when he reached Australia.

It is George’s distinction that he is the tallest man of the side, and on that account he is referred to sometimes as “Tiny.” Du Toit’s Bad Luck: In looking to “bring out” members of the side, a difficulty is likely to be experienced with Ben du Toit. Of a somewhat retiring nature, he was referred to in Australia as “the big, handsome, shy man of the side.” This fine fellow is a research officer, stationed at Ouderstepoort, where important research work in connection with animal disease is carried out. Ben has had very bad luck on the tour In a match in Australia he had two bones of his vertebrae cracked. The doctors shook their heads and doubted whether Ben would ever play again. A month later, on his arrival in New Zealand, an examination revealed that he was making a remarkable recovery- According to vnedica opinion, the recovery he had made in a month was equal to that genera y taking a year in such cases. „ There is no mistaking ‘ Strachie Strachen, not because he is -a detec-tive-sergeant in the South African police force, but on account of his ac tivity as a fair-haired forward on the field of play. Then, too, he is one of the live-wires off the field of play, one of those members who like to ha their jokes—good fellows to have in any touring party. TIRA SHIELD TOPICS. Great interest is being taken in the Tira Shield game to be played morrow between the Foundry holders) and Greymouth Motors (cha '“ntaiiewed regarding their prospects Tubby White and Wee Arthur, joint’ managers of the Foundry Fi - teen stated the team had been moulded into a fine combination and had never been fitter. They e.pected the backs to engineer many brilliant movements and the forward were a hot set, whose packing should be a feature of the game. Th coach, Mr. W. P. Hambleton, said that he had started with raw material, but with the aid of the steam hammer had soon knocked the team into shape. It was his firm belief that if his men dropped field goals as smartly as they dropped their tools at the 4.30 whistle, they would run up a big score before they filed off the field. He kindly supplied the following information concerning the team. Full back (R- . Donovan).— A seasoned player with a good boot on each foot; can be relied upon to put over the short kicks but unfortunately has promised not to take any more long ones. Three-quarters — J- Johnston: “Claude,” as he is called, will provide sparks with his electrifying dashes down the touch line; guaranteed to park the ball over the goal line W. McKechnie: Parks his gum on the goal posts before going over for a try. C. Hector: Bolts down the paddock as though he were late for work; sure to be in the picture when the Pathe News reel is shown, or cutting firewood on the way home. Five-eighths—W. O’Leary and K. Horracks: A perfect combination; will forge their way over when within striking distance and can stand up to a hammering from the forwards; their muscles stand out like iron bands.

Half-back—A. Lindbom: Foreman of the Foundry team, he is approaching the veteran stage but still accounted a fine all rounder and his boot should add some figures to his side’s tally. His screw kicks are a feature and he always uses his nut; but has lost a great deal of weight since last season. Front Row—Hooker: S. Hadcroft. Can be relied on to scoop the ball out and puts a lot of devil into his play; may 'be handicapped by a bee sting on the hand, but he doesn’t care. Sides—J.' White: Has a grandson of the same name in the Springboks, who has Lotz to learn before reaching his Granddad’s standard. J. Christie: Tougher than Wee Willie Davis; has a plan—and not a fiveyear one either, as he drafted it himself and has supplied the team with blue prints showing methods of attack.

Second Row—Locks: J. Douglas. A wild man of the woods, who holds

on to the scrum well, but is inclined to forget the game and swing on the cross bar; “Lofty” Moss, the key lock man, makes Chief Little Wolf look a pansy, and if he gets a strangle hold on the ball, no one .will take it from him, not even the referee, while his flying tackles are deadly. Sides: E. Gilmour. A Red Terror, always at the ball, and has the same dazzling effect as a strong sun on his opponent’s eyes. D. Shuker: A tiger for work, and no sugar baby, who gives the opposing backs the blues with his bustling tactics. Last Man Down—D. Hogaitn: Claims his high forehead reveals brain power, but others maintain it is entirely due to premature baldness, is a terror on the loose, but his head has been mistaken for the ball.

Spare Parts—D. Mclvor: His tapered shanks make high speed possible. Attributes his magnificent physique to drill and spinach. M. Thomas: Rivals “Boy” Louw, and is very fast when not on the firm’s business.

First Aid: Mr. T. J. Higgins, the Grandstand Grand-dad and Zam Buk exponent, has a very complete First Aid kit. If any of the boys want to get plastered, he has the doings in his bag, not forgetting a few cans of spinach for “Pop-Eye” Mclvor. The South Beach sawmill team has issued a challenge to the winners of to-morrow’s match between Grey Motors and the Dispatch Foundry.