WAIRARAPA RUGBY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 May 1939, Page 9

WAIRARAPA RUGBY

GOOD FORM DISPLAYED FIRST REPRESENTATIVE MATCH ON JUNE 5. PLAYERS IN THE RUNNING. (By “Scrum-Half.”) With the annual Rugby match between Hawke’s Bay and the Wairarapa looming on the horizon, players in the Wairarapa district are rapidly striking form in an endeavour to make the representative side. It is understood that the sole selector, Mr K. Reid will be in a position to announce after the next series of games have been played the side that will travel to Napier on June Although the Wairarapa rearguard promises to be much stronger than it has been during the last few seasons, the main strength of the side will undoubtedly lie in the forwards, who, judging by form in the recent club games, appear to be much faster than last season. Combined with this will probably be rhore weight.

R. O’Callaghan, the Old Boy’s fullback, has been showing good form and should make the representative team again this year. T. Harp, Carterton, seems the only other full-back who is likely to displace O’Callaghan.

lan Percy, the Masterton captain, seems sure of his place in the pack and will probably captain the representatives again this year.

Although “Larley” Reiri is playing in the five-eighth line for Masterton, he seems the logical choice for half. Competition may come, however, from M. Braggins, who played one representative game last year, and who is now playing half for Masterton.

M. Trass, who played in the 1935 all Black trials, is making a . comeback after a season or two’s rest, and is making a big difference to the Carterton vanguard. He should find a place against the Bay. The Matheson brothers and Crawley, also of Carterton, have been displaying rare form this season, and provided they maintain it will go close to representative honours.

Although W. Peterson, the Red Star’s flyer, has not yet got into his stride, he should not have much difficulty in retaining his place on the wing.

J. Henson, who displayed good form as the Wairarapa centre last season is reported to be fit and playing soundly. He will have a rival however in Brown, the Carterton centre, who scored a brilliant try against Gladstone last week.

V. Grey, the other representative winger last year, is out again and judging by his game against Greytown last week he should again find a place.

O. Hatton, last year’s promising fiveeighth, is playing good football in Wellington, but a likely substitute might be “Baldy” Clarke. N. O’Kane, the exclusive Red Star’s first five-eighth, is a player who will probably catch the selector’s eye for that position, and if he continues to retain the form he displayed against Old Boys last Saturday, he must be seriously considered.

Nuggety "Russ” Howard, the tigerish Red Star’s front ranker is another who should not experience much difficulty in retaining his place. He was in top gear against Old Boys on Saturday.

Another candidate for the wing position. will be "Lofty" Thompson, of Carterton. Thompson runs with a very high knee action and is consequently a very hard man to bring down. On top of this he possesses a good turn of speed combined with solid defence. Rex Brunton, the Grey town i speedster. might also go close to a place in the three-quarter line. Brunton is also a good kick.

D. O'Connor, Red Stars; D. Alexander, Carterton; A. Armour, Old Boys, and M. McCalmont. Greytown, are all good packmen who will also be in the running for representative honours.