RUGBY NOTES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 158, 5 June 1937, Page 5

RUGBY NOTES

ALL BLACK TRIALS. MANAWATU NOMINEES. SOME BRIEF SKETCHES. (By “Front Row.”) Four players of merit have been nominated by the Manawatu selector for the All Black trials, and every Rugby follower in the district will wish these nominees the success they deserve. Though inclined to take it easy sometimes in club games, R. McKenzie, the Kia Toa lock for many seasons, seems assured of a place in the trial teams. His record as a Manawatu representative' and All Black in both Australia and England is too well known to require recapitulation. He is back to his best form, and is just the type of forward required to met the Springboks. Little lesser known to local Rugby enthusiasts is the rugged and hardy Kia Toa front row forward, Harold (“Gluey”) Crawford, who, though only 23 years of age last birthday, has occupied a place in the virile Kia Toa pack since 1933 and for three seasons has been one of the first selections for Manawatu representative honours. Brother of “Boh” Crawford, another front row forward who represented Manawatu for many seasons, and was a member of theAlanawhenua side which, won the Ranfuriy Shield, Harold Crawford learned Ins football as a member of the Palmerston North Boys’ High School first fifteen. Scaling cactly 13 stone, he is an exceptionally fine hooker (rake), strongly built for his size, and able to stand up to the most gruelling game. Apart from these qualifications he handles well in the loose, and is very last, being capable of a greater turn of speed than most of Ihe backs in the Kia Toa team.

Two popular players for the Keilding Old Boys Club—Jack Finlay and Harold Waugh—-ate the oilier Manawatu nominees dor the Ail Black trials. Jack Finlay is 21 years of ago and weighs 13 stone 21b. His football career started at Christchurch, where Jie played in the Boys’ High School first fifteen. Later, he was captain ol the first fifteen of the Feilding Agricultural ' High School. From school football, lie was promoted to senior rank and in 1931 he played his first season with Feilding Old Boys seniors. He was a Manawatu representative in 1934-35-30, and last year lie was second highest points scorer in representative games in New Zealand, notching 56 points. He is very fast in the nose, handles with the ability of a back, is a good place-kicker, and can hold his own among the best as a front-row forward. Harold Waugh is 22 years of age and turns the scales at 12 stone 61b. He was educated at the Taonui primary school and the Feilding Agricultural High School, where he played full-back for the first fifteen. Later lie played junior football lor Bumiythorpe for three years, and for Feilding Old Boys, in the wing and centre three-quarter positions. Since then lie has played in the same positions for Feilding Old Boys seniors. For two . years, 1933-34, he was a junior representative and a senior representative in 1935-36. Last year he scored 13 tries, the highest number by any provincial representative in any one season. Waugh has speed and is a beady player who exploits the centring kick judiciously. Finding A Centre. It appears that the chief difficulty m the selection of the Manawatu representative side this season is going to be-th efinciiiig of a suitable centre three-quarter. McCormick, the fast St. Patrick’s second five-eighth, might fili the bill admirably if moved out, and provided Francis, the Massey College back, lives up to his Bay of Plenty ■reputation, he should be able to fill the* five-eighths position. Manawatu are going to miss the services of Brins■demjnaw in Nelson) and Thurston (now in Wellington) as the pin-points of attack. Record Club Gates.

„ Gate takings by the Manawatu Rugby Union for the first six club matches this season constitute a record for many years, showing the progress beilig made by the pastime at this centre with the Saturday half-holiday in operation. Compared with the Corresponding period of last season, gate revenue at Palmerston North has increased from £l4B to £2Ol, and at F'eilding from £Bl 3s 6d to £lOl 14s. Comment was made by the chairman (Mr A. M. Ongley) at the meeting of the management committee of the Manawatu Rugby Union, this week, tliat despite the large attendances,' they ought to be 'double what they were as, with increased leisure at their disposal, all those who did not follow golf should take an active and healthy interest in New Zealand’s national pastime— Rugby football.

Surprise For Hook. Formerly full-back for Ponsonby and an Auckland representative, G. Hook, who was recently transferred to Wanganui, was passed over in the selection of the River City side for the Pownall Shield match against Ta ill ape: Two weeks ago, in his initial appearance at Wanganui, he gave a first-class exhibition, but had tt day off (common to the best of players) last Saturday, and appears to have been condemned on-.one showing. Carlson’s Last Game. W. H. Carlson, who won North Island Rugby honours in 1928 when playing in Wanganui, has turned out for the last time for Matamutu (Waikato). He is to leave shortly for England, where h 6 will join the Royal Air Force. Player’s Bad Luck. Brian Tap ley, former New Zealand 100 yards track champion, who showed fair form in Dunedin last season as a three-quarter for southern, has had a run of bad luck this winter. He injured a wrist in the first practice 'match and when he turned out the I other day he was kicked in the face and compelled to leave the field. Cooke As Coach. A. E. Cooke, the famous All Black, has abandoned Rugby League in order to concentrate on coaching the North ! Shore Rugby Union Club, Auckland. New Zealand Fifteen. 'The editors of the 1937 edition of 1 the Rugby Almanack of Now Zealand have chosen a team which they consider the best New Zealand'fifteen of 1930. The team differs greatly from that which played in the Tests against Australia, but the editors have chosen the team after a full season’s play, whereas the New Zealand selectors had to make their choice mugh earlier Tti the season. Several players who have been selected have yet to gain their New Zealand caps, but the editors of the Almanack consider that they will do so this coming season. The following is the team which the editors,'Messrs A. H. Carman, A. C. Swan,' and Read Masters,' have chosen to represent New Zealand: — . Full-back.—H. I!. Pollock (Wellington).

Three-quarters.—G. F. Hart (Canterbury), J. L. Sullivan (Taranaki), N. A. Mitchell (Southland). Five-eighths.—C. M. Le Quesne (Hawke’s Bay), C. A. Crossman (King Country). Half-back.—L. S. Clothier (Hawke’s Bay). Forwards.—J. Wells (Wellington); F. J. Green (Otago), It. R. King (West Coast), R.. FI. Ward (Southland), S. T. Reid (Hawke’s., Bay); E. S. Jackson (Hawke’s Bay), G. A. Orman (Buffer), J. Flore (Otago). Reserves.—Backs, C. C. Gillies (Otago) and W. J. Phillips (King Country) ; forwards, T. W. Lockington (Auckland) and L. Hannigan (Hawke’s Bay). In addition to picking the team, the editors have chosen their five players of the year, and also five promising players. The five players of the year are PI. It. Pollock (Wellington). J. I*. Sullivan (Taranaki), N. A. Mitchell (Southland), and S.. T. Reid and E. S. Jackson (Hawke’s Bay).