SOCCER TEST.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 156, 3 July 1936, Page 12

SOCCER TEST.

N.Z. V. AUSTRALIA. A T.T. BLACKS MAY SURPRISE. PROSPECTS FOR TO-MORROW'S GAME. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) DUNEDIN, this day. After a lapse of 1-1 years a Soccer Test between New Zealand and Australia will be played in the Dominion to-morrow when the first of a series of three will be staged on Logan Park. The New Zealand team assembled in Dunedin last night and took the only opportunity before the match to practise together this morning, but the selectors had no chance of assessing the possible capabilities of the team in action, as the outside right. F. Craggs, Canterbury, is not due to arrive till this evening. The convincing wins by Australia over Auckland, Wellington and Canterbury have: appreciated their Jest prcspccts, but Otago's fine pertorinance_. on Wednesday indicated that the visitors are not unbeatable. In fact, there are hundrads who think that Otago were unlucky to lose. All the Australians have now had games, and as they are very fit Mr. Storey will have no difficulty in fielding his best side. His selection, too, will be based 011 his appraisals of the opposition players, but there are two men in key positions whom he has not seen in action—M. Gordon (Canterbury), centrehalf, and J. Hatchard (Wellington), inside right—and J. Cowie (Westland), left half. Much Depends on the Ground. Much will depend on ground conditions. Logan Park has had no chance to recover from the rain earlier in the week and Wednesday's match and further rain last night will make the surface more greasy, conditions which should favour the New Zealanders, as the Australians are used to playing on hard fields. Should the Dominion forwards and halves play up to their reputations, scoring will not be onesided, and if the backs commit no mistakes, which the Australians turn swiftly to profit, a win for the All Blacks will cause no surprise. New Zealand's Forwards. Otago's fast-moving and tricky forwards proved that Australia's defence is beatable. Two of the cleverest Southern forwards are J. Skinner aud T. Farnan, ex-Auck-landers, who are on the left Hank. They have played delightfully together in two big matches in the past three weeks, and it is from them that Australia can expect most trouble. At centre and inside right are another proved pair in A. Leslie and J. Ilateliard, both of Wellington, and this pair promises to give the line more combination than would have been possible with strangers. The outside right, Craggs, is brilliant when on his game, but he was outclassed by the Australians last week. However, he will have immediately behind him W. Chapman, Otago, right half, a very robust and speedy player, and at centre his provincial mate, Gordon, who knows his play. At full-back are A. Cawtheray (Canterbury) and R. Speed (Auckland). A great deal of responsibility rests on them as the goalie, A. Mcßae, Canterbury, has shown that he does not relish the Australians' close quarter bombardments. There is nothing like resolute tackling, taking man and ball, to upset scientific players such as the Australians are, but if the New Zealanders stand olf too much Australia s clever positional play will give them the match. Strong Australian Side. Although Mr. S. Storey, the Australian manager, usually waits till the 11101 ning of a match to announce his team, he has on this occasion made an early announcement. All the Australians have been tried out and with one alteration Mr. Storey is fielding the team which beat Auckland in the first match of the tour. A. Forrest, who has been playing at left full-back, displaces Donaldson at outside left. The Australian forward line possesses great speed and skill and the halves have only to reproduce their Auckland form to give the forwards opportunities to reveal their true qualities. The Australians are fielding their strongest team, which is: —

McNab, Evans, Osborne, Bryant, Harden, Sharp, Wilkinson, Cameron, Smith, Price, A. Forrest.