RUGBY LEAGUE

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27073, 23 June 1953, Page 5

RUGBY LEAGUE

N.Z. TEAM FOR TEST ON SATURDAY

MENZIES AND EASTLAKE NOT AVAILABLE

The New Zealand Rugby League team to meet Australia in the first test match at Christchurch on Saturday will be different from that announced a fortnight ago. The five-eighths, G. Menzies (West Coast), and a wing three-quarters, C. Eastlake (Auckland), have Withdrawn because of injuries. No announcement about replacements would be made before tomorrow, said two of the three selectors of the New Zealand team, Messrs J. Amos and W. Telford, in Christchurch last evening. Before any final decision was made they would have to confer with the other selector, Mr C. Siddle, of South Auckland. The team, which has assembled at Chrtetchurch, will hold its first practice together at Athletic Park today. Eastlake has not recovered irom a leg injury suffered in a club game on May 23. This injury kept him out of the interisland game. He has played three club matches since then, but on Saturday had to leave the field at half-time. He will have medical treatment in the hope that it will make him fit for the second test at Wellington on Saturday week. Menzies had been selected to play for West Coast against the Australians at Greymouth tomorrow, and his defection will be a great loss to the side. The recurrence of an injury suffered earlidr in the season is said to be the reason for Menzies’s decision not to play. DRAW FOR SATURDAY The following is the draw for Saturday:— International test, Australia, v. New Zealand, Show Grounds Oval, 2.30 p.m.

Referee to be appointed. Test line umpires: W. Massey and W. Smith. sst. Seven-a-Side—A v. B trials, 3.10 p.m. (A. Stuart).

Curtain-raisers.—Third Grade: Lin. V. Hornby, Show Grounds Oval, 1 p.m. (K. Cox). 6st 31b: Add. v. Hornby, Show Grounds Oval, noon (R. Allen). Curtainraiser line umpires: V. Warr and L. Kirtcn. Fourth Grade.—Runanga v. Syd.. Bradford Park, 10 a.m. (P. Sutherwood). Sunday, June 28 Seniors.—Chch. v. Ngahere (own arrangements); Hornby v. Rice., Hornby. 2.45 p.m. Third Grade.—Chch v. Ngahere (own arrangements). SCHOOLBOY LEAGUE DRAW 6st 31b Grade.—Hornby v. Add., Show Grounds, 12 noon (R. Sutherwood)., sst Grade.—Seven-a-side trial game. Show Grounds, 3 p.m. (A. Stuart). A team: C. Mawyer, A. Woods, C. Stephens, P. Pahl, R. Stackhouse, C. Harrison D. Wilson. B team: D. Kendall R. Webster. D. Baxter, R. Nieman, G. Plank, R. King, P. Dougherty. Reserves: R. Crawford, B. English. —Advt. Sydenham and Hornhy tied in the under sst bantams conapetition, recently completed. Woolston won the midgets competition, and Hornby won the fly-weight competition.

AUSTRALIAN TEAM TO ARRIVE TODAY

;New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, June 22. The Australian Rugby League team will arrive at Wellington by air tomorrow morning.

Eighteen of the 30 players will leave for the West Coast after breakfast in preparation for the first game of the tour. The remaining 12 will travel by steamerexpress to Christchurch later in the week.