THREE RUGBY MATCHES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 188, 11 August 1931, Page 4

THREE RUGBY MATCHES

THE WEEK'S FIXTURES CANTERBURY ON SATURDAY MAORI MATCH TO-MORROW POWNALL TROPHY CONTEST There are two big Rugby attractions in Wanganui this week and one at Taihape, To-morrow, as a preliminary to the selection of the North Island Maori team, the native fifteens of Wanganui and Hawke’s Bay are to play on bpriggens Park. This match is being staged as a trial to enable the sole selector, Mr N. Winiata, to judge the form. The match should bo productive of good football in that several of the “stars" of New Zealand will be in the field. At Taihape, to-morrow, Rangitikei will play in the role of challengers for the Pownall trophy. It will be reinem- • berod that this match was postponed from August 1, owing to the state of the weather and the consequent blocked roads. This contest should prove interesting and if previous form this season is any guide. Rangitikei should win. WANGANUI AND CANTERBURY > On Saturday, the Wanganui A team ; is to play the fourth representative , match of the season, this time against ;• Canterbury. The fact that South Can- • terbury were able to accounted for the redoubtable middle island side on their home ground last Saturday leaves the belief that next Saturday will see a willing go with Wanganui. ' There is to be a practice for the i Metropolitan members of the WangaI nui team4his afternoon and again on ! Thursday. Th® Ban.'itikei and Taihape members are to assemble in Wanganui on Thursday night. Commenting on the South Canterbury v. Canterbury match, the Christchurch Star has the following to say: “South Canterbury had to make two changes in the team originally chosen for the match. The big lock, Willetts, was unable to leave Dunedin for business reasons and had to be replaced by W. Duke. Opic. one of their back-rankers, gave place to C. Gremins. “McDonald’s first try took some getting. The defence only started to cave in about the Canterbury twentyfive before n solid rush of the southern forwards. By- sheer force of weight, the South Canterbury men pushed their way over and there was no doubt about a try. Forwards who figured most prominently in the move were Adkins and Calianan, both of whom shaped well. “The South Canterbury pack gave every indication early in the game that they were going to be hard nuts for Canterbury to crack. They set the pace from the kick-off and gave the inside Canterbury backs little chance to get under way. They were away quickly from the scrums and always up to the play. They could handle the ball, too, and Canterbury supporters had many an anxious moment. In contrast to the southern men's handling, that of Canterbury was very mediocre at this stage. “In the first twenty minutes, things were all in favour of South Canterbury, Both in the bucks and in the forwards, they held the whip hand. Strang, on his display, must walk into the South island team. He was the life of the backs and up to this stage had outshone Oliver, who had nut the chances thrown him by Bay. Day, for a time, was playing a very third-rate game. Oliver spent a lot of timo patching up Day’s mistakes. "There was little sparkling play on the part of Canterbury in tne first spell, the honours of the game resting with their southern opponents. The scores stood at six-all, but Canterbury, while not altogether lucky to get that far, could count themselves fortunate in not having had a bigger total piled up against tuem. Edmonds gave the ; visitors two invitations to get over the line which only the backing of the others prevented from turning to disaster. j “The crowd fell foul of the referee (Mr W. Beattie) on one occasion. Andrews intercepted a smart pass, but the i land in time and concluded that An- , referee did not pick up the lie of the drews was off-side and awarded a free kick against him. Duko failed to send it over, but the bank was very apprehensive of what would happen and voiced its loud disapproval. "Canterbury had picked up slightly i by the end of the first spell and were I shaping better, though far beiow their showing in either the Southland or the Wairarapa match. Their display was most disappointing. The South Canterbury team was in great fettle and gave promise of better things in the • second spell. “Things opened rather tamely in j the second spell, but it was early evident that Bay had returned to some- j thing like his old form. This meant a strengthening of the attack. Innes got in some excellent dribbling work on several occasions. There was more sting to the Canterbury attack, but the forwards required to bo speeded up. Kearney replaced Thompson who received a head injury lato in the first spell. "Edmonds was a complete disappointment on the day and it now looks as if the selector’s hand will be forced to give Howatson a trial. Rob erts is at present suffering from a boil on the cheek. Edmonds gave away too many openings altogether and was quite a failure with his boot." “Hodgkinson handed out shocking passes all day 7 with the result that the work of the backs was seriously affected. Canterbury appeared to be a losing team. Their forwards could not suppress the energetic South Canterbury men and when they got the ball from the. scrums their backs were off ike a flash. Things were anything but happy for Canterbury with the score 12—6 against them. "A cheer went up when finally the Canterbury backs brought >ff a great movement. They all handled, and when Brown got it Oliver was there to snap it up again. A similar movement was repeated in the next few minutes. This put heart into the Canterbury supporters.

