ALL BLACK RUGBY TRIALS

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 138, 1 September 1927, Page 9

ALL BLACK RUGBY TRIALS

AUCKLAND MAKES VIGOROUS PROTEST AGAINST SCHEDULE When a letter from the New Zealand .Rugby Union, setting out the arrangements for All Black trials for this season, was received at a meeting of the Management Committee of the Auckland Rugby Union last evening, some sharp criticism took place. Air. A. S. Belcher moved that a strong protest be sent to the New Zealand Union against its action in not ararnging one of the bigger trials to be played in Auckland. Mr. T. Courtney had forwarded a letter on the same subject, his idea being to send the strongest protest possible.

Air. Belcher said that Auckland had been slapped in the face by the New Zealand Union every time the latter had been given an opportunity to do so. “We should let the New Zealand Union see that we are not going to be down-trodden the same as we have been for years,” added Air. Belcher.

Mr. H. Frost was of the opinion that the arrangements had been made for the convenience of travelling.

It was the general feeling of the meeting that Auckland did not get a fair deal when it came to the bigger matches.

Air. Courtney: The New Zealand Union makes it as hard for Auckland as it can. We have only one small trial game; we have no selector; and I think from the point of view of our own representative players we should make an emphatic protest. Air. Belcher: We cannot goon drifting, and it may come to a question of self-preservation. That should be driven home to the New Zealand Union.

It was suggested by the chairman that as Air. McKenzie, a member of the New Zealand Union and chairman of the All Black Selection Committee, would be in town shortly, it would be a good idea to meet him officially on the subject. The mover and seconder agreed to withdraw the motion in favour of the course suggested by the chairman.

It was then resolved that after the union had conferred with Air. McKenzie Messrs. Frost, Belcher and Courtney should draft a letter to the New Zealand Union.

WAIRARAPA RUGBY REPS.’ ARRIVAL

MR. E. McKENZIE IN CHARGE STRONG TEAM AGAINST AUCKLAND The Wairarapa touring Rugby team, under the managership of Air. E. McKenzie, the All Black selector, arrived in Auckland this morning from Taumarunui, where the team played the King Country yesterday. The team had a good win against the King Country reps.—27 points to three —and it will be considerably strengthened for the match against Auckland. The two Donalds, Irvine, Roache and Culidy will arrive to-mor-row morning.

The match against King Country was played yesterday in showery weather, the ground being very muddy. Despite these setbacks, there was a good attendance of the public, and keen interest was evinced in the match.

Wairarapa proved much too good for the King Country men, and rattled up a score of 27 to 3. For the winners, the scorers were as follow: Stringfellow, Cooke (2), Ward, Usher, Grey and Le Quesne. Fuller converted two tries, and Le Quesne one. King Country’s only try was scored by Cavanagh.

The inclusion of Cooke, the All Black, in the Wairarapa team evoked a good deal of interest locally. The Wairarapa backs gave a great display, considering the adverse conditions, and frequently opened out in some brilliant rushes.

AUCKLAND B REPS. DRAW AT OPOTIKI

(From Our Own Correspondent.) OPOTIKI, Wednesday

A keen and exciting game here today between the Auckland B touring team and Opotiki and Apanui combined, resulted in a draw—six all. The match was played on a heavy and muddy ground.

For Auckland Potter scored an unconverted try, and Short goaled a penalty. For the home team, Pirini and Hawkins each scored an unconverted try.

For Auckland, Potter and Mathias in the forwards, and Cammick, Palmer and Loft in the backs, played well.

MANAWHENUA RETAINS THE RANFURLY SHIELD

TARANAKI BEATEN PALMERSTON N., Wednesday. A crowd of 10,000 witnessed Alanawhenua defeat Taranaki for the Ranfurly Shield to-day. Heavy rain preceded the match and the ground was very soft and slippery. The game was essentially a forward one.

Manawhenua won by 9 points to 3, Tremewan and Anderson scoring unconverted tries for the winners, and Jacob kicking a penalty goal, while O’Keefe scored for Taranaki.

Manawhenua will defend the shield against Wanganui on Saturday.

REPRESENTATIVE RUGBY

WANGANUI DEFEATS BUSH Press Association. PAHIATUA, Wednesday. In a fast, open game the Wanganui Rugby team defeated Bush by 9 points to 6. Play by the backs was inclined to be ragged, but the forward divisions were well matched and had a gruelling contest. Jones, the Maori threequarter, scored two tries for Wanganui, the other being scored by Fromant. J. Galvin scored for Bush and Udy kicked a penalty goal. At half-time the score was 3-0 in favour of the home team. In the second spell, after about fifteen minutes’ play, the referee ordered Jackson, the Wanganui lock, off the field for commenting on his decisions.