RUGBY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 189, 12 August 1931, Page 5

RUGBY

WANGANUI AFFAIRS METROPOLITAN UNION LAST NIGHT’S BUSINESS The management committee of the Wanganui Metropolitan Rugby Union me t last night under the chairmanship of the vice-president, Mr J. Moye. There were also present: Messrs C. S. Swan, H. Dyke, A. C. Mills, A, Daniel son, L. Southcombe, J. D. Crowley, K. C. Hamilton, A. Lockett, A. Takarangi, and W. H. Gill. Mr H. G. Carver, of the Collegiate School, wrote advising that the annual inter-collegiate tournament between Wanganui, Wellington, Nelson and Christ’s Colleges would be played at Wanganui on August 22 and 24. He asked if the Union would be prepared to allow Spriggens Park to be used for the finals on the Munday (August 24) in the event of the College grounds being too wet. The writer realised that it would not be possible for the Union to allow the park to be used on the Saturday in view of the cup fixtures being played on that day. He would like to express thanks for the generous a ay in which the Collegiate School had been treated this year by the Union, On the motion of Messrs Crowley and Swan it was decided to grant the request for Spriggens Park on August 24 and to offer the School the use of that ground and the racecourse, if necessary, on the morning of Saturday, August 22. As the College tournament clashed with the matches which was practically to deciue the Senior Cup competition discussion arose as to how the remaining fixtures should bo played, it was pointed out that what would really decide the issue was the match between 1 echoical Old Boys and Kaierau. Accordingly, it would be advisable to stage that set of matches on a date other than that set apart for the college contests. On the motion of Mr Bwan it was resolved that the two remaining blocks ol Jixtures be reversed so as to bring the leuhmcal Old B UJS v . Pirat * match on the day of the college tournament and the Kaierau v. Technical Old Boj s on the Saturday following. An Application for jerseys from Messrs Silk, Haworth ami Co. was left in the hands of Mr Moye. Mr H. lliroti attended on behalf of the \\ anganui Maori team that is to play the Hawke’s Bay Maoris on Sprig gens Park to-day. it was recommended to the Wanganui Union that the team be allowed to wear the representative jerseys. Mr Takarangi reported that the difficulty with regard to the match had been got over ami the laihape ami Rangitikei players chosen for the Pownall I'rophy match to-day would not be called upon. A letter from the Maori Advisory Board was read, asking Mr Takarangi to attend the match lor the purpose of making nominations with regard to the selection of a team of New Zealand Maoris to play Australia at Palmerston North, lhe Rev. Leonard wai reported as having been chosen as referee. Mr Swan’s action in conferring and acting with Mr C. T. Young with regard to cutting down of a tree on Atkinson Park was endorsed. Mr Crowley deplored the fact that the Katana team Had not been given a three o ’clock game on Spriggens Park this year. He felt that there had beeu a good deal of toadying to the tcanw at the top of the ladder. Ratana had played good football on their own ground and on the racecourse. In his opinion they had been harshly treated. He admitted that it was late in the season to bring the matter up, but he had been absent from some previous meetings. Replying on behalf of the fixtures committee, Mr Danielson pointed to the fact that the clubs this year had been remarkably even. Ratana had been played twice on Spriggens Park at 1.3 U p.m., ami on each occasion they played poor football. The committee had considered bringing them to the 3 o’clock game several times, but the difficulty was to know when they would play well. Perhaps the committee had been weak in studying finance instead of the clubs, but finance was the important thing this year. The committee really wasn’t game to take the risk of putting them on. if he had the list of fixtures to refer to he could show how difficult it was for the fixtures committee to arrange the three o’clock games. Except m one instance the fix lures at that time had been splendid. Mr Dyke corroborated the previous speaker, and said that the fixtures committee had acted impartially, keeping club bias out of the thing altogether. They had done the best they could for the Union and that was the understanding they had at the beginning of the season. No action was taken as it was late in the season, but the fixtures committee undertook to look into future fixtures and see what could be done. The Taihape Union wrote confirming September 5 as the date for the annual match with Wanganui. The chairman advised that Messrs Levin and Co., on behaL of the Black and White Whisky people, intended to donate caps to the winners of the senior competition from next year onwards. These would be worked in the colours of the club that was victorious ami would be known as ‘‘Black and White” caps. In the event of the same players being iu the team each year they would not have fresh caps issued to them but the date record on each cap would be added to. The Wanganui Rugby Union advised that September 5 had been arranged for a match between a Metropolitan team and one from Wainui-a-rua, to be played at Pipiriki. It was desired to have a match in Wanganui on that day also and a Wairoa team was suggested. The matter was left in the hands of Messrs Moye and Danielson to finalise matters regarding a match in Wanganui.

