RUGBY SIDELIGHTS

Taranaki Daily News, 3 June 1935, Page 2

RUGBY SIDELIGHTS

NOTES ON THE TRIAL MATCH. WANGANUI CONDITIONS IDEAL. Conditions were ideal for football at Spriggens Park, Wanganui. There was no wind, the ground was holding without being soft, and arrangements were perfect. #•# # * Wellington-Wairarapa took the field wearing green and white, with C. Stringfellow, confrere of Cooke and Jimmy Mill, at the head, and West Coast was captained by R. G. Steere, Wanganui, New Zealand representative 1928-32. The team wore red and black. *'* * * A critical pakeha, keenly expectant of a second Nepia, voiced disappointment as Hdmi marched out with the Welling-ton-Wairarapa team. tiHe a Maori,” exclaimed the spectator, '‘Why, he’s only a sunburnt Irishman!” #* u * * Confused family relationships in the brief biography of Claude Brown Contained among notes on players in the official programme amused Taranaki spectators. It said: “He is a son of the C. Brown, the Taranaki half-back, who represented New Zealand in 1913 and 1920 and who was captain of the famous New Zealand Army Team in 1919.” Claude and Charlie are brothers. « # * Three members of the Taranaki Rugby Union management committee were seen at the match—the Hon. J. McLeod, M.L.C. (chairman), and Messrs. -J. S. Hickey (chairman of selectors) and J. B. Row 6 (treasurer). The four selectors, Messrs. E. McKenzie (Wairarapa), V. R. Meredith (Auckland), A. A. Adams (West 'Coast, South Island), and W. Pearson (Otago) were seated on special chairs close to the touch-line. Collins frequently landed line-kicks within a few feet of them. « # * * Hemi’s goal-kicking was splendid. Six of seven, kicks he put over the bar, squarely between the uprights most of them. Collins had no second spell opportunity of emulation till the last minute, when he equalled Hemi’s best effort, from the sideline.. * * . * ... The youngest player on the West Coast side was Edwards, 21, with M. Campbell and Fastier each 22. No member of the team was more' than 26, there being five of that age, Mclntyre, . Steere, Clarke, Collins and Henry. ' # is # * The heaviest West Coast forward was Mclntyre, 15st. 21b. McKenzie scaled 15st., Clarke 14st. 101 b, and Steere 14st. 51b.' The average weight of the pack was: 14st. 21b., and of the backs list. 101 b. Ci Brown, 13st. '6lb, was heaviest.