RUGBY FOOTBALL

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 251, 20 September 1934, Page 12

RUGBY FOOTBALL

NORTH ISLAND SIDE. inclusion "of McKenzie. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Sept. 19. The following team has been selected by Messrs E. McKenzie and V. R. Meredith to represent the North Island in the Rugby match 'with the South Island at Dunedin on Saturday next Full-back.—Davies (Waikato). Three-quarters. Smith (Hawke’s Bay), Stringfellow (Wairarapa), Apsey (Hawke’s Bay). Five-eighths.—Griffths (Wellington), Solomon (Waikato). Half-back.—Munn (Wairarapa). Forwards.—Leeson (Waikato), Lambourn (Wellington), Clarke (Taranaki), Reid (Hawke’s Bay), McKenzie (Manawatu), Fraser-Smith (Wairarapa), Bush (Auckland), Rolls (Hawke’s Bay). Emergencies: Backs, Brown (Taranaki); forwards, Pepper (Auckland). SELECTORS’ EXPERIMENT. While the selectors experienced a good deal of difficulty in choosing their team through many players being unable to obtain leave, it cannot be claimed that the chosen fifteen represent the true Rugby strength of the North Island, writes “Poster” in the Dominion. It is apparent that the North Island selectors have taken advantage of this end-of-season fixture to try out a number of players on whom they have not definitely made up their minds. This must be the case with Davies, Smith, Stringfellow, Apsey, Leeson, Lambourne, Clarke, McKenzie and Rolls, all of whom have figured prominently before the selectors in a number of games this season. The selectors have obviously stood aside all those North Island players whose form has satisfied them, while it is almost as certain that a number of the 1934 All Blacks have been written off as failures. The pack contains three members of the 1934 All Blacks in Australia in Lambourne, Leeson and McKenzie, and in this case, it is probably a final try-out to see if they can make the grade. Fraser-Smith came prominently under notice for his excellent game for The Rest against the All Blacks, while Bush, who has already represented New Zealand as a full-back, has produced even better form since Mr Meredith transferred him to the Auckland representative scrum. The team is bound to meet with a good deal of criticism, but it is obviously an experimental one. The selectors announced the team without comment and have left both players and public in the dark as to who have satisfied them with their play this season and who have not. SOUTH ISLAND TEAM. Per Press Association. DUNEDIN, Sept. 19. The following team has been selected by Messrs Alari Adams and W. Pearson to represent the South Island: Full-back.—G. Gilbert (West Coast). Three-quarters. —G. Hart (Canterbury), C. Oliver (Canterbury), N. Mitchell (Southland). Five-eighths.—K. Mortloclc (Canterbury), G. Gaffaney (South Canterbury). Half-back.—H. Simon (Otago). Front rank forwards. —A. Cottrell (Canterbury), J. Hore (Otago), G. McDonald (Otago). Middle rank forwards. —R. King (West Coast). J. Best (Marlborough), D. Adkins (South Canterbury), J. Manchester (Canterbury). Back rank forward.—T. Metcalfe (Southland). Reserves. —Backs, E. Holder (Buffer), H. Smith (Otago); forwards, F. Vorrath- (Otago), F. McLean (Nelson). MAORIS BEAT SOUTHLAND. Per Press Association. INVERCARGILL, Sept. 19. In one of . the most brilliant Rugby matches seen here in recent years, the Maori touring team defeated Southland by 24 points to 20 to-day. The Maoris, with superior pace all round, threw the ball about in bright fashion. Southland played the tourists at their own game, but lacked the dash and thrust of the Maoris. WEST COAST BEATEN. MATCH AT WELLINGTON. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Sept. 19. The first West Coast representative Rugby team ever to play in Wellington was defeated at Athletic Park to-day by 14 points to 8 in a hard game, which was devoid of frills. The West Coast pack gave Wellington a lesson in what hard, honest forward play means, and if they had been supported by good backs, they woqld have won. They completely dominated the game until well on in the second spell, when a good deal of the sting had gone from their play and the' Wellington backs turned to account some of the many chances presented to them. MID-WEEK SERIES. With the playing of a draw between the Star and St. Patrick’s teams yesterday, the mid-week Rugby football competition was brought to a close. The final scores were St. Patrick’s 9, Star 9. Mr I. Ross was the referee. The winners of the competition are United, with Star second. RUGBY DINNER. MID-WEEK PLAYERS FOREGATHER. To mark the success which had attended the inauguration of the midweek Rugby competition in Palmerston North, a dinner was held last evening, with over 120 players and supporters present, the latter including several of the United Club’s Saturday players, who were there to extend in person their congratulations to the Wednesday members of the club who had emerged with the season’s honours. Mr K. W. Eglinton presided, while other members of the Manawatu Rugby Union were present to represent the governing authorities. A community sing, led by a professional orchestra, was entered into whole-heartedly, while after the dinner the loyal toast was honoured. In proposing the toast of “The Manawatu Rugby Union,” Mr A. F. Helleur said that the Wednesday committee was vefy grateful for the support and encouragement which ha.d been given the innovation, it having given not only its moral support but its financial assistance. However, thanks were also due to those enthusiasts who had taken up the game—many after several years of inactivity—so whole-heartedly. He expressed the hope that next season the governing authorities would see their 'way clear to allow the mid-week competition to be held under a Wednesday sub-committee, with direct representation on the Rugby Union. In his reply, Mr R. E. Hatch spoke in eulogistic terms of the progress which had been made by the players participating in the series, adding

that the authorities were confident that the good work now begun would have far-reaching effects. The chairman, in presenting the Wednesday Cup to the United Club, paid a tribute to the enthusiasm which had been displayed by Messrs A. Ward, E. Helleur and F. Donnelly in promoting and maintaining the interest of the players in the national game. While it had been anticipated that the standard of Rugby would be slightly below the corresponding grade in the Saturday series meantime, there was ample evidence that the competition had been firmly established and would go on to greater heights in the future, for it was meeting a long-felt need where those observing tlie. Wednesday half-day were concerned. The toast “Wednesday Football” was proposed by Mr M. Briggs and replied to by Mr F. Donnelly, the proposer speaking optimistically of the future of the game locally. “The Winning Club” was proposed by Mr A. Bovis, who also coupled with the United Club’s mid-week representatives the name of the United third grade team, the winners in the Saturday series. Mr S. Edmonds acknowledged the good wishes of the speaker on behalf of the Wednesday players, and Mr T. _ Fage for the Saturday players. “Sister Clubs” was proposed by Mr A. Jewett and responded to by Mr L. Cope and Mr T. Kerrigan; “The Referees/’ Mr W. Carruthers— Mr H. Hands, and “The Press,” Mr A. Ward.