YOUNG N.S.W. FOOTBALLERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 198, 22 August 1928, Page 9

YOUNG N.S.W. FOOTBALLERS.

AHBJV AL IN AUCKLAND.

"MAKINGS OF A FINE SIDE."

Hardly before the express from Wellington, which pulled into the Auckland station at half-past six this morning, had come to a standstill 26 youthful, athletic-looking figures and another

more on in years were stretching their limbs on trie platform. They were the Waratahs, the New South Wales Rugby footba!!ei>, who will open their New Zealand tour against Auckland at Eden Park on Saturday, and their manager Mr. C. E. Morgan. ° "\outh is the predominating feature of the combination, the average age of the players being 22 years. they possess in plenty, and they are confident of making a good showing against the New Zealand sides.

"The team is a verv youii" one there being only a few old 'heads,' but I believe they will weld into a firstclass s;de," said the manager. "The selection is the very best available, as few of the Waratalis who toured England last season were available for the New Zealand trip," Mr. Morgan added. The team regards the match with Auckland on Saturday as one of the hardest of the tour outside the Test matches. If we can win on Saturday, or even if we can keep within a threepoint margin of the local side, I believe we shall have a good chance of winning the Tests," commented Mr. Morgan. Speaking of the Rugby Union game in New South Wales, the manager said that it was doing very well, and making progress every month.

Facts About the Players. Details of the team are as follows: — S. J. Malcolm (Newcastle), half-back, captain, 25 years, sft Bin, lOst 91b. Representative record, Waratahs, Victoria, 1928. Other sports, surfing, cricket.

R. B. Loudon (Manly), forward, vicecaptain, 26; 6ft, 14st 21b. In New Zealand, 1923, played as full-back, centre three-quarter and winger. Victoria, 1927. Other sports, vice-captain Manly Life Saving Club (premiers 1927-28), stroke of 1927-2S champion surf boat, captain champion relav team (running. M.L.S.C., 1927-28.

H. B. Abbott (Manly), forward, 23 years, 6ft lin, 14st 21b. '"Rep." record: Played for Victoria v. N.S.W., 1927; Metropolis v. Victoria, 1928. E. J. Bardsley (Norths), forward, 24 years, 6ft 4in, 14st 101b.

H. Bartley, five-eighths, 22 years, sft 7in, list slb. Representative record, Victoria, 1928. Other sports, N.S.W. Junior Cricket XL, 1923.

G. Bland (Manly), forward, 22 years, 6ft, 13st 51b. Rep. record, against All Blacks, 1926, Waratahs. Other sports, champion belt swimmer, North Steyne Surf Club, captain of Australian surf premiers, 1926-27.

D. Bull (North-West Union), centre three-quarter, 23 years, sft 10} in, list 91b.

R. Burge (University), centre threeguarter, 22 years, sft 9in, list 21b. _R. C. , Caldwell (Randwick). —Centre three-quarter, 19 years, sft lOJin, 11.6. Representative record, Victoria, 1928. Other sports, G.P.S. cricket, rifle shooting, athletics and tennis.

W. H. Cerrutti (Y.M.C.A.). —Forward, 19 years, sft lOin, 13.0. Rep. record, Metropolitan country tour, 1926, Victoria, 1927-23, Japan, 1927. . 1. Comrie-Thomson (Easts). —Forward, 25 years, sft ll}in, 11.12. Rep. record, V, All Blacks, 1926. B. H. D. Croft (New £nsr'i"id Union). —Full-back, 24 years, sft •. 12.1.

W.G.George (Y.M.C.A.). ve-eighth, 24 years, sft 9} in, 10.10. Rep. record, iii New Zealand, 1923-25, v. New Zealand, 1923-24-25-26, v. Vic., 1927-28.

W. H. Hemingway (Uni.). —Winger, 19 years, sft 9in, 13.0.

J. S. Lamb (Easts). —Forward, 21 years, 6ft, 13.2. Rep. record, Metropolis r.Vic., 1927-28.

R. Westfield (Randwick). —Full-back, 21 years, sft 9in, 10.7. Rep. record, Metropolitan team's tour of country, 1920, Metrop. v. Renown, 1927, N.S.W. and Metrop. v. Japan, 1927. Other sports, cricket (St. Ignatius' Ist XI., 1924, All Schools' XI., 1924).

W. H. Langenberg (St. George).—Forward, 24 years, sft 9Ain, 13.4. Other sports, swimming. Soccer (represented Jf.SiW. v. Queensland in 1925). First season in Rugby. «•

A. Munsie (North-west Union). —21 years, 6ft 3in, 13.7. Rep. record v. Victoria, 1928.

J. A. O'Connor (Randwick). —Forward, 21 years, 6ft OJin, 13.7. Rep. record, Metrop. 1926, Victoria 1927, Rest v. Waratahs 1928. Other sports, swimming. Sydney Club breast-stroke champion. N.S.W. Water Polo Team 192520, 1926-27, 1927-28. J. B. O'Donnell (Randwick). —Forward, 24 years, sft lOJin, 12.8. Other •ports boxing, swimming, athletics. Won Eastern Suburbs amateur middle-weight tourney. W. J. F. Phipps (Uni.).—Forward, 20 years, sft Bin, 11.7. Rep. record, v. Victoria 1928.

M. Rosenblum (Uni.).—Forward, 21 years, 6ft OJin, 12.10. Rep. record, v. Victoria 1928. 'Varsity hammer-throw champion, 1927-28. Inter-faculty shotputt champion 1927. Inter-'varsity ham-mer-throw champion 1928. A. Smairl (Easts).—Winger, 21 years, «ft 2in, 13.8. H. W. Snell (Easts).—Half-back, 23 years, sft 3in, 10.0. Rep. record, v. New Zealand, and in New Zealand 1920, v. Victoria and Japan 1927. C. H. T. Towers (Randwick).—Centre three-quarter, 22 years, sft 10} in, 12.4. Rep. record, 1925-26, v. New Zealand in Waratahs. Victoria 1928.

W. J. White (Randwick).—Winger, 20 years, oft llin, 11.12. Rep. record, v. Victoria 1928. The average height of the backs is sft 9in, and the average weight list 71b. The forwards average 6ft in height and 13st 21b in weight. The team averages are: Height, sft lOJin; weight, 12st 4*lb. It will be seen that the team has youth, height and plenty of weight, and contains a number of fine all-round athletes.

Thirty-three Years With the Whistle.

Burdened with the responsibilities of managing the team, Mr. Morgan, nevertheless, makes light of his job. He is every bit as enthusiastic fts when he was over in New Zealand in 1913. Mr. Morgan claims, not without justification, the world's record for refereeing. He first took up the whistle in 1802 and controlled games regularly until 1925— a period of thirty-three years—the number of games he refereed running well into four figures. He has been a representative on the Rugby Union Council for 32 years and is a life member of that body. During his football career, Mr. Morgan has managed a number of representative teams, including the side which toured the Dominion in 1913. It

is interesting: to recall that he controlled the Test match between New Zealand and Australia in 1907 which I ended in a five-point draw. . Morgan, who is also a keen bowler, is well known to New Zealand teams who have visited Australia.

The Waratahs had their first run at Victoria Park this morning and will train there each morning this week. To-morrow and Friday evenings thev a 8 £ the boxin g championships at the Town Hall and on Saturday evening they will be the guests of the Auckland Rugby referees at their annual dance. Motor drives have also been arranged. 'Ihe team will leave on Sunday evening for Wanganui.