RUGBY MATCHES TO-DAY

Taranaki Daily News, 10 May 1930, Page 11

RUGBY MATCHES TO-DAY

' LEADING TEAMS TO MEET; Tukapa v. Star, at Pukekura Pgrk, 1.15 p.m. i Old Boys v. Stratford, at Pukekura Park, 2.45 p.m. ; Okato v. Clifton, at Waitara. • Inglewood v. Celtic, at Stratford. ; Patea v. Opunake, at Patea. Hawera v. Athletic, at Hawera. Kaponga v. Okaiawa, at Kaponga Eltham v. Waimate, at Eltham. Representative Trial. Thursday, May 15—-Probables v. Possibles, at Stratford.' PROSPECTS FOR TO-DAY. With the two leading teams in th* North and two of the leading teama in the South meeting to-day, football enthusiasts should find plenty to interest them in each division. The New Plymouth public should have a great afternoon’s football, when in the first double bill attraction of, the season three town teams will be seen in aetioh at Pukekura Park. t Perhaps greatest interest will centej® in the meeting of the undefeated Strafford and Old Boys teams. This year Stratford is a much better balanced team • than usual. The forwards are as strong as ever, and the backs are a dangerous attacking force, while their defence, with Collins as the last line, is as sound as ever. Old Boys possess lighter forwards, but they play with great dash, and the backs have plenty of pace, combination and iniative. If they can get their fair share of th® leather they will make matters merry. The opening match between Star and Tukapa should be a worthy forerunner, as the teams play bright, open football and appear evenly matched. In South Taranaki Patea will attract many enthusiasts. Opunake, last year’s champion, hag already defeated Eltham and Athletic, whilst Patea, has victories over Athletic and Kaponga. Patea possess a solid forward team and backs that have not only speed but also combination. They have all been training seriously, and the two early victories have proved a potent tonic. Opunake, particularly in the forwards, has not yet obtained the cohesion shown last year, but to-day expects to be stronger than previously this season. The backs are -a powerful attacking machine and are also solid in defence. Waimate and Eltham meet at Eltham ,ahd though so far Eltham lias not won a match it has put up good fights on each occasion. Waimate, which has this year taken a fresh lease of life, is a well balanced tea'm,.and will take a. lot of beating in., the championship.’

Hawcra, the other southern undefeated team, meets Athletic at Hawera, and this should. provide a bright game. Okaiawa, which has apparently fallen on evil days, will meet Kaponga at Kaponga. Unfortunately it is feared that Okaiawa’fl speedy winger, D. Crawford, w’*i be out of action for the season —a lose alike to hie club and the province. In the North Inglewood, which has sustained one defeat, meets Celtic, which is in a similar -position, on tho latter club’s ground. Though the speedy Inglewood hacks should prove the deciding factor, they will have no runaway victory, as Celtic possesses battling forwa'rdfl and ' also some useful backs. At Waitara Okato and Clifton ipeet.,.. !-.v " ‘ .'"'NOTJIS. ! '■ Wangahul is preparing for the'opening match with the British" team on Wednesday, May 21, just prior "to the Taranaki match. The selectors, Messrs. J. Crowley, A. E. Bellis and W. E. Gibbons, have selected Probables and Possibles teams to play to-day, from which the final selection is to be made. Among the Possibles appears the name of K. Gibbons, the ex-New Plymouth High School five-eighths. He has been selected as first five-eighths. Some surprise was expressed at his non-inclusion in the Probables, as he has been playing splendidly for Wanganui and Old Boys. Delves-fills the position in the Probables. Shaw, another ex-New Plymouth High ■ School boy, is associated with Gibbons ae second five-eigthe. The pair were the "out'slanding players in their team last week, and Gibbons’ goalkicking notched seven of liis team’s total of 13 points. Marks, the cx-Tara-naki representative, who intended retiring this year,* also played full-back. Carter, the ex-Stratford and Taranaki five-eighths, in playing for Aotea, the new. team formed in., Wanganui > thia year-, and comprising a number of natives, including the . well-known Peina and Potaka.