TO-DAY’S RUGBY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 71, Issue 219, 15 September 1928, Page 5

TO-DAY’S RUGBY

WARATAHS’ THIRD TEST WANGANUI CHALLENGE FOR POWNALL TROPHY WELLINGTON V. OTAGO; AUCKLAND V. HAWKES BAT (By The match which will occupy the centre of the Dominion’s Rugby stage to-day will be the Third Test against the touring. Waratahs, which is to be played st Christchurch. Wanganui interest will focus on the challenge for the Pownall Trophy which the Eiver CityRugby elect will endeavour to make good this afternoon at Taihape. Two representative fixtures of Den in on-wide importance will e meeting of Hawke’s Ba., Auckland at Napier, and Wellington and Otago at Dunedin. The Pownall Trophy Eight years ago, Mr G. H. Pownall, who at that time was president of the Wanganui Rugby Union, presented a trophy with th object of stimulat ; >!g inter-Sub-Union matches within lie Wanganui Rugby district. That prize will be at stake to-day on the recreation ground, Taihape, when Taihape’s Rugby elect (the hoklers) led by that world-famed Rugby general, “Moke” Beiliss, will meet the cha ienge of Wanganui. Taihape were the first holders of the Pownall trophy, defeating Rangitikei in the first match played for it (1920) by 11 points to 9. That triumph was short-lived, however, for a few weeks later Rangitikei turned the tables and were champions for the year, fo low-, ing a victory by 8 to 6. The greens defended their title until 1922 when they W’cre defeated again by Taihape. From then until 192 G Taihape remained unassailable holders, but in that year Rangitikei again made good a claim in a close match in which Taihape went under by 3 to 0. in 1927 Taihape re-asserted themse ves at Huntervillc, carrying the trophy northward after accounting for the greens by 8 points to 6. Since that match, the victors have withstood the onslaughts of all comers, and it is their proud claim that in to-day’s match, which is the first in which Wanganui has been a participant for the trophy, they will again pre./e their worth. Taihape Confident , “We beat Wanganui on their home ground this season and we fee quite capable of doing the same to-day on our ground,” is the nsensus of opinion among the Taihape Rugby fans anent to-day’s encounter. The Wanganui team, which has been vastly changed from that originally chosen, leaves the city this morning by motor under the management ol Air C. 11. Warden, and will return to-night. The visitors, despite Taihape’s expressed confidence, feel capab e of giving the holders a good game. The Wanganui forwards appear a solid lot, but in the backs several star players will be conspicuous by their absence. The Taihape team looks formidable, and wi 1 field a number of players whoso names rank high in Wanganui’s representative Rugby roll. Cooke Will Be Missing The most noticeable defection from the Dominion team to p ay the Waratahs to-day will be A. E. Cooke, and it is certain that of all the players in New Zealand, he is the one the team can ill aifond to be without. In the two Tests p ayed to date the New Zealand team has not made impressive showings, and a general feeling of apprehension as to the future of Rugby in the Dominion is gradually manifesting itself among supporters of the code. The Waratah team is certainly not the best New South Wales can fled, and, even allowing for the fact that the Dominion has two crack sides absent, a better show ing should have been made against the light blues than has been the case. There is no doubt, however, that what has gone before, both here, against the Australians, and in South Africa, against the Springboks, will tend to steady New Zealand to the be ief that drastic changes are need cd to create a better side to defend the wor’»d-renowned reputation of the All Blacks on the field of play. Bad For the Game. Unassailed superiority in sport is not good for the sport itself and that contention ho'ds as good with Rugby as with any other branch. New Zealand, realising that world honours must be shared and that New Soul-i Wales, let alone the Springboks, has risen to a high place in international Rugby ranking, must ’ook + o her laurels, the effect of which will mean Jhat the game itself will reap untold benefit. The resu't of to-day’s Test will be keenly awaited by a large following and it will be interesting to note how the Dominion rearguard shapes with Page as a pivot in place of Holden. Old Rivals. Old Rugby rivals will meet on the field to day at Napier when Aucklan 1 an.’. Hawke’s Bay will measure strength. In the days, not long distant, when the ’Bay w r erc the seer: ingly invincible Ranfurly Shield holders, attempt after attempt was made by the northerners to win ths coveted Dominion championship, a 1! without success. 'Hiese matches harboured al- the • needed to make

them the object ()± interest of Rugby follo’wers from the North Cape to th ? Bluff, and to-day, though both sides will be short of star players away on the South African tour, and the Shield wi’.l not be at stake the match will lack little of the importance cf those of old. Wel'ington’s representative aid?, touring the South Island, will provi ■ Dunedin fans with their main Rugbj attraction to-day when they meet Otago. Here again wil' be found an interest whica will be stimulated by a record of games played between the two sides which dates back into a very dim past.