RUGBY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 125, 28 May 1936, Page 4

RUGBY

SATURDAY’S BIG MATCH FAST TARANAKI TEAM NEW ZEALAND STAR PLAYERS. Several of New Zealand's outstanding players will be seen in action on •Spriggens Park on Saturday, the Taranaki team including- some of the best Kugby exponents that province has ever produced—notably J. Sullivan (centre), J. Galbraith (five-eighth) and A. J. Collins (full back). ’This trio alone is worth seeing. Wanganui has chosen a sound side, but it is interesting to read the following comment from a Waverley enthusiast who styles himself “Old Timer To “Crossbar”: Sir,—lf a reshuffle of positions, both back and forward, were made I am convinced it would strengthen the A team against Taranaki. In the backs, I would suggest Campbell and Tommy Chase changing positions. The former is too prone to run across field with the ball, instead of going straight. Chase'should make an ideal mate with Petersen. To my mind Campbell is the ideal wing-threequarter. He has -the pace, determination, defensive ability and the real Rugby brains.

In the forwards I would like to see McLennagan replace one of the locks. Against Taranaki we want every ounce of weight in the scrum, and a bit more, to hold these mighty foeman. Jack, playing on the side of the serum, is too eager getting around on the half when the ball is put in. Too many chances, cannot be given to Collins’ boot. If the positions are unaltered, I hope these players will take the hint. WAINUI-A-RUA RUGBY LAST WEEK’S MATCHES Fine weather was experienced for the continuation of the Waiuui-a-rua sub-Union’s club competition, and a failcrowd attended at .Kanana to witness the two senior gam-es. Upokongaro accounted for Kiatc-a by 17 points to nil. Upokongaro were definitely the better team, but with a little more hick Kiatoa wc-uld have opened a scoring account more than once. Kiatoa fivlded a team of colts with one or two decided “veterans.” Ihcir colt-s went quite well with several showing quite promising capabiliies. There is no doubt the team will mprove as the season progresses and vinh perseverance will register a win oefor-e long. Upokongaro showed evidence in their play of good coaching, fheir combination, for early in the reason, was satisfactory, though, no loubt weak opposition allowed them to •how up in favourable light. Scorers : or Upokongaro were: James, two tries )ne conversion; Williams, Wiwi, Howard, one try each. Mr. T. Marshall a as the referee. Monkau v. Kia Oro. In the game between Morikau and via Ora, Morikau ran out winners by -’9 points tc- three. Ibis was a bright open game played it a fast pace. The Morikau bucks vere too fast for their opponents aud vere quick to exploit any mistakes made by Kia Ora, and this together vitli weak tackling by hhe Kia Ora •carguards accounted for the high, scorng. From the kick off' it looked. »s f the game would be a fight between via Ora forwards and Morikau Nicks, )ul. as I he game progressed the Morikau ►ack settled down and their slight superiority in pace let them have a it tic the better c-f their opposing pack or the major purt of the game. Morikau’s first try came from a roar--I'ia.rd movement resulting in Haami rossing over. This was followed by’a erics of Morikau passing rushes which ulminated in. J. Mctckingi scoring and onverting his own try. Their next try came from a forward ittack and W. Ryder came through o score. Mctckingi converting. W. iyder repeated his performance a. few ninutes later to score an unconverted ry. After half time Mctckingi scored gain, the try being converted. Then L Ryder cut through in his own weut.y five to outpace the opposition nd score «. spectacular try, J, ingi con verting. W. Ryder completed Morikau’s tally y kicking through a gap and followng up to score well out. Kia Ora’s bree points came from a penally ’aranehi finding the posts wi-tii a very iec kick. Morikau backs showed up cry prominently throughout the game eing far to fast for Kia Ora. However, hey rather spoilt their display by a ood deal of weak hanfiling towards the nd of hhe second spell. They did nor a.ve much to do in the way of def onive play but taken all round they SCRATCHING OF ROXY ELLER&IE ENGAGEMENTS 1 Per Press Association, j AUCKLAND. May 27. Roxy was scratched for all events in le Great. Northern meeting at 11.20 lis morning. The horse stifled himself hile running in the King Country teeplcchase «t Te Rapa on Monday

i played easily the most attractive game of the four rearguards. The Morikau forwards were not so impressive as their backs. in fact had they not had an advantage over Kia Ora in speed and condition tihey would have found themselves with a much harder row to hoe. As it was they had the better of the exchange between t'he two packs. The scrummaging on both ' sides was weak the ball coming out cleanly. It is worth drawing attention to W. .Ryder’s tries. They all came as a Jesuit of fast and consistent following up of the ball and serve as an object lesson to other forwards. Kia Ora have some excuse for their heavy defeat, as they were obviously suffering from Jack of practice particularly in ball-handling, and their condition was failing before the end. No doubt the work in which most of the players ace engaged handicaps them in their training. This is unfortunate as their worst faults could be remedied bypractice games. One of their worst weaknesses was their frequent wild spectacular kicks at the ball when on defence. 'The team as a whole showed Jack of combination. The backs were only set in motion once or twice a”d weak ha ml ling broke down the movement on each occasion. It was noticed that when the K'a Ora forwards did combine they had Morikau extended. On two occasions when they broke through they were very unlucky not to score after actually taking the ball over the goal-line. Kia Ora, in spite of their faults did a good deal of attacking but never seemed lo be able to bring their attacks to a stage that would allow them to set in motion that final thrust that ends over the goalline. They deserved more points (ban they received, though well beaten by a superior team. Mr. Higgins was the referee in the second game, FIXTURES FOR SATURDAY Under (lih control of the Waimn-a-rua Rugby Union, the match between Upokongaro and Kia Ora is to be played at .1.30 p.m. on Saturday to enable players to make the journey to Wanganui to see the Wanganui-Tara-naki representative match. 'The other match to be played on Saturday is that between Morikau and Kia Toa at Banana, at 3 p.m. TUERA SHIELD MATCH AT WAITARA A suggestion that the annual match for the Tuera Shield, between the Taranaki and Wanganui Maori teams, should be played at Waitara on June 25, when there will be several thousand natives present for the opening of the memorial carved house, was received from Taranaki at last night’s meeting uf the Management Committee of the Wanganui Rugby Union. The union agreed to the proposal, subject to the Taranaki Rugby Union ■controlling the match. The question of selecting the Maori team was left in the hands of Mr A. Takarangi.