RUGBY COMPETITIONS

Taranaki Daily News, 6 August 1932, Page 4

RUGBY COMPETITIONS

CLOSE OF SECOND ROUND FINALISTS STILL UNDECIDED. ’ PROSPECTS OF TOrDAY’S MATCHES To-day .will see the final Series Of second round matches in the Taranaki senior Rugby competition decided, with the exception of the re-play necessitated by the abandonment of the StarStratford match due to rain. ■ So has been-the competition that even at this late stage the finalists have not been disclosed in either division—a position that is probably unique in the nate of the Taranaki Rugby championship. Unless to-day’s matches make some change, which though possible is there will be a re-play in the Southern division, while in the northern division the Star-Stratford match, will assume the importance of the divisional final. . . • Star’s defeat of.Tukapa last week has eliminated Tukapa from the championship unless Celtic to-day are capable of beating Stratford and - Stratford are defeated by Star. In that case Tukapa, Stratford and Star will all be on even terms again-. Stratford will to-day meet Celtic and a close contest is. anticipated,'. as ■ the teams played a three-point draw in the first round. Since then R. Fryday- has again played for Stratford, and hfs generalship is invaluable. A. Collins, fresh from his Australian tour, is back again, and the All Black full-back will greatly strengthen the defence. Collins’ goal-kicking has before now won games for his side. Celtic are very keen to defeat the older club and have been training. Their forwards are sure to give a good account of themselves, whilst the backs are said to be an improved combination. . Star visit Waitara. Though the Clifton team have not made the showing this season that had been anticipated, they are showing improvement and are capable of extending the strongest fifteen.

The New Plymouth public will bo provided with a double bill. Following the inter-Collegiate game, Ihglewood wilL meet Old Boys. In South Taranaki., the issue lies between Okaiawa and Patea. Should the two leaders receive a setback this afternoon Kaponga, only a point away, will bo well in the picture. Okaiawa play Hawera. A year or two ago the meeting of these two old : rivals was thp event of the year in . South Taranaki. This year Okaiawa (gained an easy victory over Hawera in : the first round and, reinforced by the All Black forward Clarke, who was one of .New Zealand’s best forwards in. Australia, they should hold their position to-day. Patea remain at home, to meet Athletic. Kaponga Will visit Ma;naia to. meet Waimate, and a bright, game should result. The Opupake public will witness the final match of the season, against Eltham. ; Football enthusiasts will rpdke an early trek to Pukekura. Dark this after? noop, the attraction being, the annual .match between New Plymouth' Boys’ High School and Hamilton Technical High School. This marks the sixth occasion on which the teams have met. New Plymouth have • won' the previous 'five games but the margin has been reduced each year, and to-day should 'see a very keen struggle for supremacy. Both teams should be at the top; of their form, as this will be: the, tlprd appearance of ‘ each in inter-collegjqtie games. Hamilton High School have dfe? I eated Rotorua High School and Mt. Albert Grammar School, while New Plymouth High School has put up great but losing fights against St. Patrick’s College and Te Aute College. The Hamilton High School team arrived last night and are in splepdid fora, as are also the New Plymouth boys. Whichever team wins the game.; is certain to be a • bright one. v Bespits of previous games arei.— 2 -

