'VARSITY RUGBY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 113, 16 May 1933, Page 13

'VARSITY RUGBY.

STUDENTS ARRIVE. "AUSTRALIA'S BEST SIDE." STRONG FORWARD lINB. Aueklaiidcrs with memories of delightful football played by the various teams that have been eent over to the Dominion, by Australian Universities are in for another Rugby treat this week, as a visiting eide o£ 22 (10 from Sydney and six from Melbourne) arrived from the Commonwealth at seven o'clock this morning, via Wellington. They meet Auckland University College to-morrow afternoon

at Eden Park, where they will be pitted ' against New Zealand Universities in the first Teet next Saturday. Mr. manager, Mr. J. T. Gunther, who is secretary of the Sydney 'Varsity Club, is of the opinion that his side is the best we have had in New Zealand from the Universities of Australia. The two teams captained 'by the late Dr. Jock Morgan in 1920 and 1922 will be reckoned as the strongest of the many teams which have come across. The former included Tom Lawton, R. L. Raymond and Dr. O. E. Nothling Cjvho later played full-ba.ck [i.'r New South Wales both in the Dominion and Sydney, besides which he wt-n bis Australian cricket Test cap against England at Sydney in December, 1925). The latter team's stars were Raymond, Morgan, himself, and R.. G. , Stanley (who scored the whole of the New South Wales points when the Cornstalks beat l,y 14-—s the 1922 All Blacks skippered by E. A. Bellis). 'Lawton did not play at Eden Park until he led the 1925 New South Welshmen, whom the 1925 All Blacks beat 36—10 in the only Test. If the 1933 fifteen be equal to the standard set by those two fine sides some great football will be witnessed. Mr. Gunther also states that the forwards are particularly strong, while the inside 'backs are a fine lot. The team should possess combiri ition, too. for it includes ten of the Sydneyites who won the New South Wales Rugby Union's knock-out competition this season.

Among fraternal greetings brought over were those from Leo Reynolds, captain of the 1909 Sydney combination, arid Dr. Bruce Hall, who was a forward in the 1920 team and manager in 1922. Raymond recently went to England to take up a five years' medical appointment in the Royal Air Force. He is well-known at Home, where he played for Oxford, and was chosen full-back for' England a'cainst tiie 1924 All Blacks, but declined to play for another country against his old friends. The best known members of the present side are A. Kennedy, the captain, who was here with his brother in 1929, R. Westfield (a New Zealander, who fielded at full-back when the 1928 New South Welshmen beat Auckland 19-—8), and. C. Lowndes. The last-named is a member of the Gisborne family. He lias played for Gisborne High School and Otago University, and in-1931 -svae New Zealand 'Varsity light-weight .boxing .champion. Two brothers are in Auckland, and another is president of the Business Men's Club in Sydney. ■ .-. 0 . - .• . Mr. R. Rocke O Shea, president of the Auckland University College Football Club, was &t ..the station to welcome ...Mr. Gimther and his twenty-two men, who were surprised to eee ench a strong contingent present to take them to the homes «t which the visitors are guests. The Auckland hospitality includes an informal dance at the University this evening, a temoke concert; to-morrow niglit, .theatre with the New Zealand team Friday, and a cabaret party with latter at Dixieland on Saturday. Besides the fifteen selected to play on Wednesday, the seven other visiting players are:—P. Hardman (Sydney), threequarter; t. K. Turner (Melbourne), threequarter: J. Champain.. (Sydney), halfback j H. Bond (Sydney), forward j C. MeWilliam (Sydney), forward; C. Lelew (Sydney),, forward; W. Yuncken. (Melbourne), forward.

OPENING OF THE TOUR. TEAMS FOR TO-MORROW'S GAME. ■The first match of the tour commences nt three o'clock to-morrow afternoon at Eden Park. The teams chosen are:— I AUSTRALIA. 1 Full-back.—R. Westfield (Syd.). Three-quarters. —E. A. H. Lawrie (Mel.), H. Bees (Syd.), A. K. Kennedy (baptain, Syd.), D. P. Rowe (Syd.) - ' Five^ighths.—C. R. Lowndes (Mel.).. Half.—H. H. Pearson (Syd.). 'Forwards.—R. Emerson (Mel.), J. Theodore ,(Syd.), R. Mackay. (Syd.), R. D. Booth (Syd.), E. Spring (Mel.), K. Harris (SycL); A. W. Robertson (Syd.), L. Eleas-(Syd.)» AUCKLAND. IMUback.-R. G. Bush. Three-quarters.—W. M. Milliken, T. H. C. Canghey, E. CL Kedgley. ' Kve-eighths.— D, MulvibiU, D. W. G. GreenHalf.—Rex McKearney. lorwarde.— J. P< McVeagh, R. Thomas, K, A. Anderson (capt.), L. J. Colgan, Ron. Stacey, F. Sherwood, Ron. Wood, L. Drake. , & . , Mr. J. G, C. Wales has been appointed The Talcapuna Grammar School fifteen, which last winter twice beat Kings College, ■will meet 'Varsity Juniors in the curtain-raiser at 1.45 <p.m. The North Shore side will be:—Bull, Bentley, 3. B. Stevenson, Valentine, Swain, Archer, Tasker, Drower, Williamson, Emery, Wallace, Mackintosh, Maesey, Holloway, Fkh, Noel Crump, Audley, Douglas.

VISIT TO ROTORCA.

KOTORUA, Monday. Local footballers are making special arrangemente to entertain the visiting Australian University footballers on_the occasion of their visit to Rotorua. They will be welcomed at a luncheon at Lake House by the Mayor, Mr. T. Jackson, and later will be taken around the sights at Whakarewarewa "by Guide Rangi. A visit will then be paid to the Blue Bath and the Government grounds. A relay swimming race has been fixed for the late afternoon, and in the evening the ofhcials of the Rugby Union will meet the party at dinner, and a Maori welcome will follow. Later the visitors will-.toe guests at a dance in the Majestic Ballroom. They will return to Auckland, early next morning.