TO-DAY S RUGBY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 135, 9 June 1937, Page 5

TO-DAY S RUGBY

MATCH FOR THIS MORNING WANGANUI AND MANAWATU" PRELUDE to the race meeting (By “Cross-bar.") Wanganui and Manawaiu arc to play a representative Rugby match on Spriggens Park this morning, and ,subject to the weather being fine, there should be a bright display g»ven of the Rugby code. Both teams have it in them to play spectacular footfall and the public is keenly looking forward to the game. It will be recollected that Wanganui and Manawatu, adopting the then untried project of playing Rugby in the morning, met in a match on Spriggens Park on the King’s Birthday last year. It was a glorious day and the match proved exciting to a large crowd, Wanganui, after being dowi. 6 to 21, piled on the points in the second spell and when the game ended the River City was only two points behind the opposition, the final score [being, Manawatu 21, Wanganui 19. | Not only did that encounter prove of interest from a point of view of the [play itself, but it proved that Rugby I loolball. on a holiday, could be played 1 just as well in the morning as in li:e afternoon. None of the Wanganui backs to play to-day were in the team which met Manawatu last year. T Chase (Taihape) was selected for a wing three-quarter position, but owing to some misunderstanding, did not turn up and a re-adjustment if the backs put D. Thompson (Kaierau) in the five-eighth line and called on D. Jones (Kaierau) to play on the wing. H. Brogden was half on that occasion and would have been the pivot to-day but for a broken leg. His place is being filled by E. Chamberlain (Old Boys), who is getting his first run in big football as a pivot. J. Petersen (Waverley) and Thompson were the five-eigths, leading back to Campbell (Waverley), Jones (Kaierau), and II Taiuru (Rangitikei) in the thrtu-' quarter line. H. Walker (Waverley) was full-back. In the pack selected for to-day ther* are five players who participated in the match last year—Lockett (Kaierau), James (Bulls, then playing for Marton Old Boys), Davidson (Technical Old Boys), Firmin (Kaierau) and W. Thompson (Taihape). The Manawatu team is also fielding a very much changed back line. Wilson was full-back last year, whereas to-day the team will field M. Waldin in that position. He is well-known in Wanganui, having represented the blues on a number of occasions, in one year acting as captain. Waugh who is to play as wing three-quarter to-day, played last year as centra. Both Bradley and Gillespie, the wings of 1936, have not been included in ‘he team, Gillespie being a reserve. Nicols, one of to-day’s five-eighths, played in last year’s team. Brinsden, the half-back who caused Wanganui so much worry last year, has been replaced by J. Blyth. In the forwards the visitors, like Wanganui, will field five who played last year, including the big All Black, McKenzie. The other four are Powell, Williams, Finlay and Crawford. It is a formidable pack, and one which may call the time so far as Wanganui is concerned. The teams are as follow: Wanganui Full-back: T. Chase. Three-quarters; L. Burgess, D. G. Barton, Culpan. Five-eighths: K. Welsh, B. Thomas. Half-back: E. Chamberlain. Back of Scrum: G. Lockett. Sides of Scrum: N. James, C. Hutchison. Locks: A. Davidson, W. Firmin. Front Row: W. Thompson, MacDonald, B. Goldsbury. Reserves: R. Walker, forward; R. Chase, back. Manawatu Full-back: M. Waldin. Three-quarters: H. Waugh, S. Bramwell, Buick. Five-eighths: S. McCormick, J. Nicol. Half-back: J. Blyth. Back Row: W. Powell, A. Williams. Side Row: Y. Fleming, R. McKenzie, captain. Front Row: J. Finlay, H. Crawford, W. Sullivan. Emergencies: O’Dea, Newman, forwards; R. Gillespie, Eldin, backs. Reynolds, owing to an injured wrist, will not be available for the Wanganui team, to-day. His place has been filled by McDonald (Rangitikei), who, when notified last night, decided to leave from the back of Ohingaiti immediately to reach town. The two Chase brothers were not able to get down last night. They will arrive this morning. The match is to be viewed by Mark Nicholls, one of the New Zealand se--1 lectors. There is also a possibility ! that Mr Ted McKenzie will be here.