FIRST MATCH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 224, 22 September 1938, Page 29

FIRST MATCH.

THE SYDNEY TEAM.

"DUTY TO THE PUBLIC."

MANAGER ACKNOWLEDGES CONTROL BOARD WELCOME.

Following the completion of arrangements for the opening match of Eastern Suburbs against Marist Old Boys, Auckland champion*, for Carlaw Park on Saturday, when Mr. Freeman Thompson will control the game, the Control Board of the Auckland Rugby League last evening officially greeted Mr. John Quinlan, manager of the tourists. \ The chairman, Mr. Q. Grey Campbell, i alter referring to provision made for the fixtures for entertaining Eastern Suburbs, •aid it was impressive to hear that the visitors, through their manager and their captain, Ray- Stehr, had stated they intended to do no holiday touring until they had fulfilled their football oblige tione. Their aim was to give of their best atad the Auckland public would appreciate this aa aa evidence that a brilliant B*" 1 * be seen. The board, members and Aep> Jfealand acquaintances were glad to welcome again M*. Quinlaa, who, like former* club .managers "from Sydney, took a Jive and helpful interest fn the code in this Dominion. Earlier club teams from Sydney met with fairly.oomfortable suecess, but it was hoped, that Auckland clubs to-day mwht come out on top. mm JWtefJHi indeed to have your #tliidi'aVte*nV«erp," concluded Mr. Campbell, "and we hope you will all enjoy your football and your trip as a whole." (Applause.) said he was delighted to be backJiM-uck-land, which he bad new visited three times. He enjoyed a trip to New Zealand, • #b.on as it fcuch as be had enjoyed trips anywhere, even as much as his 1011 tour to England. On that tour he thought • present member of> the Auckland Control Board, Mr."Jtm Bukutai, would have been a dktinst'snqaisition at that time when he was showing outstanding form. .That, heWerer, Waa one for the selectors ,«t the time. ■. Z Acknowledgttjg the compliment made to r -the team in concentrating first of all on its tour matches, Mr. Quinlan said the; -. -visiting players realised that they had. * primary duty to the game and the public., , He recalled that when here in 1031 Eastern Suburbs were beaten 13-14 by the combined Marist-Devonport side. In Sydney an Auckland elub tour would be welcome, but there were difficulties in arranging this owing to the lateness of the metropolitan championship matches and other embracing country tours. % • The speaker went on to observe that, "S.P." betting and broadcasting had greatly prejudiced all outdoor games in .Sydney. Nevertheless, Rugby League club play there was still at a high standard. ,though the gambling referred to had tended to rob the game of young players. One of the most representative deputa- '' tions, including- every branch of sport, recently waited on a Minister of the New South Wales Government complaining of the "S.P." menace and, as a result, an Act bad been passed and it was hoped that .its effective operation would put a stop to tbe trouble to the advantage of more than sport, as the evil ha"d threatened to %e very far-reaching. - .f In reply to a question, Mr. Quinlan, who : was heartily thanked for his informative 'talk, said his team would be pleased to .agree to the ■ Auckland rule 5 allowing replacements, if necessary, up tO-the start of the second spell. ' The Mayor, Sir Ernest Davis, wrote regretting his inability, owing to indisposition, to officiate personally at the mayoral reception to the Eastern Suburbs team of Sydney on Monday. The chairman announced that Mr. Harry Sunderland, the ex-Queensland Rugby League secretary, now on his way to take op the position of secretarymanager of the Wigan Club, had presented to the board a fine antographedenlargement of the 1937-38 Kangaroos. Th"* to J be frsmed snd hung in the board's office.