FIRST TEST FOR AUCKLAND RUGBY REPRESENTATIVES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 164, 12 July 1940, Page 11

FIRST TEST FOR AUCKLAND RUGBY REPRESENTATIVES.

Patrons of Eden Park to-morrow will get an idea of the strength of Auckland Rugby when the representative team will meet Waikato in the first match of the season. The teams meet in two matches annually, but the first, set down for the King's Birthday, was cancelled and tomorrow's game will commence a fairly heavy schedule of representative gamec. Auckland has seldom been beaten by Waikato since the fixture was initiated in 1922. In fact the country players have been successful in only three out of 28 matches, and in two of those Auckland fielded a B team. However, the country players provide an excellent test at the beginning of the season, and there is always a possibility, particularly on a wet ground, that they may spring a surprise. In this connection it is worth recalling that Waikato almost caused the major upset of the last Springboks in the second match of the South Africans' tour, being defeated by only three points (6 —3) on a slushy ground at Hamilton.

Waikato usually field a pack of sturdy forwards, but lack the combination and finesse of Auckland in the -backs. And tomorrow it appears that Auckland will have a strong back combination with distinct possibilities in the three-quarter line. Judging by their club performances the threequarters are the best that have been tielilcd for some years. There are five backs new to representative ranks in the home side and their performances as a unit to-mor-row will be awaited with much Interest as giving an indication as to how they will fare when they meet other provincial sides later on.

The Waikato team will be leil by A. J. Aitken. a back of many years' experience against Auckland. It is in the forwards, however, that the visitors are likely to do

best, and the pack includes W. Warrender, K. H. Catley and J. M. Taylor, who participated in the All Black trials last season. The teams are :— WAIKATO. Full-back: D. S. Ensor <Morrinsville). Three-quarters: C. Perkins (Hamilton). A. J. Aitken ( jjorrlnsville), A. Aherne (Hamilton ). Five-eighths: Ij. G. Reece (Hamilton), I*. Cameron (Morrinsville). Half-hark: J. Broad (Hamilton). Forwards: W. F. Duniels (WaipA), \V. Warrender (Matamata), E. H. Macky (Waipa). A. Thompson (Waipa). A. MacLean (Hamilton), J. M. Taylor (Taupiri), E. H. Catley (Taupiri), P. J. Farren (Taupiri). Reserves: D. Paters>on (Hamilton). W. Hrown (Matamata), M. Hewitt (Cambridge), A. Robertson (Raglan). AUCKLAND. Full-back: W. Hare (Marist). Three-quarters: A. S. Couglilan (Pon sonby), A. Wiles (Poiisonby), L. ColmoreWilliains (Training College). Five-eigliths : X. Pearnvan (Grafton, captain). K. H. Barlow (I'onsonby). Half-back: P. I'. Tetzlaff (Ponsonby). Forwards: A. Johnson' (Technical), A. Moffitt (Marist), J. Gilinour (Grammar), W. Smith (Manukau). H. Priest (Otahuhu), R. R. Hull (Grafton, vice-captain), D. Ryan (Technical), D. Mills (Marist). Reserves —Racks: F. Cooney (Maritrt), J. Molloy (Marist). Forwards: M. Nelson (Suburbs), J. Barry (Marist). Mr. J. A. Malcolm has been appointed referee.