FOOTBALL

Hokitika Guardian, 17 September 1937, Page 6

FOOTBALL

SATURDAY'S Cl AMISS. The special match of Most Coast interest will be the annual return gaiiie between West Coast and Canterbury, to be played at Lancaster Park. Christchurch. The West Coast •team from a number of causes is not apparently as strong as those oi tho last year or two. ami the absence of

Gilbert from the full-back position, will be decidedly felt. The forwards are a good lot but the inside backs still continue to be the weak links in the team. Under the circumstances, it may be expected that the home team will be able to turn the tables on this occasion and secure a victory. A special train goes out in the late hours of to-night carrying enthusiasts, but the invasion of the Cathedral city will not be as large as is usual, the recent in-

flux to Christchurch for the Springbok —New Zealand test having taken the place this year of the annual holiday run made by many. The Springbok team concludes its tour of New Zealand with three more games. Bay of Plenty centre is met at Gisborne to-morrow. Then comes the third and final test at Auckland, and the last game takes place on the following Wednesday, when North Auckland will be met at AYhangarei. The wonderful success of the South Alrican team through New Zealand will have the effect of having shown in no uncertain manner the value of clean handling, tight packing and solid tackling. In free passing among backs and forwards they haYe given- players up and down New Zealand much food

for thought,’and if the lessons given I are taken advantage of, it will mean much further improvement in the national game. It is perhaps unfortunate that on the present year there has been a dearth of outstanding backs. New Zealand plavers have much to ■learn of the art of the game, though there has been in years gone by special experts in the various positions who could more than hold themselves with any of ihe individual visitors. Naturally a team on tour gains much valuable combination, which is very difficult of obtain when a team only comes together to play one or two games. There is one aspect that has been a decided handicap against the New Zealand teams, and that is the difference in the kick into touch rule. With the rule against kicking into touch on the full played in the Dominion, the backs have been badly handicapped for practice in finding toucFT in any way. The necessity of keeping the ball in play has caused a deterioration in long distance punting, which those in authority bv now consider has been the cause of a decided advantage by the visiting tourists. WEST COAST AC CANTERBURY As a result -of Gilbert, Hendry and A. King being on the injured list, and consequently unable to their places in the AVost Coast team, a rearrangement of the latter has been made necessary, for the match against Canterbury, at Christchurch, on Saturday. I lie AVest Coast team has now been selected as follows: Gull-back : Noonan. Three-quarters: Logie, Roberts, Agnew.

Fi.ve-eighths: Maim, Costello. TTalf-back: Vincent. Forwards Kirkwood, Thorpe, C. Daly, Tarnui, 11. King, Pascoe, Wieblitz, Garden. Emergencies:—Forwards: Glen and Peggie; Collins and West. Ihe team will leave for Christchurch, by the rail-car, this evening. CANTERBURY TEAM. CHRISTCHURCH, Sept. K>. o The Canterbury rep. team to play the West Coast reps, ’here on Saturday, is as follows: Full-back: Nolan. Three-quarters: Chinn'ery, PaWson, Eathorne. Five-eighths: Mortlock, Brooks.

Half: McAuliffe. Forwards—Front Row : Hattersley, Fleming, McPhail ; middle row: Herman, Williams, Milliken, Rankin; back row: Foley. Emergencies: Garrett and Busfiekl (backs). Coll and Burke (forwards). Four players are not available, namely. Brown, Pablecheque, Hooper and Co'bden. TO-MORROW’S TEAMS. fPer Press Association —Copyright). GISBORNE, Sept. IC. . . The teams for Saturday’s Rugby match have been announced as follows : Springboks, Full-back: G. Brand. Three-quarters: J. A. Broodryk, JWhite, L. Babrow, C. P. Locbner, .1 Bester (one to be dropped). Halves: T. Harris, T). Craven, P. de Vi 11 ier.s (one to be dropped). Forwards: S. C. (Boy) Louw, M. >1 j (Fanie) Louw. L. Strachan. P. J. Nelli. van den Berg, B. du foit, H. Watt,. H. J. Martin. Poverty Bay-East Coast-Bay of Plenty. Full-back: M. Davies (8.P.). ,i Three-quarters: A. McAneney (P. 8.). R. Read fP.B.), F. Grant (P. 8.). •; Five-eighths: R. Vi Repa (E.C.),: J. Reedy (E.C.). Half-back: D. Swinburne (P. 8.). Forwards; I). Tuhoro <E.C..). V. Matheson (P. 8.), P. Ririnui (8.P.), T. Thitelev (8.P.). G. Phillips (P. 8.). F. McAneney (P.B.i, J. Lockwood E.C.), 1 1. Rogers (P. 8.). Emergencies: F. Howell (8.P.). M. Whititi (E.C.), J. P. MtKeile (8.P.).

SPRINGBOK .MANAGER SURE OF A WIN IN THE THIRD TEST GISBORNE, September 16. ■ According to Hr- P. W. Day, mahager of the. Springboks, 'thet'c is no uncertainty as to the outcome 'of tlife third test at Auckland. Iriteme'w&d last evening, he stated, the loss of the first test was due to' failure of theteam to back up the man with the hall. It was a sheer lapse of >, fOrin, . ,which gave no real indication of the‘nfetit of the Springbok team. The Second game at Christchurch brought " out rh’a real form of the tourists and the same qualities would assure thVtMin'fif win-* ming the riibfcet?