TARANAKI’S RUGBY TEAM

Taranaki Daily News, 6 August 1934, Page 7

TARANAKI’S RUGBY TEAM

FIFTEEN TO PLAY WANGANUI SELECTORS SEEKING FRESH BLOOD PLAYERS WANTED FOR TWO TOURS G. SANGSTER TO PLAY FULL-BACK

The Taranaki representative Rugby team to play Wanganui on Saturday was selected by the committee, Messrs W, A. Guy (chairman), C. Brown and J. Kissick, at Stratford yesterday. The selection embodies several alterations from the team that beat Wanganui on June 4. G. Sangster has been chosen as the full-back to replace Arthur Collins, who is in Australia, and changes have been made in the three-quarter line and at first five-eighths. Neither Hill nor Ross is available through injury, and J. Sullivan (Tukapa) displaces Edwards at centre, the Patea man being given Hill’s wing position. Claude Brown (Tukapa) takes the place of Townsend at first five-eighths. Only four of the forwards who took part at Wanganui have retained their places, R. Young, Wills, Clarke and Fowler. S. Fookes, Richards, O’Dowda and R. McLeod have been replaced by P. Fastier, Blakeney, Gargan and Armstrong. The team is:— Full-back: G. Sangster (Stratford). Three-quarters: L. Edwards (Patea), J. Sullivan (Tukapa), N. Hunter (Hawera). Five-eighths: K. Fookes (N.P. Old Boys, second)), C. Brown (Tukapa). Half-back: H. Boswell (Tukapa). Back row: P. Fastier (Stratford). Middle row: C. Wills (Patea), J. Blakeney (N.P. Old Boys), R. Clarke (Okaiawa), R. Young (Stratford). Front row: Gargan (Kaponga), Fowler (Clifton), Armstrong (Clifton).

Emergencies: Backs, C. Gudgeon (Patea), E. Townsend (Eltham), J. Ford (N.P. Old Boys); forwards, A. Preston (Okaiawa), B. Murphy (Hawera), O’Dowda (Tukapa), O’Byrne (Inglewood).

Mr. Guy in announcing the team pointed out that a factor that had guided the selectors had been forthcoming tours to be made by Taranaki teams, one to Wellington and one to Auckland. Therefore it had been thought that the home match against Wanganui was a good opportunity to try out some fresh blood. TEAM APPEARS GOOD ONE EXPERIMENT AT FULL-BACK. TRIAL OF FRESH PLAYERS. (By “Siderow.”) There is one thing that is immediately evident from the Taranaki team, and that is that" the trial match on Thursday was used largely by the selectors in making their choice. With such a plethora of talent knocking at the Taranaki representative door these days it was only to be expected that those who shone on Thursday would probably turn the balance in their favour. It is evidently thought on those lines that has caused the selectors to displace Edwards from centre three-quarter by J. Sullivan, placing the Patea man on the wing. Sullivan deserves his chance as he has been playing a brilliant penetrating game, and although Edwards had room for complaint in the number of chances he was given in the trial, there are more than a few in Taranaki who believe Edwards was meant to be a winger. Nigel Hunter turns in •on the other wing again. In view of his proven efficiency and the selectors’ need for fresh blood might not it have been worth-while to try Ford, Kinsella or Milliken, all of whom gave displays of merit in the trial? On Thursday’s play there was no keeping Boswell and Brown out of the team. Boswell’s play at Wanganui was criticised; there were few to criticise it at Stratford. His passes were straight and snappy, and there were many times when a loose scrum was broken up to reveal Boswell on the bottom with the ball. It is rather hard luck for Gudgeon and Dymond that Boswell should have risen to such heights so soon, for neither of them would disgrace any Taranaki team.

Brown gave a display superior to Townsend’s. The Eltham man was fairly sound, cramped on attack as he was by the lack of service from the scrum, but compared with the ruggedness and powerful running and tackling of Brown his style was inclined to be not dashing enough. Atkins came to Taranaki with a great reputation, but he has not yet reproduced his Wellington form. The selection of the fulLback is rather hard to understand. G. Sangster was entitled to his trial in the North team, but that Papps should not be given a trial, and that he should be overlooked in the representative team—he is “fresh blood,” too —in favour of Sangster does not seem fair to the Tukapa man. Similarly it would appear that P. Bourke (Patea) was not given a fair chance. A five-eighth, he was chosen to play fullback against a strong attacking team, did not perform brilliantly and was not seen in his accustomed position. It may be that the chances of these two will arrive later in the month.

One does not envy the task the selectors must have had selecting the forwards. It must be remembered that fresh players are being looked for, and therefore S. Fookes, Richards and O’Dowda may count it just as much an honour as a mark of failure to have been left out. All three are proven men and their places are being taken by three others who are just as entitled to a trial. P. Fasti er’s tigerish loose play and following up seem to be' as effective as ever. Gargan has apparently staged a “comeback,” and there are two newcomers, both of whom have at last secured recognition of excellent work throughout the season —Armstrong, who came to Clifton with a reputation and has lived up to it, and J. Blakeney, whose honest efforts in the New Plymouth Old Boys pack have not always been recognised. Taking the team by and large, the only weakness in the selection would appear to be at full-back. TARANAKI MAORI TEAM SELECTION AGAINST WANGANUI. EIGHTEEN MEN CHOSEN. Taranaki Maoris will play Wanganui Maoris at Wanganui next Saturday. The following Taranaki team has been selected: — Forwards: R. Hikaka (Waimate), J. Roberts (Patea), W. Henare (Okaiawa), R. Rangiwahia (Hawera), W. Ruakere (Opunake), D. Ruakere (Tukapa), J. Awahou (Okaiawa), D. Tito (Okaiawa), G. Harrison (Opunake). Backs: J. Hanna (Talnui), R. Niwa (Clifton), R. Hohaia (Opunake), T. Robinson (Okaiawa), C. Hohaia (Okaiawa), G. Ngaia (Okaiawa), W. King (Opunake), S. Mcßoberts (Inglewood), J. Pep- j perell (Opunake),