WORLD OF SPORT

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 205, 28 August 1940, Page 8

WORLD OF SPORT

RUGBY FOOTBALL

SATURDAY'S BIG GAME SOME NOTES ON THE PLAYERS The selection of the Bay of Plenty team for the match with Auckland on Saturday has met with the approval of Bay football supporters and it is considered! that the team will be able to give a good account of itself. The backs, although not all particularly fast, are sound positional players and the inside men, half and five-eighths from the same Union representative team, combine well. The forwards are very solid and can give of their, best in both the tight and loose. The Bay of Plentj' representatives have played three matches this season, prevailing by 20-18. over East Coast-OPoverty Bay at Gisborne; losing to Waikato,, 20-6, at Tauranga and defeating Thames Valley 9-6, at Paeroa on August 17th. The Players

Francis, fullback, will be plaj'ing his first representative game this season, although he has previously turned out for the Bay. He is a reliable custodian with the ability to kick well with either foot and is a place-kick above the average. Goose man, who will be seen on the right wing, is well known as a former Waikato representative and lie has played for the Bay of Plenty in all games this year. Morrison, at centre, though not exceptionally fast, is a good straight runner and has a safe pair of hands. He was a junior last year. -R. Lees, on the left, will be having his third game for the Bay team this season, but 'lias previously played in the centre berth. He. also, takes his passes well and is a determined tackier. Mihaeve hns played his way into the team with some brilliant exhibitions in interUnion matches and he combines well with the first five-eighth, Moore also of Opotiki, who is yet another promoted junior. Moore will be playing his fourth game for the Bay. A lot could be said about Lendlrum, halfback and skipper of the side. He has not previously represented the Bay of Plenty. but this has not been through lack of selectors' overtures to him. I .endrum, who hails from OpotiUir is small and light and an ideal halfback, dashing and reliable in both attack and defence. Whatever his form on the day the.Bay of Plenty could be no better served behind the pack and as leader of the team. In the Forwards

M. Delamere, back row, is another gaining his first representative cap. He has always been noted for sound and consistent displays and played his way into the team on his showing in the Opotiki-Rangitaiki Hurinui Shield challenge a fortnight ago. The two locks, Rauwhero and Whitefy, are well knowrt for their ability but it is recalled that Whitely r who is vice-captain of the team, was a member of the Maori All Black team which toured Australia in 1933. He has represented the Bay for some years. Apart from the Bay of Plenty, Carter, side row, has represented Manawatu, Massey College and the North Island Universities and is a player of more than passing calibre. Hughes, the other side row man, is an ideal type of forward, combining Aveight and pace. He breaks away very quickly and shines in the loose plaj r . Bell,, Tauranga skipper, is a solid forward of ability, never far from the ball in attack and is always ready to cut round fast in defence. Matliieson is the hooker and an idea of his ability in this department can i be gauged from the fact that he re- [ presented the combined East CoastPoverty Bay-Bay of Plenty when that fifteen tried conclusions with the touring Springboks in 1937. ; Reube is another who has represented! the Bay of Plenty in nil games ! this year. Though lacking the statj ui-e normally seen in front row men. j Reube has plenty of weight and pos sesses a useful turn of speed. Of the emergencies,, M. Lees and Rayment, in the backs, have previ-

ously turned out for the Bay, the latter being representative fullback on the southern tour two years ago. Butler and Phillips are excellent forwards and the latter is a placekick of note. The team, .which will be managed by Messrs W. T. Burrctt (Opotiki) and Bay of Plenty selector, and L. Clark (Rotorua), will assemble at Rotorua at 12 o'clock noon on Friday, leaving for Auckland at 1 p.m. THE HURINUI SHIELD BUSINESS SOME COUNTER COMMENT The "Opotiki News," Monday. August 26tli, publishes a lengthy comment on the vieAVS expressed in the BEACON on Friday, August 23rd relative to the position that had arisen in connection with the Hurinui Shield and Rangitaiki's alleged refusal to play the challenge match subsequent to Opotiki's win. It would perhaps have been better had the contributor of the latest article, presumed to be a Rugby Union official,, signed his name instead of masquerading as the "Opotiki News." Regarding Rangitaiki's acquaintance with the unjust criticism published by the "Opotiki News" in the first instance, it was not of course anticipated by this paper that, the contributor would think so highly of his efforts as to forward copies to the Rangitaiki Union and to the honoraiw secretary of the Bay of Plentj' 1 Union. Time should relieve him. of that sense of importance experienced by novices when 'bursting into print.' It is noted, incidentally, that no reference has been made by him to our statement that an Opotiki ( or Bay of Plenty) official informed Ran gitaiki after Opotiki's successful challenge that the new holders would not expect, the Plains team to play their challenge "for two or three weeks yet." That this was stated was confirmed at the Bay of Plenty Rugby L T nion meeting at Te Teko on Sunday. Our amateur friend from Opotiki would doubtless possess first-hand knowledge of this. McINTOSH SHIELD JUNIOR PLAYERS TO TRAIN Players to represent Whakatane Star juniors at Ro.torua for the Mcintosh Shield on Saturday are to attend practice at the Domain tonight at 7 p.m. where final arrange ments will be made. The team will be selected from the following:— Britten, Chambers, Coutts, R. Thompson, L. Crapp, Green, J. Thompson,. Melville, Laloli, Tnom. J. Crapp, Stewart, Boon,. Brown, Wilson, Sullivan, Thorburn.