Whangarei Harding Shield Team

Northern Advocate, 3 September 1947, Page 7

Whangarei Harding Shield Team

The Whangarei representative Rugby team to play Bay of Islands for the Harding Shield at Moerewa on Saturday is:— Fullback, D. O’Hagan; threequarters, G. Cunningham, B. Beazley, R. Eroughton; five-eighths, J. Slater, G. Hook; halfback, D. Codling (captain); front row, P. Grove, H. Brydon, C. Ray; second row, I. Fraser*. S. Philpott (vice-captain), E. Child, L. Taylor; backlock, P. Erceg. Reserves: —Backs, K. Rika, S. Watene. Forwards, R. Griffin, H. Berridge. The sole selector (Mr Murdoch McDonald) has made one change in the side which drew with Northern Wairoa at Dargaville last week. K. Rika has been dropped from one wing position and has been replaced by Broughton, the Central man. Rika is an emergency. The display of the forwards at Dargaville gx-eatly pleased Whangarei supporters. They packed tightly and worked well as a unit and are expected to put up a good, showing at Moerewa. SOLED TACKLES The backs were disappointing. The forwards paved the way for many tries but lack of cohesion aft proved the undoing of the team. An improvement is anticipated in the shield game however, and although it is realised that the Bay is well equipped with power in all departments, a keen tussle is likely. There is plenty of speed in the rearguard and all members are solid tacklers. This will be most important against men of the calibre of the Smiths, Pearson, Cherrington and Paewai. The Whangarei squad will train in the Drill Hall tomorrow night and travel to the Bay by bus on Saturday morning. Any player not available for training or for the match is to notify Mr McDonald.