RUGBY FOOTBALL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23885, 12 August 1939, Page 10

RUGBY FOOTBALL

OTAGO PLAYS BUSH TO-DAY AN INTERESTING PROGRAMME _ CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL AS ; CURTAIN-RAISER The first of Otago’s home representative matches this season, against the Bush Districts side on Carisbrook this afternoon, will, from all the indications, not be played under conditions particularly encouraging to brilliant Rugby The weather during the past few days has not given the ground an opportunity to dry out - properly, but Carisbrook yesterday looked in excellent order and it should not be unduly responsible for limiting enterprise The day should be a highly successful one. since in addition to the representative match, there is the final of the Otago Rugby Union’s grade championship to attract patrons, '’’he question of superiority is to bo settled for the season between Southern, defenders of the championship trophy and Union the team which has come from' bottom place last season to the final this year It, is one pf the most interesting finals to be played for years, and enthusiasm is running so high that there is sure to be a big crowd very early in the afternoon In fact, so keen is the interest it is no disparagement to the Bush players to say that at least as much interest is being taken in the club final as in the representative match The North Island team which is drawn from Pahiatua, Konini, Mfingatainoka. -- Hanua and the adjoining districts; has come south with the Ranfurly Shield as its main objective, and it is considered a stronger side than the results of its matches to date would suggest .Last season it scored two good wins against Wairarapa. 9—4 and 19—13 and also beat Horowhenua 8— Although Bush is the smallest of the New Zealand unions, it has a very creditable record and can be relied upon to play the type of Rugby that crowds like to see. Keen Young Side Those who might suggest that the best indication of the ability of teams should remember that the Southland side U 1929 removed the Ranfurly Shield froi its Wairarapa residence after being well and truly beaten all along the line. And that was when Wairarapa was fielding a brilliant combination, led by the mercurial A E. Cooke. Southland this year is indeed a formidable proposition, but it is by no means impossible that the Bush team today, will be having a final workout before making a most earnest assault on the Shield. The visitors re a jmung lot, but .the experience of their captain, A Mahoney, should qualify him excellently as a leader. Most pf them are not new to-representative football, having had some experience last season in putting together their district’s unbeaten record in' seven matches. Three members of the side have been nominated for. the North Island Minor Unions team to play the South Island Minor Unions at Christchurch next week—-R Rosyth and T. Verry are forwards and W. Twentyman is * a three-quarter. Verry is standing down to-day, but the other two will both be playing, although Twentyman, at second five-eighth, will be out of position. Otago and Bush have played only one previous match, in 1927, when the Otago touring side won at Pahiatua by 14 points to 8. This is. therefore, the first visit to Dunedin by a Bush team, despite the fact that Bush was one of the original unions that comprised the New Zealand Rusby Union when it was founded in 1892, and is actually three years older than the Otago Rugby Union. This team is managed by Mr S. Oliver, who is also sole selector * r the Bush District and a former player with a fine record. He represented Wellington in 1927, Wairarapa when it was defending the Ranfurly Shield in 1929, and Bush, so that his team should not be weak because of lack of sound coaching. With Mahoney to assist him in this respect, in fact, the side should be very well served. Mahoney, of course, played for New Zealand in 1929 and again in 1934, both in Australia, and in 1935, in Great Britain. Reorganised Otago Team The Otago team is not a fullstrength one because of the fact that Southern and Union players are not available; but ’ spite of that, it reads as a most useful combination. Only six of the players who wore Dark Blue raiment at Invercargill last week will turn out against Bush, but the forwards are a husky lot and their is pace and initiative in the back line. N. A Mitchell, at centre, will be the skipper, and with L. Simpson, T. Berghan and W. ■Perriam the inside combination the three-quarters’ should not want for opportunity. The match should be a brisk and interesting one. The curtain-raiser, the club championship final, will start at 1.30 o’clock, and will be refereed by Mr L. Macassey. The representative match will start at 3.15 o’clock, and will be refereed by Mr H. C. Williamson. , The Otago and Bush teams are as follows: — OTAGO Full-back—B. Wilkins. Three-quarters—D. Murray, N. A. Mitchell (captain), S. McCartney. Second Five-eighth—W. Parriam. First Five-eighth—T Berghan. Half-back—L. Simpson. Front Row—L. Aitken T Graham. P Treacy Middle Row—B. Barnes, A. Parkhill. J. Barron, W McClelland. Back Row —L. Naylor. BUSH Full-back—l. Hay. Three-quarters—M. Harris, K. Elliott. C. Eddie. Second Five-eighth—W. Twentyman. First Five-eighth—S. Staples. Half-back —E. Lett. Front Row —-M. Wilkins, B. Smith. B Fergus. Middle Row—R. Rosyth, D. Fallaver. L. Bailey, B. Thomas, Back Row—A. Mahoney (captain).

THE IMPERIAL CONFERENCE ELECTION OF DELEGATES (Per United Press Association) WELLINGTON, Aug. 11. Mr G. A. Maddison (Hawke’s Bay) and Mr A, E. McPhail (Canterbury) have been elected New Zealand delegates to the Imperial Rugby Conference in London.