FOR POWNALL TROPHY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 132, 5 June 1937, Page 7

FOR POWNALL TROPHY

MATCH AT TAIHAPE FIXTURE FOR TO-DAY BOTH TEAMS VERY KEEN (By “Coss-bar”) To-day’s annual match for the Pownall Trophy, which is to be played at Taihape, will occasion a great deal of interest, not only in Taihape itself but in the Rangitikei and Wanganui areas. Both tlie Metropolitan team and the Taihape side, at the time of going to press last night, were intact. The Wanganui team leaves Martin and Vernon s garage this morning at 7.30, and will return after the match. The teams are as follow: Taihape. Full-back: V. North (P). Three-quarters: J. Marshall (U), T. Chase (hu.), P. Hekenui (Hu.). Five-eighths: B. Chase (Hu), R. Kotua (H). Half-back: R. Johnston (P). Forwards: D. Derbidge and C. Tasker (P), C. Dickson, a. Clinton, H. Henery and J. Gabolinscy (U), W. Thompson (capt.), and G. Spooner (Hr.utapu). Reserves: D. McGonag’< (P), and V. Moore (Hautapu), B. Jackson (P) and S. Spooner (Hu), forwards. Wanganui. Full-back: A. McCormick (T. 0.8. Three-quarters: L. Burgess (K), D. G. Barton (O.B.), D. Berryman (P). Five-eighths: K. Welsh (T. 0.8. B. Thomas (Waverley). Half-back; E. cnamberlain (O.B.). Back of scrum: G. Lockett (K) captain. Middle row: W. Glenn (K), A. Davidson (T. 0.8. W. Firmin (K), C. Hu.tchinson (T. 0.8. Front row: E. Dallison (Wav.), C. Reynolus (M), B. Goldsbury (T. 0.8. Reserves: b. Jones (T. 0.8. and W. Stewart (P), forwards; W. Hoy (T. 0.8. and D. Thompson (K;, backs. Tne Taihape team is led by a forward who has rendered great service to the Wanganui representatives in recent seasons, and wno Is certain ot a place in the team to be selected tomgnt to play Manawatu—vValiy Tnompson. in the backs is fielding quite a collection of "Huias.” i. Chase and Rangi Cnase, two spectacular players wno have played lor Wanganui on previous occasions, and nne ui wnom, lommy, has had a place as a Maori All Blacx, will be expected to furnish something in the way of tricKy attacK for Wanganui to contend with. Wanganui has a serviceable pack of forwarus, but on a ground like that at laihape they will nnd tne going vastly dinerent to Spriggens Park. Tne same observation may be made in regard to the backs. Wanganui recently lost its representative halfjack, H. Brogden, who suiiereu a broken itg. jl. Chamberlain (Old Boys) is deputising for him. It will be interesting to see how Chamberlain goes in nis first task as half in a match of higher calibre than that of a club encounter. Much controversy has developed over the full-back position in tnat the Wanganui selector, seeing G. Hook, ex-Aucidand, for the first time last Saturday, could not be impressed with his form and promptly left him out of the team. The “Big Three” Wanganui selectors, anticipating that they would see Mook in action to-day were relying on the match as a guide for to-nighis selection. A. McCormick (T. 0.8.- holds the Wanganui position for to-day and Vic North, exKaierau centre, the Taihape post. If either of these players perform well this afternoon, under anything in the shape of a fair test, one or other of them may enter the representative team to play Manawatu on the morning ol Wednesday next. If neither comes up to expectations it is within the bounds of possibility that the selectors will go back to Hook. If they do, they will bow to that suggestion of inferiority complex which Wanganui has ever been keen to suffer from—that of accepting at face value all that is bestowed upon a player by way of reputation. It does not necessarily follow that because Auckland, Taranaki or any other union fields a full-back, that he must necesarily be in a flight of form which should gain entry to the Wanganui team automatically. Exactly the same thing could be said ot a Wanganui full-back, going to reside in Marton. The Rangitikei selectors could rightly consider that they had a better man and could play him. It is not the losing or winning of matches which discloses the strength or weaknesses of individual players. Rather is it the team work which raises the standard, and while the team work of a union like Auckland or Wellington might be able to carry some weak player, Wanganui must insist that its team is of the best. In short, Auckland or Wellington could carry a weak full-back, and the public would never know it because the team with him would carry him. The same can be said of other players, and that is why so many of Wanganui’s graduates do well when they leave here. If they can do well in the Wanganui team they can be guaranteed to do better in a better team. It can never be said, however, that any player can be guaranteed to do well when he comes from a good team into one of lesser calibre. But all this does not help the selectors. If the writer had their task, and no full-back of moment comes to light to-day, subject of course to all going well with the other positions, he would play the Wanganui line for Wednesday in this shape: - Full-back: K. Welsh (T. 0.8. Three-quarters: L. Burgess (K), D. G. Barton (O.B.), T. Chase (T). Five-eighths: R. Chase (T) and B. Thomas (Wav.). The half-back position is more or less open, but it is doubtful if Chamberlain’s standard can be bettered by the talent available. A good match is expected and with the selectorial mind of the “Big Three” at work, the fixture has a splendid significance.