RUGBY NOTES

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19999, 26 July 1939, Page 9

RUGBY NOTES

COMPETITION IN WAIROA HARRY CUP FIXTURES POSITION OF TEAMS (Rjircial tn tin- 1 Icinhl. > WAIROA. this day. The 392!) Rugby competitions are npidly drawing to a conclusion, and } next Saturday's match between Athletic and Nuhaka will be a decisive one if Athletic wins, which would give them a clear lead of four points. On the other hand, if Nuhaka wins the teams will be equal, although Nuhaka still has to beat Y.M.P.: actually Nuhaka is a game and four ■points behind Athletic. The three times that Athletic and Nuhaka have met have seen two draws, both 5-all, and a win for Athletic, 11—8, in the last encounter. Nuhaka will be all out to avenge that defeat and to retain a chance of winning the 1939 championship. On Saturday one can expect to see the Nuhaka team throwing the bail about and taking every chance in the hope c,f scoring a win. Athletic .probably will follow suit and endeavour to outplay the Nuhaka team in the open. Whatever the outcome of the match, the prospects are that the game will be one of the best club fixtures seen in Wairoa, and it is anticipated that the crowd will -be a record one. On each occasion that the two teams have met this season both have been afraid of the other, but on this occasion Athletic will 'be playing to maintain their ascendancy, while Nuhaka will open out and make every effort to down the leaders. Barry Cup Challenges Next month will see the first of two \ Barry Cup challenges played. Poverty Bay are to be played on Saturday, August 5. and indications are that this •will be a stern tussle. There is no doubt that the Poverty Bay team will be a much stronger one than that which defeated Wairoa in Gisborne on King’s Day. That victory, it will j be remembered, was gained through a 1 Wairoa player carelessly infringing jn front of the goal when attempting a conversion, the game being lost 20—18. On the other hand, the Wairoa team was not at full strength on that occasion. the most noticeable absentee being W. Powdrell. There is no doubt that the local representatives arc a better combination than what they were earlier in the season and with one or two newly-selected players showing splendid form it can be confidently expected that the Wairoa team will go well.

On tho following Saturday East Coast will play Wairoa. This game will also be a cup game, providing that flic cup still remains in Wairoa. There lias never been a poor match against the Coast in Wairoa. Rugby "fans” will remember that these matches have always provided stirring Rugby. The Wairoa side should improve after the Poverty Bay game, and with one or two runs together they should be at the top of their form.

Positions of Teams

The positions of teams after Saturday's games were:— Senior P. W. L. D. FoA?. Oil. Athletic ' 10 a - 2 121 ie Nuhaka 9 a i 2 1UG 51 14 Y.M.P. !) a a 0 92 100 0 Waipapa It) .‘1 3 0 SC 123 •i Nuhaka !) Junior 7 1 1 100 17 15 Athletic !) (i 2 1 5(> 54 13 Y.M.P. 3 O •) 8 43 42 1 Waikaremoana 8 2 4 2 31 49 () Waipapa 0 3 8 0 30 43 High School n Thirds 7 2 0 130 29 H Athletic 8 4 a 1 59 54 O Nuhaka 10 3 0 1 20 09 7 Y.M.P. 1) 3 (i 0 37 111 G