CANTERBURY’S CHALLENGE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 192, 15 August 1931, Page 4

CANTERBURY’S CHALLENGE

TO-DAY’S RUGBY PROGRAMME INTEREST IN INTER-ISLAND CONTEST (fij; -CROSS-BAR"). Wanganui and Canterbury are to meet on the representative field this afternoon in what promises to be one of the best matches played here this season. It will be Wanganui’s fifth A match this year and Canterbury’s fourth. The Southern Union has done much better than the river city in the contests that have gone before, however, having won two and lost one. Wanganui has not had a victory so far. At Wellington the annual match between the North and South Islands is to take place to-day, both sides fielding good talent. A. Strang (South Canterbury) is to lead the South Island and M. Nicholls (Wellington) the North.

The match between the two island teams at Wellington to-day, will rob Canterbury of several of the representative side’s star players. Wanganui, too, will be depleted by one through the same cause, Bullock-Douglas having been chosen as reserve for the North Island fifteen.

Despite the defections the visitors will be able to field a very capable team which should thoroughly extend Wanganui, particularly in view of the fact that the home side will not be at full strength. Narbey’s injured ankle will not permit him to play and Dx?.nnis is to go in at centre. Word was received yesterday that Waldin, wingforward, had injured a shoulder in the Pownall Trophy match at Taihape on Wednesday and he would not know until this morning as to whether he would bo able to play to-day. If he is absent Gay Lockett will play as rover and Agnew will go itno the back row of the pack. Gibbons is a reserve back. Wanganui’s record in representative football this year, while it has not been imposing, has revealed that in. most matches the team has fielded the best talent available. It is natural that in the first encounter of the season the selector should look upon his team ns an experimental side to a very large extent and build up weaknesses. Tn succeeding matches, however, tho policy should be to keep the players together as much as possible and endeavour to cope with individual weaknesses by creating more combination. Team work is an essential feature of Rugby and can improve a side composed of medium calibre players to one almost of brilliance.

The teams will take the field as follows: — Wanganui. (Blue and Black). Delves Haami Dennis Downs ' R. Potaka (2nd) J. Morgan Duncan Waldin Glenn Lockett Taiuru Mclntyre Heise Charles Tasker Pease Quaid Foley P. Roberts Hooker K. Brown Sweeney Crockett Mullan Hazelhurst (Ist) McPhail W. Brown Innes Dunshea A. W. Roberts. Canterbury. (Red and Black).

The selector has endeavoured to field the same team as played Taranaki A at New Plymouth last month, after making fresh selections in the backs to strengthen two weak points. Circumstances beyond his control have willed that there should be other defections, but despite the fact that all the players chosen will not be able to line out as selected quite a fair team should take the field and be capable of giving a good account of itself. The forwards will be very little changed and the van which played so well against Taranaki is expected to do well to-day. Upon them will rest the responsibility of getting the ball for the backs. In this they will meet a solid opposition. Canterbury has played three matches this year, having defeated Wairarapa and Southalnd. South Canterbury sprung a surprise on the red and blacks and administered to them a very severe licking which was contributed to largely because the winners had the measure of the Canterbury van. The result was that the Canterbury backs, who were expected to earn victory never had a chance. The South Canterbury rearguard played close up on them and, with the pack more than holding its own, they pressed home every advant-

Archie Strang, who is to captain the South Island team to-day, was the mainstay in the victorious team. He had a wealth of experience behind him which showed his own play up brilliantly and was the factor in holding the team to its objective. The critics expressed surprise at the fact that the Canterbury backs very rarely resorted to the stab punt to keep the opposing South Canterbury line off them. Strang and Co. were standing up very close, and the one method of making them keep back would have been the short, well placed “silly” kick for which Alark Nicholls is famous. A great deal will hinge on the play of the forwards in to-day’s match. Afuch is expected of the Wanganui hookers, Charles and Tasker. If they can do their duty it lemains to be seen whether the re-arranged back line shows more penetration than its predecessors. Afany critics would play J Aforgan full-back and bring Bert Delves into the five-eighth line. As % matter of fact there is little to pick and choose between these two player*. What the one gains in attack the other makes up for in defence and youthfulness. Delves has an ability to do more in an attacking role than ATorgan, but not a great deal more. As a matter of fact the Kaierau five-eighth has surprised many of his critics in his play on attack in recent matches and in an •ra of fast breaking forwards Wan-1,

ganui must be capably served on defence in that position. Alorgan 1® quicker to accomplish that phase of play than Delves, and in saying that the writer does not wish to detract from Bert’s defensive ability. It i.= just a matter of the Kaierau player having youth to aid him. There can be no gainsaying the ‘•’act. however that Delves should captain thn team. His experience may mean all the difference between victory and defeat and if he is to fill a skipper’s role his place is closer in to the scrum than full back. Tho writer’s opinion is that the side would be improved by having Jack Aforgan on the last line of defence so that tho team may get the benefit of a good general’s advice. Is the selector game, to make the change? Mr N. Reid has been chosen ns referee and the kick-off is timed for thro? o’clock. There will be a curtain-raiser between the Primary School representatives and the Technical College sixths.