RUGBY GAME IN TARANAKI

Taranaki Daily News, 13 July 1929, Page 4

RUGBY GAME IN TARANAKI

KEEN STRUGGLE FOR HONOUR TO-DAY’S FIXTURES DISCUSSED. SEVERAL TEAMS IN THE RUNNING. With the second round of the senior Rugby competition in Taranaki now well under way—three more Saturdays after to-day will see the second round concluded —and with three teams still well in the running in each division, interest in the competition is still strongly maintained. It is some years since the competition has been so full of surprises, practically every Saturday seeing the positions of the leading teams altered. So even are the majority of the teams that the leader this year cannot affond to take any risks even against the fifteen from the club holding a position on tho lowest rung of the ladder.

For convenience of travel the match between Star and Clifton has been staged .as a curtain-raiser at Pukekura Park to-day. It should provide a strenuous contest. When the teams met in the first round Star defeated Clifton by 9 points to 3. Since then, however, Clifton have improved. . Their forwards are a powerful force and their backs are a solid defensive set. They possess some dangerous attacking backs, notably Watson. They showed by their defeat of Stratford what they are capable of doing on their day. Star forwards are also a solid, dashing lot, whilst their backs, though they will undoubtedly miss Kilby, must have gained confidence as an attacking force as the outcome of his presence. Moreover, they will not be badly sened with Kinsella at the base of the scrum and their defence “will be improved by the re-appearance of Hunt at full-hack after an enforced absence owing to injury.

CELTIC IMPROVEMENT. The second match, between Old Boys and Celtic, though it will have no bearing on the final result, should provide a bright exhibition. Old Boys, after a game in which they had by no means the worst of it, were narrowly defeated by Star and relegated to fourth position —out of the running for the divisional premiership. It was Celtic, however, that gave them their first definite setback by defeating them by 12 to 10 in the first round. Celtic have shown that was no fluke by later defeating Inglewood. Celtic have done remarkably well for a new team. They are fifth on the ladder, a point below Old Boys, and will strive hard to-day to reverse the positions. The New Plymouth team, though they will undoubtedly miss Morey, who met with an accident last week, can be relied upon to put their best foot forward.

Stratford, the runuers-up, have to meet Okato at Stratford, and no doubt with the crowd in the town for the show there will be a large attendance. Though the coastal team are low down on the ladder they have been very close to victory on several oenasions. Certainly in the first round Stratford gained a fairly easy victory, but the coastal forwards have improved. Stratford will miss Collins at full-back. All enthusiasts will regret to hear of the accident to the Stratford and Taranaki custodian and will hope that he will soon be fit again.

The Inglewood public should see a spectacular game when Tukapa and Inglewood meet, as both teams possess clever backs and appear evenly matched. In the first round they drew. Both teams throw the ball about well. TWO HAWERA TEAMS. In South Taranaki the Hawera public will have the privilege of seeing two of the three leading teams in action. Unfortunately, in the first round, the South Taranaki members of the management committee, in drawing the fixtures sent both Hawera teams out of the town on the one day in the first round, with the result that both are home to-day. An endeavour was made at the suggestion of one of the representatives, Mr. J. Goodwin, to transfer the Hawera match to Eltham, but apparently that was not possible. At the time of writing it had not been made known whether the matches are to be played on different grounds or one as curtain-raiser to the •other. If a curtain-raiser is played the first match on the score of travelling would be Hawera and Eltham. After their setback last Saturday Hawera cannot afford to lose any more matches and they will certainly not take any risks against Eltham. In the first round they had to move at top speed to defeat Eltham by 9 to 3, and Eltham have gained confidence since then. Doing their best the Hawera pack should be able to secure more of the ball and this should give them the victory. Eltham forwards are dashing and do not know when they are beaten.

