RUGBY GAME IN' TARANAKI

Taranaki Daily News, 20 July 1929, Page 5

RUGBY GAME IN' TARANAKI

THE SENIOR COMPETITION TO-DAY'S FIXTURES DISCUSSED, Okato v. Tukapa, Pukckura Park, 1.15 p.m. Old Boys v. Inglewood, Pukekura Park, -2.45 p.m. Star v. Stratford, at Stratford. Clifton v. Celtic, at Waitara. Opunake v. Waimate, at Manaia. Okaiawa v. Athletic, at Hawera. llawera v. Patea, at Patea. Kaponga v. Eltham, at Kaponga. PROSPECTS FOR TO-DAY. With only three more matches to complete the second round and three teams still fighting hard for supremacy in each division, interest in the football competition continues very keen. There will be great interest to-day in the northern division, as the results of the matches there are more likely to inllue'nce tho ultimate result than are tho southern matches unless, of course, there are surprises. On the result of the Stratford v. Star match a good deal will depend. Should Star win they will be in a practically unassailable position, whilst should Stratford, win the issue will still be in doubt. With a special train from New Plymouth there should bo a record crowd. It was hoped that the earthquake fund Would have benefited, as, profiting by tho experience of two years ago, when*by similar means the Stratford. borough unemployed fund benefited by about £149, the Stratford members of the union suggested that an extra charge should bo made, as a contribution to the earthquake fund for fotballers, and the union agreed to this. As, however, it is not legal the idea has been abandoned. This, however, will not detract from the inter ’>t in the match. When the teams met in the first round Stratford won by a potted goal to nil, Collins doing the kicking. It is to be hoped that Collins will be available to-day after his injury of a fortnight ago, as all would like to see each club at its full strength, and Stratford cannot afford to lose Collins, who is a tower of strength. Forward the Stratford men are undoubtedly strong, and it is reported that their backs have been doing solid training and coaching in methods of attack. If they ‘have they w'ill be hard to beat, as their defence is very solid, Star will miss Kilby, but he* has taught them that their backs are worth using and, with forwards who can play a hard game and will not allow themselves to be altogether overwhelmed, they should get opportunities of showing their paces. Whoever wins it will provide a greatstruggle. At New Plymouth, Inglewood meet Old Boys and the-maroons must prevail if they are to have any chance, as a defeat spells annihilation as far as the championship is concerned. In the first round Inglewood won by 5 to nil after a great game. The curtain-raiser between Okato and Tukapa will provide a match between solid forwards and fast backs. Tukapa won comfortably in the first round, but Okato forwards have sinco improved. On a dry day Tukapa should win. The Clifton-Celtic match should provide the Waitara public with a splendid contest between two great sets of forwards and backs that not only defend well but also possess fast scoring men. In the first round Clifton won but they will need to take no chances if they do not wish to have the tables turned. In the southern division- tho three leaders should be able to maintain their positions, though ontf never knows. On paper, tho meeting of Opunake and Okaiawa next week and Opunake and llawera the following week should prove I the deciding factors. Perhaps the most important match to-day is that at Patea, where the men from the southern port will meet llawera. In the first round Hawera won by 3 to nil and today’s game may prove as dose. Hawera forwards should give a good account of themselves and should securo the ball for their backs, but the latter, though, sound in defence, do not appear strong in attack. Patea, with their dashing forwards and backs that only require opportunities in attack, are always dangerous on their own ground. Okaiawa meet Athletic at Hawera, and though the. runners-up prevailed easily in the first round they can afford to take no chances as Athletic are capable of rising to considerable heights on their day. Okaiawa are a very evenly balanced team and can be depended on to leave nothing to chance, Opunake journey to Waimate. Though the coastal team had a runaway win in the first round they will find the men from tho Plains worthy foemen, especially in tho forwards. The pace and combination of the Opunake backs, however, should be the deciding factor. Eltham beat Kaponga in the first round after a close struggle, and to-day should see another hard game when the teams meet (it Kaponga. Each possess forwards that do not know when they are beaten and backs that can gallop.

TEAMS FOR TO-DAY. Athletic seniors: Tuki, Aleyriek, Barker. Owen, Gudgeon, Bowdle, Dymond, McLean. Tbomlinson, Smith, Pease, Phillips, Calc, Seager, Coleman, Mundy, Ryan, Death, Setford. ’Athletic juniors: Spragg, Guise, McKenzie, Young (2), Morrison, Lendrnm, McMillan, Keenan, Ching, Jones, Wood; Campbell, Oliver, Kippenberger, Scott, Beauchamp, Tarrant. Athletic thirds, —As selected last week. Hawera seniors.—Chcevers, McCarthy, Anderson, K. Ril Rawcliffe, Hunter, S. F. Riley, Guy, Malcolm, Goodger, Williams, Murphy (3), W. Robinson, Gibson, Eaves.

Hawera juniors.—Busing, Lander, Eaves, Jackson, Jordan, Guy, Walker, Matheson, Hodge, Clement, Standish, Spiers, Joyce, Tait, Roberts, Hawke, Granville, Whyte. Hawera thirds: Team will bo picked from the following: Loader, Watts, Perrctt. Chadwick, Rosewarne, Fama, Tutuaha (2), Donaldson, A. Pokau, Crutch, Tiirnoana. Rang! (2), Koran, Brough, Nolan, Hawkins, Hinga. ■Stratford against Star, at Stratford to-day: A. Collins, Wynyard, E. Walter, Taylor, Hinton, Owen, Sangster, Fryday, Young. Smith, J. Walter, Coleman, Were, Pcnnlall, Bond; emergencies, Lohman, Bonner.

Celtic team to play Clifton at Waitara: Adlam, Dodd, Pryce, Coalton, Grubb, Bublitz, O’Keefe, Tabart, Hinton, Fanning, Johnson, Anderson, Kettlewell, Lindell, Mclnnis. Payne, Beardmore, Richardson and Young. The Rauru team to play Waitotara, at Waitotara, will be selected from the following:—Backs: IT. Broughton, R. Tamou, V. Porangi, T. Hakaka, W. Wha-

tama, P. Broughton, J. Kerei. Forwards: J. Karipa, R. Steven, T. Tamau, B. Teretiu, T. Broughton, N. Hunt, M. Tamou, P. Lamond. Emergencies:— Forwards: P. Kookas, G. Canterboyj backs, B. Broughton, R. Stermey.

TOUR OF THE ALL BLACKS,

SECOND TEST MATCH TO-DAY,

Manager J. McLeod and his 1929 team of All Blacks are certainly having a strenuous and lively time. Not content with a very rough journey across the Tasman, sufficient to make the trip a life-long memory for most of them, they are now involved in a thrilling railway accident through which it is very gratifying to know all passed unscathed. The allusion to Kivell in the cables was due to the fact that on his way to Wellington to join the tour he, in common with the manager, liad to change trains owing to the goods train derailment at Kai Iwi. All were pleased to see that genial Alf, who injured his leg on the way down, was able to play last week, and it is hoped he will be given a game in the tests. To-day the All Blacks play their second test game, and though tho experience just gone through is sufficient to unnerve most people, they can be. relied upon to make a big effort at Brisbane to retrieve their lost laurels. However, tho winning of the games was not the whole object of the tour. If the splendid play of the All Blacks and of their opponents the Waratahs can further stimulate interest in tho game on the other side, that is all that really matters. Of course, if the All Blacks do even up, and one confidently expects they will, so much the better.