TO-DAY’S RUGBY

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 1 October 1927, Page 5

TO-DAY’S RUGBY

NORTH v. SOUTH HUGE CROWD A PERFECT CROUNO. PICKING CERTAINTIES FOR SOUTH AFRICA. (Per Press Association). Wellington, Oct. 1. Brilliant weather prevails for the North versus South match, and there is every indication of a huge crowd and a fast game on a perfect ground with bright sunshine and the absence of wind So far no changes are announced in the teams, but Steel is stated to be doubtful for the South Island. The New Zealand selectors are picking a number of certainties for Africa to-day The New Zealand team will be completed and announced on Wednesday night. The selectors are reserving the right to amend their selection should occasion ariseKEEN LOCAL INTEREST No end of interest has been manifested locally in the North v. South inter-island Rugby game in Wellington this afternon. If recent form counts for anything then there should be no runaway victory fer either side as both fifteens are exceptionally strong ones. The results of past years’ contests are to be found in our sports page and a comparison can be made with the result of today’s flutter. The teams lined up as below:— SOUTH ISLAND. Full-back: H. Lilburne (Canterbury). Three-quarters: A. C. Robilliard (Canterbury) S. R. Carlton (Canterbury) J. Steel (Canterbury). Five-eighths: A. Strang (S. Canterbury), N. P. McGregor (Canterbury). Half-back: W. Dailey (Canterbury). Forwards: Wing: G. Scrimshaw (Canterbury). Hookers: J. Burrows (Canterbury), J. Hore (Otago). Lock: G- T. Alley (Canterbury). Side rankers: W. Hazlett (Southland), R. Stewart (S. Canterbury). Back rankers: E. Snow (Nelson), A. Marslin (Otago). Emergencies: Backs: F. Snodgrass (Nelson), AHolden (Otago). Forwards: H. Young (Nelson), H. B. Godfrey (Canterbury). NORTH ISLAND. Full-back: M. Nicholls (Wellington). Three-quarters: Hook (Auckland), Sheen (Auckland), Grenside (Hawke’s Bay). Five-eighths: Berridge (Auckland), J. Johnson (Wellington). Half-back: Kilby (Wellington). F orwards: Wing: Keene (Auckland). Hookers: Hadley (Auckland), Swain (Hawke’s Bay).* Lock: Harvey (Wairarapa). Supports: M. Brownlie (Hawke’s Bay), Finlayson (North Auckland). Back row: McWilliams (Auckland). C Brownlie (Hawke’s Bay). Emergencies: McManus (Auckland), Brown (Taranaki), Rushbrook (Wellington), Coulston (Wanganui), Ward (Taranaki). A wireless report states that the game is a great one, and well worth coming a long way to see- The South Island backs show better form in the first spell, and are liable to do. anything. showing more combination and nippiness than their Northern ooooponents. On the other hand, the Northern forwards have a decided supremacy in the line-outs and loose work, but the scrums are fairly even. Territorially. South have had the better of the spell, wfliich ended with the scores reading:—

NORTH ISLAND 17 SOUTH ISLAND 11 “FAST ENOUGH.’’ BRITISH VIEW OF RUGBY. (Received 1, 11.18 a-m.) London, Sept- 30Speaking at the jubilee dinner of the Olney Club, Mr. Minahan, a member of the Rugby Union committee, said there were frequent requests to speed up the Rugby game. The Rugby Union was not considering spectators in this matter, but considering the players. The union believed the game was fast enough, therefore the proposals of the New Zealands and others about kicking into touch and reducing the teams to 13 were not regarded with much favour.—(A. and N.Z.)