RUGBY FOOTBALL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22822, 1 September 1937, Page 20

RUGBY FOOTBALL

AUCKLAND FIFTEEN TEAM TO MEET HAWKE'S BAY 'PERSONNEL OF LIKELY SIDE The Auckland Rugby fifteen to meet Jlawke's Bay at Eden Park next Saturday will be the strongest to have represented the province this season, in spite of the absence of j. Dick, the Grafton wing-three-quarter and T.»H. Pierce, the Maimkaii forward, who will to absent at Ohristehurch for the second test against the Springboks. ; It is the, intention of the sole selector, ?tlr. J. H. M. Mnir, to place virtually the Same rearguard in the field ss represented Auckland against the Australian team last year. In such case W. Frankh'am will be behind the scrum, Li Curtavne and B. A. Killeen at liveeighths, with D. Solomon at centre. 'l'he wingmen will be T. H. C. Caughey, the former All Black, and K. Byerley. .TV. Hare, Training College, has thoroughly earned the fullback position after his consistently sound displays this season. This backline should perform brilliantly. I A. T. Prentice, the young Grafton centre, gave an indifferent display against the Springboks, but he is certainly the most promising back in the province and with another season in senior football should be thoroughly equipped'for the representative team. The only other back who has been dropped is R. G. Bush, the well-known University fullback. This wilt probably mark the end of Bush's long and brilliant career in representative games, in which he_ has plaved for Auckland, Otago, the North and South Islands, and New Zealand University, while he gained All Black honours against the Australian j team in 1931.,, He is one of the best fullbacks ever produced by this province.

POWERFUL FORWARDS LOCKINGTON AND MeLEAN BACK • The forwards should also comprise a powerful selection. C. S. Pejjper, the Manukau, Auckland and 1935 All Black, who played in the All Blacktrials this season, is not available ami will probably be replaced bv Mofbtt, of South Auckland. The other members pf the front row will be H. Bond, the fine Ponsonbv hooker, and A. Brown, of Grammar, who played an outstanding game against Taranaki. The return of T. Lockingtoa and H. F. McLean, after their absence owing to injuries will strengthen the middle row, although it is very likely that McLean will be allotted the back row position, in place of F. Solomon. In that case ; Anderson, Hull and Lange would complete the middle row. The following fifteen is therefore likely to represent Auckland against Hawke's Bay:—■ Fullback. —W. Hare. Three-quarters.—T. H. C. Caughey, D. Solomon, K. Byerley. . Five-eighths.—L. Curtavne, B. A. Killeen. Halfback.—W. Franklirjm. Forwards. —Front row: W. Moffitt, H. Bond, A. Brown. Middle row: R. F. Anderson, LI. R. Hull, W. Lange, T. Lockington. Back row: H. F McLean.

THE SECOND TEST MATCH GREAT CONTEST ANTICIPATED The second test match between the All Blacks and the Springboks at Lancaster Park, Christchurch, on ®aturdav, is expected to be one of the greatest contests evc-r played between the two countries. It will be of P 1 "" 3 -- mount importance to both sides. \\ ith the All Blacks already one up m the series, they only require a victory in this game to win the rubber, and, m the estimation of a large number or Jtugbv enthusiasts, the right to the world's Rugby crown. The Springboks, however, will make everv possiblo effort to reverse their loss 'in the first test at Wellington. It is well known that the major object of their Australian arid New Zealand tour has been the defeat of the All Blacks, and so to settle for some years the longstanding and remarkably even rivalry between,the two countries. With both fifteens keyed up to concert pitch, the likelihood of a record crowd, no matter what the weather conditions may prove to be. and the great issues at stake, this match should be one of, the most thrilling and stirring rncouliters ever decided on the llugby international field. LACK OF ENTHUSIASM END-OF-SEASON, COMPLEX 'A " feature of club matches during recent weeks has been the lack of enthusiasm shown by a number of the senior fifteens, particularly those at the bottom of the championship ladder. On several occasions teams have placed men short, while-a common occurrence has been the inclusion of junior grade players/ in place of seniors-who have found other iiiterests-'on Saturday afternoons. In a contest last, Saturday weekTraining College fielded but eleven metf and College Rifles thirteen in the first spell, and fourteen .in the second. Many of both teams were.from.the junior,and even third grade ranks. The result wa? a farcical contest iii which Training Collegb was defeated by 52 points to 14