THE FIRST TEST.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 181, 1 August 1924, Page 10

THE FIRST TEST.

ENGLAND V. NEW ZEALAND. TO-MORROW AT CARLAW PARK. The first of the three tests between the English League team and the New Zealand representatives will be staged at Cttrlaw Park to-morrow, nnd it is safe to predict, given a line day, that the existing record attendance will be broken. Those who saw the Englishmen's brilliant displays of Saturday and Wednesday, when they scored decisively over the Auckland and Provincial teams, will be anxious to accept the opportunity to once more see the visitors in action, while those who havo not yet seen the Englishmen will have heard enough about them to entice them to go. In the lirst game on Saturday last the Auckland team made a poor stand, but it was not so on Wednesday, when a much stronger combination in the Provincial team put up great opposition nnd certainly did not go under easily. But perhaps too i much may be made of the line showing of the local men, and to-morrow may see I the visitors with a better side than was fielded on Wednesday. Even so, we, too, should be a stronger side, as not ouly will the New Zealand team include the best of the Aucklanders, but will also have three of the best Christ church players and one from the West Coast in tlie team. So good a showing did Wednesday's pack make that the selectors made but one alteration, Mci Donald being taken out and made first reserve, his place being taken by Mouatt (West Coast), who is claimed to bo one of the finest forwards in the land. He will want to be to justify bis replacing McDonald. Gilroy and Stewart, both of Christchurch, will be in the three-quarter | line, and both are high-class players, Stewart, being regarded as the most brilliant back playing League in Canterbury. Gilroy was here early in flic season when the Marist Brothers team came up to Aucklaud and played City, and his form on that occasion received high praise. The other three-quarter, Brisbane, has played solid football in two matches against the Englishmen, and justified his inclusion in the test team. Another player from outside Auckland is Fitzgerald, of Christchurch, and be will partner Wothcrill in the liveeighths line. On Wednesday McClymont was associated with Wctherill, but the selectors have "chanced" Met'lymont and placed him at half, a position quite new to him. but one which he should fill better than any of the poor halves we havo in Auckland. McClymont has been playing the game a long time, and is good both in attack and defence, and if I.owry can hook the ball as he did on Wednesday AleClymont can be depended upon to keep tho opposition on tho gui vivo, because he varies his play. There is really nothing new to be said for tho pack, the players being a solid, vigorous set with a fair dash of pace. McDonald perhaps should havo been left in, and either Avery, Herring or O'Brien dropped, because McDonald has a lot of speed and worked so well with To Whata on Wednesday, when their fast following up had the Englishmen bustled on numerous occasions. New Zealand. Full-back: Dufty (Athletic). Three-quarters: Stewart (Christchurch), Brisbane (M.0.8.). Gilroy (Christchurch). Five-eighths: Fitzgerald (Christchurch), Wetherill (City). Half-back: McClymont (Ponsonby). Forwards: O'Brien (Marist), Lowry (Ponsonby), Herring (Athletic), Mouatt (West Coast), To Whata (Athletic), Averv (Athletic). Reserves.—Forwards: McDonald. Bass. Douglas. Backs: Delgrosso, J. Laim-, Poison. '"' CURTAIN-RAISERS. There will be two curtain-raisers to the big match. The first is between Ponsonby A and Ellerslie fourth grades, at 12.30 (referee Mr. Rao), and the second between the Devonport and Kingsland second juniors, at 1.30 p.m. (referee Mr. Rogers). Following are the teams:— Kingsland: W. Stanawav, H. McGregor, J. Davison, J. Carter. G. Smith, G. Simms, S. Kindly, I. Gubb, K. McManus, H. Clarke, E. Campbell, C. List, W. McLaughlan. Devonport: Brake. Casey, Sadgrnvc, Rvkers, Patcrson, Rule, Sutcliflo, Hales' Seager, Monteith, Beatty, Wynyard, Bolgcr, Mann, Rogers, York, nayso'u. THE SOUTHERN GAMES. WEST COAST MATCH PUT BACK. (By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.") DUNEDIN, this day. In connection with the visit of the English Rugby League loam, it was originally intended that the team would be split at Wellington, and that half should come to Dunedin for the tost, match on Aug. 0. and that half should go to Grcymouth for a match on the same day. As it number of the members of tbe team have sutTered injury iv the matches played, it will now be impossible to play the two games on the one day. Preference has been given to Dunedin, where tho match will bo played as originally fixed on August 0. The match on the Coast will be played on tho following Wednesday, August 13. Teams for the test match will arrive in Dunedin on August 7. There will be thirty-Jive in the English party, and eighteen in the New Zealand party.