FOOTBALL.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20328, 29 August 1931, Page 16

FOOTBALL.

BIG MATCH TO DAY. AUSTRALIANS CONFIDENT. CANTERBURY FIELDS STRONG SIDE. Undismayed by the fact that they were beaten by Southland on Wednesday, the Australian Rugby team to play Canterbury at Lancaster Park to-day are confident that they will register their first win of the tour at the expense of the Ranfurly Shield holders. They claim that the ground at Dunedin, where they drew with Otago, was soft, and consequently quite unlike their Australian grounds, and that the turf at Invercargill was no better, so that they did not have an opportunity of producing their best form. The practice they had at Lancaster Park yesterday convinced them that the ground was to their liking, and this, combined with the fact that previous Australian teams have been successful here, will send them on to the field full of confidence. Yesterday's Practice. Those who saw the team at practice were impressed with the passing of the backs, whose speed and timing were excellent, giving the impression that the local backs will need to be keyed up to concert pitch to hold them. The full-back, Dr. Boss, who is claimed to be the greatest that Australia has had since the war, had his kicking boots on, and found no difficult" in placing goals, some from halfway. Bennett, the Queensland half-back, also indulged in kicjring practice, drop-kicking goals from a considerable distance from the posts. The forwards, too, impressed. Among them was W. Cerutti, who is • regarded as the best all-round forward in the Commonwealth. He was injured in Invercargill, but not so badly that he will be unable to take the field today. The forwards pack a three-two-three scrum, and in view of their i success in this department against Southland, it will be interesting to see how they shape against the Canterbury pack. So keen are the Australians to win to-day that they are putting a team in" the field that will be up to Test Btrength. The Canterbury team should play at its best, since it has developed combination as a result of the tour of the North Island. It will be stronger than the side which .defeated Wellington on Saturday last, in that D. G. Simpson will play as lock, and his presence is. expected to make a big difference to the scrum, while Wil- > Hams, on the wing, should add speed to th® attack.

Traffic Arrangements. It 1 is desired by the .Chief Traffic Inspector (Mr H. Macintosh) that drivers intending to park their cars in streets to the south, of' Ferry road should make their approach from that road via Lancaster street. Drivers coming in from Sumner must not turn to the left at Moorhouse avenue, but must proceed along Ferry road as far as Lan- * caster street before turning. Drivers are requested to indicate to the pointsman who mil be stationed nearby -whether after the match they will proceed east or west, so that they may be directed to the parking place most convenient for a quick get away. . , . Mr Macintosh advises motorists to <t»ark their cars to the north of Ferry . road, along Nursery road, or Olbvier s road, in order that they may be able to drive away with the minimum of delay. To reach the parking place at the Park it will be necessary to approach it through- Falsgrave and Stevens streets. Between Moorhouse avenue and Ferry road, Tlitzgerald avenie will be closed after the match ■to motor "traffic in order that congestion will be obviated with tram traffic.

The Teaxna. The teams will be as follows: — Full-back—A. W. Boss. _ Three-quarters—W*. Hemingway, ' , Cowper, C. Towers, B. Palmer. Five-eighth—H. Primrose. v Half-back—S. J. Malcolm (captain). Front row—W. Cerutti, E. Bonis, M. A. Blair. Middle row—B. Judd, M. White. Back row—T. Perrin, L. Palfreyman, J. Clark. _ Emergencies—Backs: G. Bennett, H. Tolhurst, H. Herd, J. Steggall. Forwards: D. Love, ,J. Bitter, E. Bridle. Following are the Canterbury men to -oppose them: — Full-back—A. W. Roberts. ■ . Three-quarters—G. F. Hart, G. D. ' Innes, B. N. Williams. Five-eighths—C. J. Oliver (captain), G. Day. Half-back—T. F. Mullan. Wing-forward—A. H. Andrews. Hookers—A. I. Cottrell, W. Pease. • liock—6. D. Simpson. Supports —K. Kearney, J. E. Manchester. Back row—E. K. King, W. Sweeney. Emergencies—Backs: W. Brown, R. • Hazelhurst, W. Vincent. Forwards: P. Boberts, C. Quaid, F. J. Foley.

CIVIC RECEPTION. VISITORS EXPECT TO WIN. A crowd which filled the Qity Council Chambers yesterday on the occasion of a civic reception to the Australian Bubgy team "gave the visitors an enthusiastic welcome. The Deputy-Mayor i (Mr J. K. Archer) presided in the absence of the Mayor (Mr D. G. Sullivan, , M.P.). Mr Archer said that from the point of view of patriotism Canterbury ' people hoped that the visitors would be defeated, but from a hospitable point of view they would like to see them ' win. He was sure, however, that whatever side lost would do so in good spirit. Between Australia and New Zealand there existed a close relationship, and it was unfortunate that although both countries had experienced : good times together, they were# now ' i ' going through bad times.' If one could believe all one read, conditions were very Bad in Australia, and many people were practically starving there, but he would say from the appearance.of the visitors that they, seemed to be 1 able to get three good meals a day-and a comfortable nights rest. (Laughter.) He hoped that they in turn would bis able to learn that the people of the Dominion were also doing quite as well; The president of the 1 Canterbury Bttgby'Union (Mr A. B. McPhail) ex-

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