“Connolly, the South Canterbury fullback, was one of the most reliable men for this position seen on the Oval this season. With years of experienco behind him, ho was never bustled and always got in his kick. His grey nair was most noticeablo on tho field.

behind him, ho was never bustled and always got in his kick. His grey nair was most noticeable on the field. “Canterbury’s chances looked brighter for a time, but it was only a flash in the pan, and when the southern forwards broke away again it spelt the end. The score ran up to 17 —9 against them, and Connolly finished the game off completely when he shot over a fine goal just before the whistle blew, with the score 21 —9." The Canterbury touring team has I been committed to the following ' matches:— August 15—v. Wanganui, at Wanganui. August 19—v. Hawke’s Bay, at Hastings. August 22 —v. Wellington, at Wellington (Ranfurly Shield). In addition, the representative side has to play Australia at Christchurch on August 29 and Otago, also at Christchurch, on September 12.

INTER-ISLAND MATCH

SOUTH TEAM CHOSEN The following team has been selected by Mr A. McDonald, of Otago, to represent the South Island in tho game with the North Island at Athletic Park, Wellington, next Saturday:— Full-back: R. G. Bush (Otago). Three-quarters: J. H. Geddes (Southland), 11. Fookes (Otago), G. F. Hart (Canterbury). Five-eighths: G. Bay (Canterbury), C. J. Oliver (Canterbury). Half-back: W. A. St rang (South Canterbury). Wing-forward: A. H. Andrews (Canterbury). Hookers: A. J. Cottrell (Canterbury)* J. Hore (Otago). i Lock: D. Max* (Nelson). I Supports: G. Purdue (Southland), W. M.’Neight (Buller). I Back row: T. Metcalfe (Southland), I J. Manchester (Canterbury). Emergencies: Back, T. Trevathan (North Otago); forward, R. Allan (Otago). The team is to assemble in Wellington on F’riday morning. The selector has chosen a very creditable side. Bush, tho university fullback, who so impressed Australia this year, fills tho last line of defence and, presumably tho inter-island contest will develop into a duel between him and Kerr for All Black honours. As was expected Geddes (Southland ) and Hart (Canterbury) arc the wings. It will be interesting to see how Geddes shapes un when fed by good inside backs. He has the speed, weight and defence of a wing, but in Tiis game in Wanganui showed a trend towards that hesitancy to get moving which robs a finishing three-quarter line of its fire. Opposed to tho Wellington line that weak spot in his armour stood out. Evidently seeking combination as much as anything else, the selector has pinned his faith to the two Canterbury live-eighths, and has placed Fookes (Otago) at centre. Archie Strang comes back to the role of half-back which he played, at. times, for Now Zealand in South Africa in 1928 and for South Canterbury against Wanganui in 1927. Andrews, the Canterbury wing-forward, comes out in Scrimshaw’s position and the back row of tho serum is to be filled bv Metcalfe and J. E. Manchester fChristchurch). Metcalfe was the outstanding Southland forward against Wanganui on Spriggens Park this year. Purdue, who also played well in that match, but was renortod to bo off colour, ilnds a place on the side of the scrum. The two All Black players, Cottrell (Cantorburv) and Horn (Otago) are hookers and a hard battle will bo waged between this pair and Hadley and Reid in the North side.

