LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 222, 19 September 1935, Page 19

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

AUSTRALIAN VISIT. MATCH AGAINST AUCKLAND. COOKE NOW. AT FULL-BACK. The Australian Rugby Leajjue team, which, is to open its New Zealand tour with a match against Auckland at Carlaw Park 011 Saturday afternoon, will arrive by the Monterey. The tourists, managed by Mr. W. J. Chaseling (secretary of Newtown Club, Sydney, and a member of the New South Wales management) and Mr. Harry Sunderland (secretary of the Queensland Rugby League and member of the Australian Control Board), and captained by the famous centre-three-quarter, D. Brown, is assured of a great welcome. It will be the second Australian national side to come to New Zealand, and is con-1 sidered a most brilliant combination. The last Kangaroo side, here in 1919 won eight of their nine matches. The code has made much progress in New Zealand in the intervening years, and, after a slump between 1920-30, has made exceptional headway in the last five years as the result of intensive national reorganisation. The standard of play has risen, and to-day it is felt that the Dominion is rich in talent with players capable of upholding the reputation of this country for first-class Rugger. The Auckland team announced on Monday has been slightly changed. Campbell, the Marist international full-back, is unavailable. The selectors met on Tuesday and after giving the matter full consideration decided to shift Bert Cooke from centre-three-quarter to fullback, bring Mincliam into centre, and introduce C. Hall, the young Devonport player, on the wing. Hall, who is a strong runner and reliable defender, revealed top form on the Auckland team's tour in the South just closed. T. Mitchell, the Richmond wing-three-quarter, will replace Hall on the reserve list. According to -international rules there will be no replacements once the match has started.

The box plan for reserved seats indicates that much public interest is being taken in the opening fixture, and a record attendance is expected. The council of the New Zealand Rugby League has made arrangements for the issue of a very attractive souvenir programme in connection with the tour, the first number of which will feature blue and white —Auckland's colours. The Auckland team is as follows:— Backs, A. E. Cooke (captain), L. Brown, E. T. Mincham, C. Hall, A. Kay, S. Prentice, R. Powell; forwards, L. Hutt, S. Quirke, W. Telford, C. Satherly, J. Laird, H. Tetley; reserves, I). Herring (forward), T. Mitchell, B. Riley.

COMBINED XIII. V. AUSTRALIA. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. The combined Rugby League team to meet the Australians here next Wednesday is:—Standeven (Canterbury), Gladding (Wellington), C. Hunt, captain (Taranaki), R. E. Smith (Hawke's Bay), Atkins, Liiburne, O'Connor (Wellington), Ward, Serra (Canterbury), Moisley, Coutte, Gunn and Yule (Wellington). Referee: Mr. V. M. Simpaon, of Wellington.