With several important engagements ■immediately ahead, the personnel of the Taranaki teams to meet Wanganui nekt Saturday will be looked forward to with great interest. Two have to be- chosen, the Taranaki A team to visit Wanganui and the Mpori teain to meet the Wanganui Maoris at Pukekura Park, Taiiaiiaki, \yon both matches ■on June 3, but will have to be on their best behaviour if they wish to repeat •the performance next week. From, the ■form shqwn by the piembers of the - two. ■teams, the. Taranaki representative fifteen, will be selected to meet Wellipgiton, Waikato, Auckland, Hawke’s Bay 'and Manawhenua. To-day’s- matches are:— ■ .-•■■■■ Inglewood v. Old Boys, at Pukekura Park, 2-45. p.ffi. , . Star v. Clifton, at Waitara. Stratford v. Celtic, at Stratford. Okaiawa v. Hawera, at Hawera; Patea v. Athletic, at Patea. Kaponga v. at Manaia. Eltham v. Opuiiake, at Opupake. ■ New Plymouth Boys’ High School v. Hamilton Technical High. School, at Pukekura Park, 1.15 p.m, TEAMS SELECTED FOR TO-DAY. Rugby teams selected for to-day’s’ matches are:— . - Okaiawa:—Seniors: Murdock,' Blair, McCallum, Ngaia, T. Robinson, Johnston, Edwards, Guy, Crawford, Preston, Clarke, Ike,. Awahou, .McCallupi, :Robinson; emergency, R. Ruru,: Scott, Greenough. Juniors to play Ohapgai- At 1.15 at HaWera: Skipper, Wajlis, Greep, Thomas (2), Tippett, McCallum, Collins, Scott, Nuku, Bailey, Katene, Guy, Blair (2), James, Hooper (2),' Good,’Fourths to play Kaponga, at Kaponga: Butler; Booth, Guy, Kennedy, Clarke, Cleaver, Green, Ora, Kara, Toro, Hooper, Wards, Graham, Simpson, Thomas, Tippett, Hurley.

Eltham: —Seniors to play Opuiiake: H. Potts, R. Campbell, R. Trolove, A. Phillips, H.' Elliott, F. Bocock, W. Gower, J. Gernhoefer, R. Ward, L. White, F. Martin, ’M. Prince, ‘' E. Hughes, J. Barker, R. Bocock; Ray Burke, K. Kennedy, L. Gower, D--Knuckey, V. Anderson. Okato:—Third grade: Woods, Coldwell, Lewis, Muir,'Gray, Goodwin, (2), Randriip, Manu, De Thierry, Jeffries, Roebuck (2), Paora, Price, Wells, iiewa; First juniors: Bright, Chard, Honeyfield, Mobrby, Hodge, Hoskin, Taylor, O’Sullivan, Roebuck, Goodwin, Price, Tuffery, Ruakere, Lawn, Ashley (2), Andrews, Hickford. * - ■

Waimate:—Seniors to play Kaponga, at Manaia: Mercer, King, Hill, Rei, Whalen, Hickey, Carmipe, Paterson, Tamu, Hansen, Hikaka, Bourke, Takapd, Burke, Murfitt, Payne. Juniors to play Kaponga, at Kaponga: King (2), Rei (2), Katene, Ileneri, Leppard, Tremain, McGregor, Taylor, Dykes, NiOholls, Pvobertspn, Borrie, Tpmu, Rqakere. Hawera: —Seniors: Bishop,- Eltdahl, McCarthy, Hammond, Brown, West, Hunter, Prance, Gibson, Holloway, Mur-

phy (2), Cameron, Wille, Beauchamp; Clement, Buchart, Rahgiwalria. Fourths: Joyce, Pi vac, Stening, Worley, Colman, Dypiond, Kemp, Hawkins, McCa-lman, McDonald, Hopcroft, Leydon (2), Turnbull, George, Nixon, Cruiekshanks, Carmine. Celtic:—Seniors to play Stratford, at Stratford: W: Cook, McMillan, F. Young, Carryer, Henry, S. Sullivan, Lawrence, P. Ford, F. Ford, Johnson, C. Ford, Ritter, Penniall, T. Walker, Al C. .Walker; emergencies, Pettigrew, Haselden, J. Phillips and M. Sullivan. Stratford-:—Seniors v. Celtic, at fetratfotd: Collins (2), Walter (2), Sangi ster (2); Ydung (2), Taylor, Blackmore' Grace, Haughton, Robson, Smith, Fagi fieri Hintop, McGijinpess, Hptkstep. Tukapa;—Team to play Taipiii, at Awakino, at the week-end:' Walker, Webster, Ninkie, Lobb, Brown, Lewis, Wallace, Lynch, Thomson, McNeill; O’Dowda, Sleep, Dickey, Davison, Knott.

•Year., , Won by N.P.' Ham. 1927 —New Plymouth .. .. 36 5' 1928—New Plymouth .. .. 26 5 1929 —New Plymouth .. ..17 9 1930 —New Plymouth .. .. 9 0 1931 —New Plymouth .. .. 6 0