MORE RUGBY CHAMPIONS

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 139, 2 September 1927, Page 11

MORE RUGBY CHAMPIONS

WAIRARAPA’S TILT AT AUCKLAND VISITING SIDE "UTuLL STRENGTH TO-MORROW’S match against Wairarapa may prove to be the Auckland Rugby team’s most difficult test. Whereas Hawke’s Bay last Saturday brought a heavy team, it lacked several leading lights, but to-morrow Wairarapa wall field a good side, up to full strength, and well-balanced back and forward. Auckland’s record: Played 7, won 7. Wairarapa’s record: Played 9, v/on 7.

may therefore enjoy the privilege, to-morrow, of witnessing one of the season’s most stirring Rugby matches. Lucas and his team have captured the fancy of the local sporting public.

Going on from one success to the other, they at present occupy a preeminent position in Dominion Rugby, ind their string of recent successes las only one parillel, the prenomelal triumphs won by Hawke’s Bay up

Black lock in lan Harvey, whose illhealth caused him to be one of the disappointments of the English tour. Better, even, than Harvey, is Reside, a Maori forward, and outside the scrum will be Jim Donald, who has captained All Black teams, and is a

till this year.

FOR THE ALL BLACKS

very dashing performer. AUCKLAND SHORTAGES

Aucklanders are interested, for more than the obvious desire to see local representatives succeed, in the continued success of their team. In the past it has been felt that Auckland has been at times neglected when the distribution of international honours was in progress. The city had only three representatives in the 1924 All Blacks, and one of them will lead Auckland to-morrow, while another, A. E. Cooke, will be at second five-eighth for Wairarapa. Since leaving Auckland in 1925 Cooke has played a season in Napier —he helped Hawke’s Bay to some amazing victories last year—but has now shifted to Masterton, where he is in the soft goods business. COOKE THE WIZARD Playing for Wairarapa against Hawke’s Bay, on June 3, he revealed all the wizardry of wonderfully clever Rugby, and his tactical kicking was a factor in Hawke’s Bay defeat. Cooke married a Hastings J girl, Miss Githa French, and has stated recently that he will not be available for the South African tour—a development that may be tragic for New Zealand Rugby. Other ex-Hawke’s Bay men in the Wairarapa team are W. R. Irvine and J. Le Quesne. Irvine, formerly of Waipukurau, is the durable front-ranker who put up a record by playing 27 games out of 30 on the All Blacks’ tour of 1924-25. He, too, has said he cannot go to South Africa.

Le Quesne, playing on the Wairarapa wing, is a threequarter of fine physique and powerful kicking is one of his outstanding assets. He formerly played for Celtic, the Hastings club team captained by J. Blake. The other Wairarapa tlireequarters are Stringfellow and R. Booth, while Roache will be full-back, and Cundy first five-eighth. Cooke’s dazzling speed and judgment will be the principal attacking weapons of the backs. Behind the scrum Hiroti, an ex-Wanganui man, is very game and sturdy, and at first fiveeighth Cundy, another man of fine build, is chiefly noted for his kicking. He hoisted four goals against Ela.wke’s Ba.y on June 3. The full-back, Roache, is a longlimbed . youth whose handling and tackling are usually faultless. STRENGTH IN THE PACK It is in the pack that Wairarapa’s chief strength will lie. Claiming to possess, in Irvine and Q. Donald, the finest pair of hookers in New Zealand —the pair hooked against England in the memorable match at Twicken-

ham —the side may therefore be expected to participate in a duel for possession, as the Auckland hookers, Hadley and Palmer, have shown remarkable skill this season. Behind the All Black front-rankers will be an All

The likelihood of a great struggle to-morrow is heightened by the possibility that Auckland may be without Meyer, who is away, and McManus, who was hurt last Saturday. Fortunately there are good substitutes available, particularly behind the scrum, where Wright is capable of brilliant displays. Mr. W. J. Meredith has been chosen to referee the match, and there will be no curtain-raisers.