Opunake, the leaders, meet Athletic, and, knowing that the first round match gave them the victory by only 15 points to 11, the coastal team will not take any chances. They received a shake last year at the hands of Patea and are certain to profit by that experience. No doubt the astute coaches watching that match saw the weakness on the day in the failure to run straight and •■have taken steps to guard against its repetition. Opunake have shown that they possess penetrating backs, and possibly last week they had a day off and took the opposition too cheaply. They will not do that to-day. Athletic are a team capable of rising to great heights, Okaiawa, the runners-up, meet Kaponga at Okaiawa. In the first round the men from the mountain fastness gave the Plainsmen a severe jolt, Okaiawa just getting home by 11 points to Kaponga has fallen on lean times but they are a team of keen young players who never give up. There is always great rivalry in this match and to-day promises to see a hotly contested struggle. Okaiawa, by their defeat of Hawera last week, are v/ithin striking distance of the premiership again, and they have been training hard to again secure the coveted honours. Wai mate journey to Pa tea and a bright game should be witnessed. Patea prevailed by a narrow margin in the first round, and on their home ground should do so again, though they will miss D. Grant, who is now in New Plymouth. Both teams have solid forwards, but perhaps Palea have the greater experience. TO-DAY’S SENIOR MATCHES. Star v. Clifton at Pukekura Park, 1.15 p.m. Old Boys v. Celtic at Pukekura Park, 2.45 p.m, Tukapa v. Inglewood at Inglewood, 2.45 p.m.

Stratford v. Okato, at Stratford, 2.45 p.m. Opunake y. Athletic, at Hawera, 2.45 p.m. Eltham v. Hawera at Hawera, 2,45 p.m. Okaiawa v. Kaponga at Okaiawa, 2,45 p.m. Patea v. Waimate at Patea, 2.45 p.m. Secondary School Match. Wednesday, July 17. —New Plymouth High School v. Wanganui Technical School at Pukekura Park. REPRESENTATIVE GAMES. Matches Played. V. Wanganui.—Won by 22 to 17. V. Wellington. —Won by 6 to 3. All Blacks’ Tour. . V. New South Wales. —Draw, no score. V. Newcastle. —Won, 35 to S. V. Australia, first test. —Lost. 9 to 8. V. New South Wales.—Won. 22 to 9. Matches to Play. To-day—V. Victoria, at Melbourne. July 17.—V. Combined Country, at Armidale. July 20.—V. Australia, at Brisbane. July 24. —V. Queensland, at Brisbane. July 27. —V. Australia, at Sydney. TEAMS FOR TO-DAY. Celtic against Old Boys at New Plymouth. —Dodd, Pryce, Richardson, Kettlewell, Young, Brunton, Bublitz, Hinton, O’Keefe, Brlski, Johnson, Lindell, Anderson, McGuinness, Bcardmore, Adlam, Grubb, Payne. Hawera seniors.--Guy, Robinson (2), Murphy (3), Williams, Malcolm, Goodger, Gibson, Riley (2), Anderson, Hammond, Chcevers, McCarthy, Rawcliffe, Hunter. Hawera juniors.—Spiers, Guy, Woolford, Hawke, Lander, Jordan, Rawcliffe, Jackson, Roberts, Tait, Eaves, Joyce, Standish, Clement, Matheson, Hodge, Granville, Whyte. Hawera thirds. —Loader, Perrett, Chadwick, Fama, R. Tutuaha, Donaldson, Pokau, Crutch,- Tumoa.ua, Rangi, Brough, Koran, M. Rangi, T. Tutuaha, Hunt, Watts, Hawkins, Ilinga, Rosessarne. Athletic seniors.—Tuki, Meyrick, Bowdle, Owen, Gudgeon, Lay, Dymond, Cate, Smith, Thomlinson, Pease, Phillips, Ryan, Coleman, Death; emergencies, McLean, Barker, Seager, Setford.

Athletic juniors.—Spragg, McKenzie, Young (2), Morrison, Guise, Lendrani, McMillan, Oliver, Kippenberger, Wood, Scott, Campbell, Ching, Jones, Beauchamp; emergency, Tarrant. Athletic thirds. —Team as formerly selected.

