TARANAKI RUGBY TEAM.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 August 1933, Page 7

TARANAKI RUGBY TEAM.

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —Saturday will see the end of the season as regards home A representative Rugby matches. The three selectors have had the benefit of four trial matches and five representative matches as an aid to the selection of the touring team. The team at present is weak in securing the ball from the set scrums;' also our five-eighths are weak. The selectors have treated the southern division rather harshly, whereas players in the Stratford and Tukapa teams have had every opportunity. In the five re-' presentative matches to date only four South Taranaki backs have been given a trial. Why the Empire Old Boys inside backs were not considered is a mystery. Gargan, Gardiner (Kaponga), Preston (Okaiawa) and Richards (Patea) have also been overlooked. Last Saturday against Wanganui only four South Taranaki players were selected from eight senior teams, yet Stratford had five from its team selected. It certainly does not look very bright for Waimate in the final against such a redoubtable combination. South Taranaki has stood true to the (inion, and our players have not entertained the idea of the League code. Still we do expect a little consideration for our players. Let us hope such brilliant young players as Preston, Dowdle, Gargan, Gardiner, Richards, Morrissey and Surgenor will be given consideration in the touring team. —I am, etc., OLD PLAYER. Hawera, Aug. 22. (To the Editor.) Sir,—Could you inform me whether Richards, a member of the Patea Club, has had a trial in the tests for the representative Rugby selections? I have not noticed his name in any of the teams, and of the local forwards he has been the only one who has consistently played up to the standard required—l am, etc., ENQUIRER. Whenuakura, Aug. 22. I [No. Richards has not had a trial in .any of the tests for the representative team this season. When the team to play against Wanganui last Saturday was selected Richards was one of the additional forwards asked by the selectors to keep in training.—Ed.] ?

(To the Editor.) Sir,—lf w? are to lift the Ranfurly Shield it is high time that the Taranaki Rugby Union and the selectors, for representative honours awoke to the needs of the occasion. The idea of taking only nineteen players for the southern tour is absurd. Why not leave some of the officials at home and take an additional two men? Surely with the shield in quest the end justifies the means. I also think the selectors are working on unsound lines. Instead of aiming at speed right through the piece (where other qualifications are equal) we have a hotchpotch. How can Sangster be expected to link up with a fast back line? Then as to the type of forward required, all know what happened when the big Southland forwards met Canterbury, and the heavy Taranaki forwards met Wellington. Surely our selectors should know by this time what is wanted! The omission of Mace and S. Fookes in the team to meet Auckland must have the effect of slowing down both back and forward movements. What other forward have we with the speed of a threequarter and able to link up with the backs as Fookes did at Eltham?. It looks to me as if some of the selections had been made on party lines and not on the merits of the players. The possession of the Ranfurly Shield for even a short time would be a little gold mine for the Taranaki Rugby Union and would give Rugby a big fillip in Taranaki. If the Taranaki Rugby Union and the selectors do their part by sending 'Efficient men and selecting them wisely the players will do the rest. —I am, etc., RUGBY. New Plymouth, Aug. 23.