TOMORROW’S RUGBY

Northern Advocate, 9 August 1929, Page 4

TOMORROW’S RUGBY

HARDING SHIELD MATCH

SECONDARY SCHOOL GAME

The first, of the Harding Shield games this season will be played at Rugby Park tomorrow, when Whangarei will be called upon to defend the trophy against Mangonui. Perhaps it is rather unfortunate for Whangarei that one of the very strongest of the five challengers should be ’encountered straight away but the game against Northern Walroa gave the Whhngarei men an excellent opportunity to settle down. It is admitted that the Whangarei representatives are quite equal to any that have over turned out‘for the union, and although Mangonui -also have a very solid team, the majority arc confident that the Shield will remain where it is. However, that is for tomorrow to decide, and whatever transpires the football should not be far short of inter-provincial standard. The occasion will be made memorable by tho fact that W, Rika and A. Watermdu, the two local All Blacks, will be making their first appearance after cross lag the Tasman. It is unfortunate that “Bunny” Finlayson is on the injured list, but ho has a good substitute in McQueen,

The men from the Far North have concentrated on the game for some weeks, realising that their lifting of the trophy would be the best stimulus possible for. the , game in their widely scattered union. A fortnight ago they overwhelmed Whangaroa by 20 points to nil, .and last Saturday beat ,Bay of Islands by 15 to 6,.and those who saw' the ! match at Ivaitaia last season will remember that a much -weaker team than that which will play tomorrow had all the bettor of a fast, open game against North Auckland. In fact, the tourists would haVc been beaten only for Waterman kicking three penalty goals. . The game, will be the. first serious 'representative fixture before the North AucklamTHawke's Bay match, and 10 of the 21 who have -been announced as probables for the Peninsula will be taking part. Players to watch in the visitors' team -will be Bowman, ex-King's College and a very heady ployer, Moses Yates, classed with Fin--1 lays on- -and Rika as the best forward ip the North, and Ned Wilkinson, Grafton and North Auckland front-row man. Although he h'as not been chosen in the 21,' Wilfred Thomson, as the last lino “of defence, is a very safe man. The Mangonui team is as follows:

W. Thomson J C.- Alurray, S. Yates, H. Yates, T. Bowman, P. Anderson, W. Evans,

G. Taipo,

N. and H. Wilkinson, >■ ; - J, Hadfield, M. Yates, Stevens, W. Cooper, M, Richards, Emergencies—Backs: C. Masters. Forwards; R. White, J. iMoore.

Mr N. McDonald is selbetor and trainer, and Mr G. Moore manager. The team arrived in Whangarei by car from the North yesterday and are staying at the Whangarei Hotel. Eugby Park la in excellent condition, and provided the weather remains fine the surface should be perfect for the game. COLLEGE football. HIGH SCHOOL v. MT. ALBEET. No better curtain-raiser to the Hard ing Shield game.than the annual meeting between the Whangarei High j School and Mt. Albert Grammar School! could be provided. College football always draws a big crowd, and the calibre displayed is .invariably of a much bettor standard than that soon in many club games, by reason of the better training in which the boys keep themselves, and tomorrow’s game should bo no exception to the rule. Last week the High School fifteeh played Sacred Heart College, Auckland, and though beaten, they fought, out a strenuous game in which they encountered an clement of bad luck. The final scores of 11—6 are an indication of the prowess of the School teani, and prospects of defeating the Grammar School arc very bright. The Whangaroi team is practically identical with that which played Sacred Heart, except that Mullins replaces Finlayson as fullback, the latter having broken .a rib in the match in Auckland, and Stewart replaces Good in the pack.

The High School team will he as follows: Fullback.—W. Mullins. Threequarters.—R. Georgeson, M. Izzard, N. Williams. Five-eighths,—L. Brown, Kelsall. Half. —I). Swinburne. Rover,—B. Crawford Hookers.—D, Newman, B. Yates. Lock.—G, Pctcrwoocl, Side Eow. —A. Greig, C. Stewart. Back Row. —G, Dixon, T. Fuller. Emergencies.—L. Good, H. Webber, B. Cuff.

The Grammar School" tetnn will be selected from the following players:— Backs.—Chambers, Read, AfcConachie, Fihlayson, Spence (capt.), Fletcher, Vivian, Browne and Horan. Forwards. —AlcFarlane, Clark, Schultz, Alills, Crawford, Pearce, Mathews, Kennedy, Tippet and Collister. CLUB MATCHES. Fifteen from the following will represent Onerahi Juniors in the match against Hora Hora at Kensington tomorrow: —R. AlcLean, J. Clotworthy, J. Joass, W. Sheehan, J. Burch, S. Afclnrrnoy, . A. Kirkwood, J. AlcLood, H, Alclncrney, R. Redwood, A. Pohe, B. Pitman, S. Pitman,

Scally, Fisher, J, McLean, C. Fitzgibbons, -C. Finlayson, K. Fyfe, The Hikurangi team to play Maungakaramea seniors -rut Kensington Park at 1.30 p.m., .-will be selected from; —C. Mclnnes, T. Wells, Wells, T. Webster, W. Whitelaw, C. Pepene, 11. Edwards, P. Wilson, E. MacDonald, ,J. Ryan, J. Be we, J. Linnell, W. Darid, .T, Parity, • L, McLean, and P. Webb.