RANGITIKEI

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 115, 17 May 1930, Page 16

RANGITIKEI

MARTON RANGITIKEI RUGBY UNION TO-DAY’S MATCHES AND TEAiMS Senior Shield. —Rata v. Hunterville at Hunterville (Mr A. Henwood). Old Boys v. Putorino at Rata (Mr C. 111ston). Athletic v. Bulls at Marton (Rev. Leonard). Third Grade.—Athletic v. Old Boys at Marton (Mr Dashwood). Halcombe v. Hunterville at Halcombe (Mr R. Short). Athletic Seniors.—Smith, Greenwood, Archer, McChesney, Fitches, Eru, Cairncross, O’Sten, McLellan, Jackon, Gill, Gronn, Major, Conder, Gilchrist. Emergency: Hannan. Hunterville seniors.—D. Rowe, L. Simons, S. Still, A. Lourie, G. Shanley, W. Hayward, A Watt, J. Coutts, M. Ross, J. Mclntyre. R. Lourie, R. Walker, A. Wishart, L. Stewart. Emergencies: K. Parkes, M. Graham. Rata team.—N. Kaue, W. Downs, H. Taiuru, G. Tumu, G. Hartley, J. Potaka, S. Hartley. C. Hartley, W. Green, M. Taiuru, S. Gibbs, P. Waitere, W. Kane, C. Turner, J. Gibbs. Emergencies: T. Hartley and L. Green. Old Boys seniors.—W. Gudopp, E. Hamer, J. Adams, J. Bush, A. Thomas, O. Williams, J Birch, J. Dickson, A. B. Cooper, D. Barton, F. Love, L. Atkin, P. Bennett, S. Trotter, E. Hora'. Emergencies: L. Coleman, H. Lowe and L. Mcßeth. Athletic Thirds.—Calkin (2), Jackson (2), McCall, Ledingham, Tolley, Baker, Hodge, »Mdvor, Gordon. Gibbons, Burgess, Reid. Gordon. Emergencies: Oldfield and Walkley.

Hunterville thirds.—Pritchard, Dalziell, Still, Wills, Follas, Butement, Hall, O’Brien, McDonald, Long, Barnes, Cameron, Stratford, Dukeson, and Shackleton. Emergency: Holford. Notes by “Observer.’’ With the football season four weeks old one finds little to enthuse over. Iu tact, the standard of play so far has fallen below that of last season. Athletic with four wins occupy the premier position on the senior championship ladder, to be followed by Hunterville, with Rata (last season’s champions) in third position. Putorino, Old Boys and Bulls have a solitary victory to their credit. Putorino this season made their debut in the championship and, like most clubs in their initial year, have shown considerable keenness. It is to be hoped they will continue to do so aud not emulate Kotahitauga and Halcombe, two sides who in past years entered for the highest honours with a blare of trumpets and just as quickly faded out, giving a lot of trouble in doing so by forfeiting matches. The advent of Putorino weakened the Rata fifteen, as such able placers as G. and P. Harre and B. Cameron joined up with the newly formed club. Rata, however, are still a. good side, their strength lying in a fast rearguard. The evergreen Nero Kane was selected captain of the team at the commencement of the season and despite advancing years appears to be playing as well as ever. The inside backs are prone to hang on too long and will probably realise before the season is much older that it is useless having good outside men if they never see the ball. This fault will have to be remedied before Rata mould themselves into a really effective side.

If the games so far played have not been productive of good football, the closeness of the scoring in several games has served to make the competition interesting. Bulls and Old Boys who last year showed to advantage have both so far disappointed their supporters. The best game played on Marton Park to date was the Old Boys-Rata match of a fortnight ago. Old Boys on that occasion played much improved football and thoroughly deserved their win. Love, who was later selected for the trial match at Wanganui, gave a very bright display, while Adkins,, a new member of the dub, also played well. In this match play was chock-full of interest and it was indeed a pity that Old Boys after this meritorious victory could not fulfil their next engagement—that with Athletic. After having narrowly missed championship honours last season Athletic bid tare to reach the goal this year and four victories in four games is Indeed a fine start. Hunterville, last season's te wooden spooners,-’ have also made a promising start and it is refreshing to find the

maroons in second position. The coming of this season marked the retirement of Mr N. G. Glasgow from the position he so creditably filled for a period of nine years as sole selector of the senior representative side. A selector's job is a thankless one at any time, more especially so in a countrydistrict, but 4 ‘Observer” feels sure that the good work Mr Glasgow put in tfas appreciated to the full, by officials

of the R.R.U. and players alike. Mr Glasgow has seen the Bebbington Shield won and lost, watched Rangitikei go through ]eau and bright seasons, and all the time ho has had one thought uppermost in his mind—the welfare and improvement of Rangitikei Rugby. Mr W. E. Gibbons, the newly appointed selector, has a hard man \o follow, but his experience as junior selector should stand him in good stead. The Rangitikei Rugby Union has wisely decided to postpone al] junior games next Wednesday to enable junior players desirous of seeing the British team in action to make the trip to Wanganui.