POWNALL TROPHY

TO-MORROW’S MATCH. TAIHAPE SIDE CHOSEN. [Special to “Chronicle.”] To-morrow Taihape will defend the Pownall Trophy against a challenge from Rangitikei. Much interest is being manifested in the fixture and tho game should be one of the best of the season. The following team has been selected to represent Taihape:— D. Thompson. Hekenui Collier Hall Fuller Hawkins Kingi E. A. Beiliss (capt.) W. Thompson D. Derbidge W. Sinclair Leahy Heise Emergencies: Tamu, Whai Pine, Roach, C. Bennett.

WANGANUI FIXTURES

METROPOLITAN UNION 1 REFEREES FOR SATURDAY The Wanganui Metropolitan Rugby Union’s senior cup fixtures will not be played next Saturday owing to tho representative fixture with Canterbury. The curtain-raiser will be the primary schools’ representative match. The following are the referees for the various matches, with the exception of the representative game: Primary School Representatives or. Spriggens Park 1.30 p.m., Mr S. Cass. Junior A Marist v. Wai.gaehu on Racecourse No. 4 at 1.30 p.m. Mr W. Mutton. County v. Technical Old Boys on Racecourse No. 3 at 1.30 p.m. Mr J. Deere. Aramoho have the bye. Junior B Pirates v. Technical College on Technical College ground at 1.30 p.m. Mr I\. Waite. Old Bovs v. Ratana at Wangachu at 2 p.m. Mr W. Day. Kaierau v. Collegiate on Collegiate ground No. 2 at 2.30 p.m. Mr T. Waite. Third Technical Old Boys v. Kaierau on Racecourse No. 5 at 1.30 p.m. Mr G. Thrush. Pirates v. Marist on Racecourse No. 2 at 1.30 p.m. Mr W. Briggs. Fourth A Kaierau v. Collegiate IV. on Colle-

giato ground No. 3 at 2 p.m. Mr F Bourke. Fourth B Technical Old Boys v. Pirates oi Racecourse No. 1 at 1.30 p.m. Mr R C. Hamilton. Technical B v. Technical A (mid week fixture). Fifth Pirates v. Technical B on Technica: College ground at 3 p.m. Mr J. T Kearney. " Kaierau v. Collegiate V. on Colle giate ground No. 5 at 2 p.m. Mr R Edwards. Technical A have the bye.

PRIMARY SCHOOLS’ UNION

WANGANUI AFFAIRS. TOURNAMENT PREPARATIONS A meeting of the Wanganui Primary Schools’ Union was held on Friday afternoon, Mr F. C. Jannings, president, being chairman. There was a full attendance. It was reported that tho competitions are nearly completed, Queen’s Park School winning the senior grade, and Castlecliff the senior B grade, while Wanganui East, Avenue, and Marists tied in. the juniors. In the play-off Avenue defeated Wanganui East, and then tied with Marists. It was decided that these teams meet again on the racecourse next Thursday, August 13 A grant of £2 5s was received from the Licensed Victuallers’ Association towards the tournament expenses, and a hearty vote of thanks was passed for same. The Wanganui Rugby Union granted permission to take up a collection nt Spriggens Park on Saturday, August 15, at the representative match, Canterbury v. Wanganui. Mrs Windelburn kindly offered to arrange for the collectors. It was hoped the school supporters would respond liberally as it,

is being found difficult this year to get the team away. It was decided that the “midgets" competition end on August 15, this being the last Saturday before the school holidays. 1 A general discussion regarding tour nament affairs took place. The selec1 tors reported that the team was practically settled and some hard training ; was being undertaken. Practices wou’d be held on Avenue grounds, where the going was heavier than Spriggens Park and more like that to be expected in Wairarapa. The report on the financial side was not so satisfactory. The bnv collectors had not done so well as expected. The representative jerseys should be replaced as many are in rags and will hardly see another tournament. However, confidence in the Wanganui Rugby supporters was expressed by various members and it is hoped Saturday’s effort will put matters in n healthy state. The rep. team under control of Messrs .Tannings and Lewis, will leave for Masterton on Friday. Aug. 21. bv the 6.35 a.m. train.