RUGBY FOOTBALL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21281, 7 September 1932, Page 14

RUGBY FOOTBALL

REPRESENTATIVE GONTEST

MATCH AGAINST TARANAKI

ATTRACTION FCR SATURDAY

The final representative match of tlse season in Auckland will be played at Eden Park on Saturday afternoon between [Auckland and Taranaki. The latter team is meeting Waikato, at Hamilton, this (afternoon,, and will arrive in Auckland to-morrow afternoon.

Taranaki football has not been quite so ptrong since the war, as it was in the years immediately preceding, but the province has been gradually build,ng up £l good side again. Collins, the fullback, and Clark, a forward, were members of the New Zealand team which recently toured' Australia. J. Walter, another foijward, has represented New Zealand picjviously, while K. Fookes and R. Watson Jjave played for the North Island. Taranaki has done well in this season s Representative matches, a good indication lof its strength being that it fully expended Wellington, the score being 18—17 Sii favour of the latter. It was a sparkling contest,' and the closeness of the scoring made it exciting for the public. Another such match on Saturday would be a fitting finale to the representative season here. Auckland Team Strong The Auckland team has not yet been Beleoted, but it will be a strong combination. Palmer will be much missed, as bis ability to hook the ball meant a great deal to the backs. There will be an interesting curtainraiser between teams from H.M.S. JDunedin and H.M.S. Diomede. The Blackwood Shield, at present held by the [Diomede, will be involved in this game. [The trophy is one presented by the people pf Tasmania for annual competition among ships in the New Zealand Navy. The Diomede team won it last year from the Philomel's representatives. The senior championship matches continue to be most interesting. University still has to meet Ponsonby and Grammar, bnd both' these contests should draw big gates. The majority of Eden Park patrons are predicting a play-off between PonIBOnby and Grammar, but University still has a chance of drawing level, more especially as Manukau is likely to upset Calculations so far as any of the other teams are concerned. Popular Player The wide popularity enjoyed by the fate B. P. Palmer was fully demonstrated by the attendance at his funeral at Otahuhu on Monday afternoon. Not the least impressive part of the ceremony was the presence of the Otahuhu school pupils, .with their headmaster, Mr. A. Murdoch. [These lads, whom Palmer had visited and coached weekly in tho national game, jwere lined up outside the church as the cortege departed, and they stood in silent, ;wide-eyed wonder as their favourite and idol passed through their midst for the last time. In the course of a most impressive address ' during the service in the church, the Rev. R. J. Stanton very ably voiced the opinions of all who personally knew the lat& All Black. "That Bert Palmer embodied the highest ideals of sportsmanship and manhood he fully demonstrated not only in various parts of his own land, but also overseas," said the minister. "TTiose who do anything worth while must take risks, and, without risks, sport would not develop the sporting instincts innate in man. "Learning to play th© game on tlie sports fields fits people better to play the game in other spheres. It fills our hearts with sadness and perplexity to see a young life taken away, but, if it is any comfort to his dear mother, I can give her an assurance on behalf of Bert's many that lie always 'played the game.' " Potted Goals

L.\i 7 ., Wellington, writes: "Being a teen reader of your sporting notes, 1 observed the following paragraph in your paper dated Wednesday, August 31: In iny long experience of Rugby I do not recall a match "in which two goals were potted by the same side in the first spell, said Mr. H. Frost, chairman of the management committee of the Auckland Rugby Union i'n presenting the Roller Mills Shield at Eden Park the previous iday. . - ' - "Just; by way of general interest I thought'l would write to mention one case that remains "quite vivid, although there may be many more known to others. Somewhere about 1920 —I cannot recall the exact year just now—Wellington was playing Otago at Dunedin and the half-time score was .B—o in favour of Wellington, the score being composed of two potted 4 goals by ,E. Roberts, of All Black fame. In the second spell, Roberts tried another Eot and' was nearly successful, the ball itting the crossbar and rebounding into the arms of' the Wellington threequarter, O'SulliVan, who scored after a fast follow through."