HUSKY SIDE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 78, 3 April 1939, Page 10

HUSKY SIDE.

LEAGUE VISITORS.

TEAM FROM SYDNEY.

MATCHES IN AUCKLAND.

BRIGHT PLAY THEIR AIM. A husky and happy band of players whose object is to serve lip bright, open football, win or lose, sums U]> the Combined Eastern Suburbs liugby League team, which arrived at .Auckland this morning by the Mariposa from Sydney to meet Auckland club teams in a series of matches during the next two weeks.

Captain ami manager of the *ide ie the popular Australian forward, R. Stein-, who is making his fifth visit to Auckland, and also travelling with the combination of 1" players art Messrs. D. McXaliy, an oflicial of the Western Suburbs Club, and F. Tlynn, « Kugby League enthusiast. '"I think the side is practically a Sydney representative one," said Stehr. "We will play the fast, open game and will endeavour to give the crowd what it want*. We do not care wjiether we win or lose so long us the spectators get good football, and we can assist the game in Auckland and give the selectors <i chance of getting their eyes on players required for the Xew Zealand tour of England and France at the end of the season.' , N.Z.'s Prospects Overseas. Stehr. who has played for Australia in England on several occasions, wan invited to comment on the Xew Zealandcrs' prospect* for the forthcoming tour. "I think the Xew Zealand side will definitely succeed in moulding itself into a good team," he said. "Players become great on such a tour. It is amazing, for instance, how several of the last Australian side in England developed, although they just scraped into the team and were subjected to considerable criticism because of their selection. I have in mind H. Pierce and Xorval, who became etars in England and are continuing to play brightly in Australia. For their tour Xew Zealand will require hard scrummagers and good, solid straight-running backs." The combined aide of visitors has with it three captains of other Sydney clul).«. J. Sharman. full-back, of Western Suburbs, F. Hyde, a three-quarter, of Balmain. and R. Thomson, half-bark, of North Sydney. Other members of the team are: Three-quarters. 1). Mason (South Sydney), A. Mitchell (Canter-bury-Bankstown), R. O'Lonn (Eastern Suburbs). F. Tottey (Eastern Suburbs); half-backs, J. Quealey (Balmain). L. Pickup (Eastern Suburbs); forward*. J. Redman (Balmain), J. McCarthy (Eastern Suburbs). J. Arnold (Eastern Suburlis), 11. Pierce (Eastern Suburbs), .1. Kllbinson (Western Suburbs). F. (irifliths (Balmain), G. Watt (Balmain) and R, Stehr (Eastern Suburbs). Seen at Carlaw Park. Te visitors trained at Carlaw Park this morning after being welcomed aboard the Mariposa by Mr. CS. Grey Campbell, chairman of the Auckland Rugby League, and Mr. Ivan Culpan, secretary of the league, other officials and League enthusiasts, and they will play their first match against Marist Old Boys at Carlaw Park next Saturday. On Monday next they are to meet Richmond, on Wednesday another club team yet to be chosen and, because of the Monterey's schedule having been altered, will possibly be able to lit in another match on Saturday week. They have participated in four trial matches during the past few weeks aJid are in the pink of condition, and their itinerary is such that they will be back in Sydney in time for the opening of the competition matches there on April 22. Promising Newcomers. The team will present an attractive appearance when they take the Held, for they have chosen as their colours maroon jerseys with two white bands at the tops, and stockings to match. Eight of their number, Stehr, Sharman, O'Loun, Thompson, Arnold, Pierce and Griffiths are the only ones to have visited the Dominion previously. Stehr, their leader, was seen in action in Auckland with the 1035 and 193" Australian teams and with Eastern Suburbs combinations in 1931 and 1938. Robinson, who replaced A. Smith, who wae unable to come to Xew Zealand at the last moment, is a dashing front row forward, while L. Pickup is a smart fiveeighthe, who for two eeusons running was awarded the gold medal for the best all-round high school player. A. Mitchell is a centre, and an amazingly big one. Ho is of powerful build and weighs I.lst 01b. He was one of the stars of the Canterbury-Bankstown premier club thirteen last' season. D. Maiieon is another big man, who plays, on the wing, while J. Quealey is a small but exceedingly nippy half-back. J. Redman, formerly a University centre, now locks the scrum and is one of the best men in this department in Sydney to-day. J. McCarthy is a. utility* man, for he has been lock, five-eighths, centre three-quarter and winger for his club. Robinson is only 21, and is a particularly promising forward. G. Watt is a hooker of ability, while lining up with Mitchell in the "big man class is Pierce, who has a reputation for hard forward play in Auckland. In the event of the visitors winnin-r their matches in Auckland, Stehr intimated that he would issue a challenge to the Wigan Club team, which Mr. Harry Sunderland, former Australian manager and now secretary of the Wigan Club, is bringing fro'm En-land later in the season to play matches in Xew Zealand and Australia. Tottey Here. Surprise inclusion in the Combined Extern Suburbs Rugby Leasue team, which arrived at Auckland this morniti" by the Mariposa from Sydney, is Fred lottcy, the Australian" three-quarter who learned his football in Auckland and Hamilton and returned to the Commonwealth late last month after two seasons in English League. He was not included in the team originally announced to come to Auckland, but he has now joined up with the Eastern Suburb* Club and will appear on the wing for the combined team in its matches at Carlaw Park. There was talk of Tottey coming to live permanently in Auckland, where his parents reside, but he said this niornin-r that he intended to return to Sydney, where he has been re-employed by a Svdnev newspaper as a reader. In response to an inquiry he said he thought he New Zealand team which is to travel to England at the end of the present eeaeon had good prospects, as the English conditions would prove suitable to it.