WANGANUI'S BID FOR SHIELD

NZ Truth, Issue 1063, 8 April 1926, Page 11

WANGANUI'S BID FOR SHIELD

Old Boys and Championship Honors

(From "Truth's" Wanganui Representative.)

Owing to the number of young players coining forward the Wanganui Rugby Union -has had to provide extra grounds.

UP;- to the time of writing there are five Senior teams entered m the •competitions,! but these .do not include Ratana, . TKete' seems to be some uncertainty • whether Rataha, will play here. or will linkup with Rarigitikei. At any rate, the team hae been formed up and >. contains new blood, and practices have already been held. Marists entered the competitions last year with practically a new team, which improved considerably as the season advanced, and then . began to:, drop, back again owing xto several prominent players leaving the district; ■ In the final match, played against Ratana, O'Sullivariy their dashing forward, sustained injuries and will be ' unable to play this season. T. Quirke will also be missing from their ranks. They will still have the services of V Kruse,. who reached rep. form very early last season.' Potaka, the All Black_ centrethreequarter, is now residing m Wanganui. All the clubs are angling to secure his services. It is probable that Potaka will throw m his lot with Kaierau, but this ( is by no means certain, as Wanganui Old Boys are trying hard to get him. It is fairly safe to say that Potaka » will be selected to go Home with the Maori team. Darby's Departure A. Darby, the Wanganui representative full-back of last season, will , play m a similar position for the Oriental team m Wellington this sea- • .son. • .■'■-'. • : Mi>k" ,is a.; great tackier, and though unorthodox m his methods is capable of playing a first-class game. , Kaierau, last year's champions, will [ have a young team to , the season with. ■ . . •<■ Softie, of hie old hands" are giving the ganie up, including Walter 1 Rosa and H, Stewart. The former has been ( the maroon's crack forward for some seasons, while Stewart was one of the most l solid of the backs. ■ J. McAuliffe will also be missing from the side, as Joe is now m Hawera, and 'is regarded as a certainty for' the* Taranaki representative team when they play their annual match against Wanganui on the King's Birthday. The young _ brigade will include several promising players, but it may be that Kaierau will find one '' or two of the other teams too strong for them- this season. B Still, with Jack Whiting as club captain, and that clever old genera 1 ., Alex. Takarangi, behind them, Kaiv erau will not be easily beaten when ' they get going. As hookers, Kaierau will depend ' upon two promoted juniors — Roach and Parkes— who will prove hard to beat. Wanganui Old Boys are likely to make a bold bid for championship honors : th "■« season. . ' j s Some new blood will be <?eon m the ' eenior team. Including Bini^y, a. forward of representative class from 11 <c South Island, Carlson (a Collegiate a School boy of good stamp), and Andrews (who- played as a junior rep. for Auckland). ; , The prospects of the blues are highly . assessed by their supporters. : ; • Pirates report a record member- {■ ** ship, including over 60 new members, two or three of whom a.re expected to prove a .decided acqui* ;t aition to the senior team. v

( O£ the new men who are likely to strengthen the blacks, Innes "is a forward, and Lloyd Christensen and Giass are backs. The last-named comes from Hawkes Bay, and Christenseri from Wellington. . . . A South Canterbury rep. back m Kerr has also thrdwn-in his lot with Pirates, who will -probably lose one of their best forwards m Pearson, and Head (one of. the.most prominent of the backs) is also a doubtful starter this season. " . , ' ■ , . Old stalwarts such as "Podgy" Ross, Healey, Innes, Hurley, Sutherland, Howes, ai»d Wakelih intend to turn out again, and the Pirates are going to give the cup a shake. . Easter "Kick-off" ' Technical Old Boys will put a.very strong team m the. field, and on paper they will have the best set of.backs iv Wariganui. „: ' ;' ' .. . Their forwards, too, will be strong and fast. It is understood that Stiver and Dyke; both.of whom are suffering from injured legs, may not play, but if theyturn out this team will go far m the championship competition. ' As usual, the Rugby season had a "kick-off" at Easter m Wanganui, and within three weeks a start is to be made with the championship games. From what caiT be gathered there will be a number of .new players seen out m the senior teams, but the club standard will be much the same as last season, and there does not seem much likelihood of the Wanganui rep. team being greatly strengthened. Still, there is no telling; and Rugby enthusiasts m" the river city are hoping fqf the best. Wanganui will send a team to Napier lifter the Ranfurly Shield —an ambitious undertaking, 'perhaps, but there have been big surprises m Rugby before, and Wanganui teahis have at odd times achieved the seemingly impossible. ' " If by any chance the Shield should be brought to Wanganui it would help the game along wonderfully m this district. But it, is not much good speculating m that direction—just yet, at any rate. .-, ;.;: .'\ '-' " / ■ ' •