FOOTBALL.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17856, 31 August 1923, Page 12

FOOTBALL.

TO MORROW'S TEST MATCH.

ARRIVAL OP N.S.W. TEAM

The members of the New South Wales Rugby team arrived in Christchurch last night from Invercargill, and were welcomed by Mr S. F. Wilson, president of the Canterbury Rugby Football Union, and other officials. They are all well except Smith, the three-quarter, who was injured in the ] first tost match at Dunedin, and who has gone into Lewisham Hospital for treatment. He is not expected to go north with tho team after the test match. Manager Interviewed. "We aro confident of winning tomorrow's test match," said Mr H. Bosward, manager of the- New South Wales team, to a. ''Press" reporter last night. "Wo beat an All Black team at Lancaster Park two years ago by 17 points to nil, and I think wo can win again." Mr Bosward said that the Australians had a preference tor Lancaster .Park, which tney considered tne besn ground tuey uacl ever playea on. Most grounds in the JJoniuUun wero soit ana comparatively rough, whereas at Lancaoter i'ark tne conditions were tits- opposite, and were simdar to .those in Australia. On the last tour of the Dominion in IQ2I, which was suocessful from the Australians' point of view, Mr Boswaro.' drew attention to the weakness of back play in New Zealand teams._ AsKod what he thought of New Zealand Sack play to-day, he said that he had noticed a vast improvement. . Tho Southland backs, in particular, were a very fine lot, being, in fact, the best the New South Welshmen had as yet played against on the present tour. With respect to the match against Southland, Mr Bosward said that this team was undoubtedly hard to beat on its own ground. Southland, in faot, had never yet lost to an Australian team in Invercargill. Tho southern side played magnificently, forward, and was given splendid support by the backs. "When we turned round with tho wind behind us in the second spell," said Mr Bosward, ,; we thought we had a good chance oil vanning, but they came at us 50 hard that we were unable to keep them off." He added that the Australians did not like tho ground on which the match was played. It was rough, soft, and clinging, and the grass was too long. Mr Bosward said that the present team was not so experienced as that of 1921, and it contained only seven members of that combination. The forwards, too, were lighter and generally not so tall, but'they were all workers, and should show to advantage on a ground like Lancaster Park. "It's a pity that the wing forwards still played here,", said Mr Bosward. "I read" some time ago that you were going to drop him so far as Christchurch football was concerned, but you still play him, I notice." He added that the Australians started off with the three-two-three scrum formation in Dunedin on Saturday, but had to put out a wing forward later iu the game for protective 'purposes. With regard to tho Rugby game in. Australia, he stated that it was making steady progress in Sydney, tho standard of play having improved 50 per cent, since last season. The game in the country was also gaining in popularity.

Park Seating Accommodation. The seating accommodation in the stands at Lancaster Park has all been taken up for to-morrow, but there are Still 2000 unreserved seats around the, ground, which will be available to the public.

THE TEAMS

* New South Wales. The. Now South Wales team for tomorrow will be picked from the following : Pull-back: Nothling. Three-quarters: Erasmus, Stanley, Sheehan (captain), •- Loudon. Five-eighths: George. Half-back: f Mingay. Forwards: Elliott, Armstrong, Thorn, Marriott, Taylor, Davis. Blackwood, Thompson, Erby, Fowlds. New Zealand. Full-back: Sinclair. Three-quarters: Peina, Lucas, Ford. Five-eighths: Perry, Bell. Half-back: McCarthy. % Wing: Belhs. Forwards: Back row: Pringle, Bichardsoa. Sides: Peterson, West. Lock: Williams. Hookers: Donald, MoMeeking. Emergencies: Backs—H. E. Nicholls, McLean, Potaka. Forwards —Brownlie, Irvine. The team leaves Timaru for Christchurch by the express to-day.

RETURNED SOLDIERS' MATCH.

(SMBS iSSOCUTTOS TSLSOIiM ) DUNEDIN, August 30. The following will represent the Otago Returned Soldiers againat the Canterbury Returned Soldiers at Rugby on eptember ith:—Sinclair, King, Knight, Walsh, Fee., Jones, Croasan, Johnson, Scott, Ross, Sounlag, Highley, 'Williams, McMeeking, Bain.

MOASCAR CUP.

Cfsess A.isoavnoN itleobam.) NEW PLYMOUTH. Auguat 30. After a fast and exciting game, New* Plymouth High School withstood a challenge from the PaJmerston North High School for the'Moascar Cup, the local boys winning by 11 points to 0. PaJmerston put up a great fight, but tenucious taokling by the local side kept their line intact, whilst the epeedy local backs were able to turn their opportunities into points. Mackay (two) and (Brown scored tries, Brown converting one.

ALL BLACKS' VISIT TO ENGLAND

(PMS9 ASSOCIATION TXLXMUM.) NEW PLYMOUTH, August 30. The Taranaki Rugby Union, at a meeting to-night, passed a resolution: "That this Union is of the opinion that the New Zenland Union should call a conference of delegates to discuss the conditions of the proposed visit to England aa recommended by the meeting of delegates to the N.Z.R.U., and suggests September 14th or 16th aa a enitable date.