RUGBY FOOTBALL

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17061, 20 September 1929, Page 3

RUGBY FOOTBALL

TO-MORROW’S REP. MATCH TARANAKI'S ••.HIDDEN FORM” (Notes by ‘‘Onlooker.’') Though (ho Taranaki rcpresenlalivo leam. met defeat at the hands of the East Coast, it would bo foolish to imagine that another defeat at the hands o£ Poverty Bay is certain to; bo visited upon the visitors. There is nothing at all certain about the outcome of tomorrow’s game, between the tourists and Poverty Bay at Ihe Oval, and tlio writer for olio is looking forward to a hard tussle worthy of a very lino season's wind-up. The Taranaki team did not produce its normal form at Ruatoria, of that all football patrons may be assured by the fact that Hawke’s Bay had its .work cut out to defeat the tourists. Even allowing for the fact that the Taranaki representtaives have had a certain amount of bumping about in the hist week, it is reasonable to expect that they will extend Poverty Bay to the full. What that means to the cause of the spectators, memories of the Waikato match will indicate. It may he taken for granted that tile Taranaki men were not disposed to display their full strength against the Coast, and tho manager of the tourists, Mr. Goodwin, informed the writer at Ruatoria that the formation fielded there on Wednesday was purely experimental, some of the team having been placed in positions to which they were unaccustomed. NAPIER-RUATORIA COMPARISON, ,A comparison of the teams that played for Taranaki at Napier and at Ruatoria respectively shows up tho manner in which the western province representatives were changed about. For instance, Grant, who played wing-for-ward at Napier, was first five-eighths at Ruatoria, and gavo a display there that suggests lie will need a lot of watching when he returns to his usual position for to-morrow’s game. The usual hookers are Robinson and Gurgen; on Wednesday Baldwin partnered Robinson with a sufficient degree of success, while Gargen was given less .onerous duties in the side row of the scrum. Another Robinson, a five-eighths player who was hurt slightly in the Napier match, was given a spell during tho week, and is now reported to be tit to take bis place in to-morrow’s team. Crawford, first choice among the Taranaki three-quarters for the left wii>g, was another who was on the line; and yet another player whose value to Taranaki’s side is fully realised was left out of the game at Ruatoria, this player being the 17-stone Maori lock, Ike, From these notes it will be realised that the full strength of Taranaki was not thrown into the struggle with the Eatjsfc Coast, while another consideration that must bo kept in mind was that of the touring players who did play few, displayed form of the kind expected of them by their team-mates and manager. Poverty Bay cannot take any chances with the Taranaki team.to-morrow, and it is satisfactory to know that the homo side will be up to full strength for what probably will develop into as severe a test as it has faced during the season now drawing to a close) So fur. tho selectors have received no intimation of withdrawal by any member of the side chosen to represent Poverty Bay, and inquiries concerning flu; condition of men who have recently been injured or ill have brought satisfactory reports. Every local indication jioints to the fulfilment of the prophecy that the meeting of Taranaki and Poverty Bay will provide an outstandingly interesting spectacle. MOTU SUB-UNION TEAIVI TO MEET P.B. JUNIORS For Saturday’s curtain raiser match, on which .the ‘.Black and White Shield wfil depend, the Motu sub-union, has nominated its representative team to meet Poverty Bay juniors as under: — , Fullback, F. Reed; three-quarters, I£. Groig, J. Thomas, H. Sidney; fiveeighths, N. Thomas and 1). Morllemaq; halfback, McDonald; wingfonyard, W. Mortleman; hookers, Denton and swarbricb; lock, Ross; sides, J. Grace and Walker; back row, F. Thomas and Lovell; emergencies, C. Warren (back) and T. Langer (forward). Tho team wfil be under the charge of Mr. IB Beaufoy, and will make the journey to town to-morrow Miming.