Alton juniors.—Moreland, Hodge, Anderson, Furby, Woolier, Walker, Hunt (2), Hurley, Adams (3), Gibbs, Kettles, Gush, Wards, Huston, Sexton, Clark,

Okaiawa fourths. —Parker, Piripi, Puketapu, King, Cleaver, Ropiha, Ma'toe, Nuku, Thomas, Mark, Thomas, Awahou, Wiclilfe, Laison, Booth, Matoe; emergencies, Slinger, Guy, Nuku. The following players will represent Eltham seniors against Hawera seniors at Hawera to-day at 2.45 p.m.: —R. Bourke, G. Nicholas, A. Cooper, L. Cooper, T. Attrill, D. Gower, L. Casey, B. Nicholas, J. Gower, H. Slocombe, H. Potts, R. Camp bell, C. Penniall, D. Jones, H. Elliott, R. Trolove, R. Bocock, F. Bocock and J. Gernhoefer.

Waimate teams for to-day:—Seniors: McDonald, Langford, Whalen, Bourke (2), McKay, Shaw, Paterson, Griffin, Wood, Sutton, Hikaka, Johnson, Hughes, Long. Emergencies: -M. Burke, R. Shaw, Ainsley. First juniors: Bloomfield, Edwards (3), Ashford, J. Hansen, Nuku, Hughes, Rei, Ainsley, Hucker. Tucker, Tamu (2), King, Tamanui, Ratahi. Thirds: King, Morgan, Kitt, Nuku, Hughes, Toroa, Walker, Hill, Gulliver, Il'eneri, Street, Wilburn, Hodge, Rus-

sell, Payne, Enyon (2), Duncan. Fourths: King, G. McDonald, McKay, Bennett, Nichols, Dick, Walker (2), Duggan, Coleman, Wetere, Smilie, Duncan, Gamlin, Harvey. Emergencies: Putt, Vincent, H. McDonald.

ALL BLACKS IN AUSTRALIA. To-day the All Blacks visit Melbourne to play their first match against Victoria. There they are doing missionary work in assisting to put the Rugby game on the map, for in Victoria the game played is known as “Australian,” a game peculiar to Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia. The winning of to-day's match does not count greatly —it is the effect that the exhibition will have on the code that matters.

Though the New Zealanders were beaten in the first test match last week, few with the true interests of the game at heart will regret that fact. The All Blacks for years past have been endeavouring to revive the Rugby game m Australia. Last week’s match, with its crowd of 50,0(10 and its victory for the Australians, shows that they have succeeded in creating a great revival, not only in public interest but in the standard of play. There are still two matches and New Zealand will probably win the rubber, as last week’s team can be improved upon, but even if the All Blacks do not secure the rubber it is certain they will have given the game another great fillip.

INTER-SCHOOL FOOTBALL. On Wednesday next the public of Taranaki will see the New Plymouth Boys’ High School in action in an interschool game for the first time this year, when they meet Wanganui Technical College. These teams have already met on several occasions but always at Hawera as one of the special winter show attractions. It has now been decided to make them home and home games. There have been some great games between the schools and this week’s should be as interesting as any of them. It will, moreover, serve to give the public an indication of the strength of the School team this year.

RUGBY NOTES.! Warea is the scene of great football activity. In every paddock almost staid farmers are to be seen kicking the football. In some cases they cannot refrain from kicking the swedes as they pass. All this is in preparation for the great Married v. Single match which is to be played on Wednesday in aid of the earthquake fund. C? Gudgeon, the versatile Inglewood back, has left to take up his residence in Hawera. The Inglewood boy, who is eqaully at home in any position from half-back to full-back, playing anywhere without demur and always doing his bit, should be very useful to whichever of the Hawera clubs he links up with, D. Grant, the ex-Canterbury player,

who has been playing for Patea, is at present in New Plymouth. Though late in the season he should be an accession to whichever of the local clubs he throws his lot with. As he is an c :-High School boy it will probably be Old Boys. F. D. Kilby, the All Black half, who has been playing for Star for the past few weeks, has left Taranaki. By his quiet and unassuming manner, as well as his willingness to impart his knowledge to others, he became deservedly popular among his club mates, whilst his penchant for opening up the game at every opportunity made him popular with the* public. His loss, will be felt. It was rather unique that at the farewell tendered him by the Star Club the other day the presentation should have been made by Mr, A, L. Humphries, who was nearly 30 years ago one of the most brilliant New Zealand half-backs the Dominion has ever seen, and certainly the best that Taranaki has produced.