RUGBY FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19947, 16 May 1928, Page 16

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

'AUCKLAND REPRESENTATIVES FIRST MATCH DRAWING NEAR. WAIRARAPA AND THE SHIELD.

The Auckland representative team will have its first try-out against Waikato at Hamilton a fortnight from next Monday. Although it is yet early in the season, Mr. V. R. Meredith, sole selector, must have seen enough good players to give him plenty of food for thought. It is going to be no easy task to sort out Auckland's best fifteen players this year. Some of the younger footballers have developed to a surprising extent, and then the acquisition of new talent adds to the selector's difficult task, it is safe to predict at this juncture that the players chosen to plav against Waikato wili have to maintain their best form 1 i they wish to keep their places for the season.

There will be three representative matches on tha King's Birthday, namely: Wairarapa v. Hawke's Bay, at Napier; ■Taranaki v. Wanganui, at Wanganui; Auckland v. Waikato, at Hamilton. It is very evident Wairarapa is leaving no stone unturned to regain the Ranfurly Shield. Its representatives will have four opportunities of acquiring combination before journeying to Christchurch, as its early programme makes provision for the following games:—June 4, v. Hawke's Bay, at Napier; June 20, v. Bush Districts, at Pahiatua; duly 7, v. Hawke's Bay in the Wairarapa; .July 11, v. Manawhenua. at Palmerston North; July 18, v. Canterbury, at Christchurch. Wairarapa's Prospects.

In stating that Wairarapa's prospects of lifting the Ranfurly Shield from Canterbury are very bright, a Southern writer makes no mention of Nepia having taken up his residence in the Wairarapa, as was announced by telegraph last week. It is mentioned, however, that the Donald brothers and Irvine are. playing again after having announced their definite retirement at the end of last season.

With two such experienced supported by lively young forwards, the Wairarapa pack will be a very strong one. Aucklanders will particularly remember a sturdy youth named Reed at Eden Park last season. He and Harvey played great games. So far as the back division is concerned Wairarapa will have to depend principally on Cooke, who is reported to be playing as well as ever. Thes, of course, there is Stringfellow, who developed quite a lot last season, and in the final All Black trial in Wellington played so well that he was accounted unlucky in some quarters in not getting the South African trip. The 411 Black team, now on its way to South Africa, is due to arrive at Durban to-day week. The Euripides was originally scheduled to reach Durban next Monday, but word was received last week that the boat would be two days late. The first and second matches are to be played in Capetown on May 30 and June 2, but, as the team will not reach Capetown until May 28, it may eventuate that the first match will be eliminated. Ex-All Black's Demise. E. E. Hughes, the well-known Southland, Wellington and New Zealand frontrank forward, died recently in Sydney. Hughes played for Southland for many years before the war. He was a member of the New Zealand team which toured Australia in 1907, and he played in the first test against the Anglo-Welsh team in Dunedin in 1908. After the war he took up his residence in Wellington, and represented that province. He;, played in the first and second tests against the Springboks in Dunedin and Auckland in 1921. Later he went _ over to Sydney, remaining there until his death. as he was familiarly known among the Rugby fraternity, was a fine forward in his vounger days. While in Sydney he was alwavs present to welcome the members of All Black teams which went across. _ , * The first team to beat Ponsonbv at Eden Park is sure to have a popular reception with the crowd. Ponsonbv s long run of successes has had the effect of turning the public against it as a team, but not as individuals, because many of the Ponsonby men are among tne most popular in Auckland. University's Prospects. The team most likely to defeat Ponsonby in the first round appears to be University. The students have a solid, lively pack that is sure to worry any opposition it will meet in the senior competition. The backs tackle well, which is a valuable asset against Ponsonby. The ' University rearguard, however, requires a lot of sharpening up between the half and the wing-threequarters before it becomes a really dangerous attacking combination. It is scarcely right, however, to judge on last Saturday's play, as this was the first occasion upon which University was represented by its host team. Combination, therefore, should be acquired in the next few games. Playing for the ■ Wellington Club in the capital city is a forward named Stanley, an ex-member of the Harlequin Club, London, who played for Noj-th Midland against the 1924 All Blacks. A Wellington writer says he was the outstanding forward on the ground in the recent | match against Marist. The critic adds": Thickly built, this player is a hard worker in the ruck, and displays plenty of energy m the loose; nor is he afraid of hurling himself at his opponent's legs when it comes to taking his man low. One of the finest displays of defensive Rugby that has ever been given in club football locally was that shown by L. Johnson, the North Shore fullback, ill the game against Ponsonhy on Saturday. He received very little rest during the" game, but had it not been for his efforts Ponsonby's victory would have been secured with a margin far greater than 11 points. It was a treat to see him bring down that very trick runner, L. Hook. Twice the representative threequarter tried to dummy his way past and twice he paid the penalty. Then he tried to emulate Lucas' habit of stopping suddenly in his stride, but Johnson brought him down before he had time to move again. Absence of Paewai. How the absence of two inert can affect the play of a team was shown in Grafton's lamentable display, against City. City, of course, appeared as a greatly-im-proved side, but toward the end of the i / game Wanoa and Finlayson, at the head of a fine pack, were making openings of which the backs could not take advantage. Paewai, the All Black five-eighths and Auckland representative fullback, ,was absent with influenza, and without him the Grafton team seemed lost. Farmer, the 6econd five-eighths, was also absent.

It wao encouraging to note the enthusiastic backing City received from a large number of supporters. Such an interest in the games of a newly-promoted team augurs well for the future of the tevived club. City has some very promising players. Fell, a particularly fine forward, was a reserve in several of the games last season, and on present form it will be hard to leave im out of the representative pack this ' las weight and pace and is tvlavir. 8 Fletcher is also football. In the backs, N. a' pkce eg in the ' f ° rm v ' hl>h wn " two Mawnc , i representative side Jittle too mi Crooke, although a Ste r c . h ffi-ossrsf 4 - h its fullharlr C y ,s fortunate in