RUGBY BIG MATCH TO-DAY

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21132, 3 September 1938, Page 6

RUGBY BIG MATCH TO-DAY

Hawke’s Bay v. South Canterbury Strong Teams to Take Field Should the weather clear this morning, Fraser Park should be in reasonably good order for the match this afternoon between the touring Hawke’s Bay team and South Canterbury. The visitors have already played four games on tour, having defeated Wellington, Canterbury, and Southland, while they went down to Otago on a game for the Ranfurly Shield by four points to nil. The team which is to represent Hawke’s Bay to-day is a particularly strong one. The forwards, who include four All Blacks in Dalton, Bowman, Jackson and Ward, have weight and pace, and they should keep South Canterbury very busy. Dollimore played a good game in Dunedin on Wednesday, while S. McKenzie, son of Mr Norman McKenzie, the Hawke's Bay selector, is also a fine type of forward. The backs are a speedy lot, the two wings. Apsey and Fox. being versatile players. Dyer, who played a fine game at full-laek in Dunedin, will fill his customary place this afternoon.

The South Canterbury team is much the same as that which endeavoured to lift the Shield from Otago recently, and although unsuccessful, put up a fine performance.

Tom Morrison wil be playing his first representative match on the home ground since his return from Australia, and given a share of the ball, he should keep his vis-a-vis busy. With the exception of Parsons, who replaces Saxton, the back line is the same as that which met Otago.

Adkins, who will captain the side, has been playing particularly well this season, and should again ably lead the pack. Play is to commence at 2 o’clock to enable the visitors to travel north by the late express. The teams will be:—

Hawke’s Bay Full-back: M. Dyer. Three-quarters: R. Fox, R. Devine, E. Apsey, Five-eighths: E. Palmer, L. Bradley (first). Half-back: L. Clothier (captain). Back row: J. Dallimore. Side row: C. Wilson, R. Ward. Locks: A. Bowman, S, McKenzie. Front row: D. Dalton, R. Keeble, E. Jackson. Reserves: L. Hannigan (forward), S. Moss (back). South Canterbury. Full-back: C. E. Rolllnson. Three-quarters: W. Murphy, K. McPhail, T. C. Morrison. Five-eighths: C. Cartwright, K. Blyth (first). Half-back': D. Parsons. Back row: G. Adkins (captain). Side row: E. Fitzgerald, T. Polhill. Locks: E. Ivey, P. Gale. Front row: W. McCully, P. Columb, I. Greer. Reserves: P. McShane. F. Dawson (forwards), B. Cox, J. Donaldson, N. Ford, J. Grayburn (backs).

All lower grade matches with the exception of the curtain-raiser, have been postponed. WELLINGTON TOURING TEAM By Telegraph— Press Association WELLINGTON, September 2 The Wellington Rugby representatives for the southern tour on which there will be matches with Southland, Otago, South Canterbury and Canterbury in that order, has been chosen by Mr Mark Nicholls as follows: Backs—Fleming, Edwards. Fulton, Burns, Eastwood, Jones, Sargisson. Veitch and O’Hulloran. Forwards—Gilmour, McNicol, Burke, Higglun, Todd, Fraser, Smith. Griffin. Gunn, Wales, Pringle. Among those not available are Wright, Tindill, Griffiths and Lambourn, but it is probable that an effort will be made to send one or two of them down for the match with Otago.

MAORI TEAM RETURNS HIGH STANDARD OF PLAY IN FIJI By reJegraptl—Press Association AUCKLAND, September 2. As a result of the tour by the New Zealand Maori team, the Fiji Rugby Union will benefit by from £7OO to £BOO, stated Mr S. S. Dean, the manager, when the team returned by the Monterey, Mr Dean said that the tour was a success from every angle. “The standard of Fijian teams is much higher than we were led to belie, e. Though they lacked the finer essentials of the game, they made up in their physical fitness and speed. They play a fast, open game, getting the hall out to the wings on every possible occasion. The wing-three-quarters, Seru and Frank, have both broken even time. The back line was very fast. The forwards were, on an average, taller than the Maori pack, ths aggregate weight of the scrum being 13st lllbs. They excelled in lineout play. Mr Dean said that the Fijian Union was desirous of sending a team to New Zealand, and Mr J. D. K. Taylor, a former Auckland and Wellington representative, who will arrive on September 16, has been authorised to negotiate with the New Zealand Union, to suggest a tour for 1940. Mr Dean said there were record crowds at all games. The team was unfortunate in the matter of accidents, the ground, particularly for the first Test, being very hard. Jackson is still suffering the effects of an injury to his thigh and ankle. The captain, Howell, sustained a knee injury and White badly gashed a finger. Each side won one Test, and one was drawn.