TO-DAYS RUGBY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 222, 19 September 1936, Page 6

TO-DAYS RUGBY

POLICE AND PRESS MATCH FINAL OF CHARITY CUP WANGANUI v. WELLINGTON (By “Cross-Bar” To-day’s Rugby programme is a varied and interesting one. Of major interest to Wanganui lans will be the final of the c harity Cup between Kaierau and Old Boys, which is one of the matches to he featured on Police and Press day on Spriggens Park. The Press and the Police will play a short match just prior to the Charity Cup final, and the first match of the afternoon will be between St. Patrick’s Old Boys (Palmerston North and Marist Wanganui.

Further afield the day’s programme will be just as interesting. Wanganui’s representative team will pk.y Wellington B at Athletic Park. At Dunedin, Wellington A will challenge Otago for the Ranfurly Shield .and is recognised by the holders that this afternoon's encounter will be one of the hardest ot the year. The touring Australian team is to be matched against Canterbury at Christchurch. Police and Press Police ■ teams report being lit enough to play out the first spell of 20 minutes and the second of 15. Special training has been undergone, particularly by the police and a police victory seems assured. It will depend, ot course, on how the Press forwards shape. The scrum may reveal weaknesses, and the Press may be handicapped in lineout work, but as a defensive unit the side should do well. Lt is recognised that in the "young recruits of the force” which the police are fielding behind the pack the Press will find some difficulty. It will certainly be the fastest back line the Police have put in the field in New Zealand. The Press half, Alan Lowe, has an injured hand, but hopes to be lit for this afternoon's engagement. All the indications point to a police victory and the prediction is accordingly.

Kaierau v. Old Boys This long awaited struggle is to be played at 3.15. Both teams, on account of the representatives being engaged on a foreign field, have drawn liberally on reserves, looking, in the main, to the respective junior teams. Neither side will turn out with its accustomed captain—Gay Lockett (Kaierau) and Arthur Bullock-Doug-las (Old Boys) being both in Wellington. But the talent brought up from down under, merged with the old stalwarts of mh side, will perform well and one of the best matches of the year is predicted. It will be anybody’s game up until the end. St. Patrick’s Old Boys v Marist This match is to start sharp at 1.15 p.m. It is a contest arranged with the object of raising funds for the Home of Compassion, that deserving unit which administers so unobtrusively to the aged and needy. On the understanding that portion of the Police-Press fund would go to this deserving cause the teams are to play as a curtain-raiser to the Police-Press match.

Wanganui and Wellington To win against Wellington to-day would be a fitting climax to the 1936 Rugby year so far as Wanganui is concerned. Wins against Hawke’s Bay and against Poverty Bay have raised high hopes in the River City, but Wellington B will be a strong side, and it will require the whole of Wanganui's resource to counter it. Wanganui’s weakness will be in the back play. The forwards are i'i«tined to hold their own, but unless the team has the ability to score from territorial advantage gained the vjm may prove of no avail. This match promises to be a good one, and in Welligton it will occasion intereit in that it will bring up to prominence many of the young players who are to be future Wellington A grade lepresentatives. The Ranfurly Shield Once again the Ranfurly Shi fid will be responsible for drawing a laige crowd to the Carisbrook ground Dunedin. Otago has put up a wmlerlul performance in Shield matches iMs year, and although one fully appreciates that to serve the purpose cf Kugbv the shield should go ro 'nd, the general feeling will be with Otago today. Good luck to Wellington, of course, if the side can lift it, but after cSming through a heavy season's programme. such as is shown in the table following, Otago deserves rewarj of victory this afternoon. This is rhe Shield record of the Otago team lor 1936, with the addition of matches still to be played:

v. Southland, August I—Won 16 to 3. v. Auckland, August s—Won 14 to 5. v. Mai awatu, August 12—Won 11 to 5. v. So' 11 Canterbury, August 26. Won 26 to 3. v. Canterbury, August 29—won 16 to nil. v. Wellington, September 19. v. West Coast, September 26. v. Hawke's Bay, September 30 (not a Shield game. Australia—Canterbury Judged on recent form it would appear that Australia will suffer a further defeat at the hands of Canterbury to-day. Inside backs to play a fast three-quarter line into action has been the main worry of the visitors. It has transpired that the ability of the five-eighth line has been little better when the stars have been included that it was at Wanganui, when the Australians fielded what was regarded as the second combination. Most people are looking forward to the clash between the Australians and the Maoris at Palmerston North next Wednesday. Indications suggest that this will be the most spectacular match of the tour. NEPIA RESIGNS MANAGEMENT OF TEAM LONDON, Sept. 17. Nepia has resigned the management of the Streatham Rugby team feeling the responsibility is too great and is affecting his play. He will continue the captaincy.