BAKERS v. BUTCHERS TO-MORROW’S MATCH The following team has been selected to represent the bakers in their annual Rugby encounter with the retail butchers, which will be held to-morrow on Racecourse No. 2 ground at 3 p.m. The match is open to the public and will be played in real sporting spirit, as the losers (under rules governing the contest), must ”shout” the winners to dinner in the evening after the battle. Last year the match was played on Williams Park and resulted in a win for the bakers by 17 points to 3. A much more even game is anticipated

this year as the butchers 7 team has been strengthened considerably. The bakers’ team is as under:—K. Johnston, R. Percy, Bevin, Harding, K. Kitney (2"), G. Hamilton (1), Ransom, Morris, D. Gowan, R. Edwards, Baldwin, J. Newsome, C. Granville, Tasker, A. Rhodes. Reserves: Backs, J. Northover, F. Whiteman; forward, C. Dustin. The defections from last year’s team are: S. Dustin (injured), S. Newsome, .1. Glover (not available), H. Jeffrey (away), C. Payne, H. Dustin (injured). A good match is anticipated, and the public are invited to attend.

TO-DAY’S MAORI MATCH

TRIAL IN WANGANUI HAWKE’S BAY AT RATANA. The Hawke’s Bay Maori team to play the Wanganui Maoris in a trial match on Spriggens Park to-day arrived at Ratana last night where they are the guests of the natives there. Rev. Leonard, of Rangitikei, has been chosen as referee and the kickoff has been timed for 2.30 p.m. The teams will take the field as follows: Hawke’s Bay (Red and Black). Full-back, Rangi Rupuha. Three-quarters, Whati, Harvey (centre), Ormsby. Five-eighths, Heperi, Wanoa (capt.), first. Half, Tomoana. Wing-forwards, Barber and Staples. Forwards: Front rank, Lala, Piper, Marky; second row, Harrison, Vie Mark; back row, Ropiha. Emergencies Forwards, Hunter, Dan Davis; backs, McKay, Ku, J. Nick. Wanganui. (Blue and Black). Full-back, K. Rawhiti (Metropolitan). Three-quarters, W. Smith (Wainuiarua), R. Mcte-Kingi (Metropolitan), T. Chase (Taihape), A. Wall (Metropolitan). Five-eighths, W. To Ture (Wainui-a-rua), R. Potaka (Metropolitan). Half-back, H. Raukawa (Taihape). Forwards: Hookers, 11. Hauparoa (Metropolitan) P. Uruangina (Metropolitan); breakaways Whai Pino (Taihape), E. Pairama (Metropolitan); lock, W. Tete (Metropolitan); R. Downs (Rangitikei), P. Waitere (Rangitikei). Emergencies Forwards, M. Nicholls and C. Hunter (Taihape); backs, W. Tumu and H. Paki (Metropolitan). Though the Hawke’s Bay players are all young, with the exception of Wanoa, they have all represented their sub-unions this season, while Heperi has represented Hawke’s Bay. This match is being played under the jurisdiction of the Wanganui Rugby Unio nand the same privileges will be extended as are usual at a representative fixture.

CANTERBURY’S TOUR

IN QUEST OF SHIELD The following players have been chosen to represent Canterbury on the northern tour, during which there will be a challenge match with Wellington for the Ranfurly Shield—at Wellington on Saturday week: — Backs. —G. H. Hart, C. J. Oliver, G. Day, T. F. Mullan, W. H. Vincent, R. Hazelhurst, C. H. McPhail, G. D. Innes, W. Brown, N. Dunshea, A. W. Roberts. Forwards.—A. H. Andrews, J. E. Manchester, A. E. Cottrell, W. Pease, C. Quaid, P. Roberts, T. Hooker, W. Sweeney, K. Brown, I. Crockett, F. J. Foley, and R. K. King. Tom Robinson, Perkins, Williams, and Rowe were not available. Some of the players selected will be unable to play for Canterbury against Wanganui on Saturday, as they are included in the South Island team. They will join the touring team in time for the match against Hawke’s Bay to-mor-row week. Simpson will join the team at Hawke’s Bay if his residential qualifications are satisfactory to the NewZealand Rugby Union; otherwise Lang-dalc-Hunt will be required. Howatson and Kearney may also join the team in Hawke’s Bay. The team leaves for the North Island to-night and will arrive here tomorrow. To-morrow night they will be the guests of the Putiki Maoris at a dance. INTER-ISLAND MATCH CHANGES IN THE TEAMS A change has been made in each of the Island teams for the North v. South Rugby football match at Wellington on Saturday. N. Ball (Wellington) has not sufficiently recovered from a recent injury to take his place in the North Island team, and K. Fookes, of Taranaki, has been selected to fill the vacancy. H. Fookes (Otago) is unable to play for the South Island, and his place as centre-threequarter will be taken by W. Allan, of Otago. It is a coincidence that the two alterations should affect members of one family, H. Fookes and K. Fookes being brothers. Both are old boys of the New Plymouth Boys’ High School, as is another brother, S. Fookes, who has represented the New Zealand Universities, and Canterbury. Andrews, wing-for-ward for the South Island, is another New Plymouth High School old boy, and was playing for his school last year. The father of the Fookes brothers, Mr E. F. Fookes, was a fine footballer in his day. He went to England when he was 17 years of ago, and there made a name for himself on the foot ball field, playing for Blackhcath and other well-known clubs, as well as representing Yorkshire and England. He was a member of England’s team for four years—from 1796 to 1899. On his return to New Zealand he represented Taranaki, and one of his best games was as full-back for Taranaki-Wan-ganui against Bedell-Sivright’s team.