GATE TAKINGS OF £19,000

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27992, 12 June 1956, Page 3

GATE TAKINGS OF £19,000

RUGBY LEAGUE

RECORD FIGURE FOR TEST

(N.Z. Press Association —Copyright) SYDNEY, June 11

The takings of approximately £19,000 at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday were a record for a Rugby League match between New Zealand and Australia.

The figures exceeded by about £lOOO the previous record set in the first test in Sydney in 1952. They also were higher than the record for the Great Britain-Australia test in Sydney of £17,717 established in 1954. Australia beat New Zealand 12-9 on Saturday. Critics agree that it was one of the grimmest Rugby League tests ever played in Sydney. The general opinion is that a draw would have been an appropriate ending. The Sydney “Sun-Herald” states that the Kiwis played with a better understanding and their centre halves were better than Australia’s. The Kiwi second row men, Cliff Johnson and Jimmy Riddell, are as good as any international pair seen here since the war.

The former Kangaroo, Jack Reardon, in the “Brisbane Sunday Mail,” comments: “Many people Were of the opinion that the ‘better side lost. The New Zealanders are tremendous tacklers. Australia did very well to score four tries. “The New Zealand forwards are the right type, who hunt in the pack and stay in the rucks. The New Zealand centres, Baxter and Sorensen, are a punishing pair. They have attacking ability as well. “The Kiwi lock forward, Frank Mulcare. is still a very dangerous attacking forward and does his cover defence well.’’

The Kiwis arrived in Brisbane from Sydney yesterday and had a light work-out during the afternoon. They will play the Brisbane Rugby League team under floodlights at the Exhibition ground to-night.

AUCKLAND TEAM’S TOUR

Confirmation from the Auckland Rugby League that the Auckland representative team would travel south this week to play games against Otago, Canterbury, and West Coast was received at a meeting last evening of the Canterbury League’s board of control. The Auckland teajn will play Otago in a night game on Thursday. The game against Canterbury will be played on Saturday, and the team will then travel to Greymouth for the game against West Coast. DRAW FOR SATURDAY Senior.—Representative match: Canterbury v. Auckland, Showground Oval, 2.45 p.m. Curtain-raiser: Add bantams v. Add midgets. Showground Oval, 2.30 p.m. Senior Reserve.—Chch v. Hornby, Showground Oval, 1 p.m. (Mr K. Cox). Senior Reserve.—Syd v. Mar, Syd Park, 1.15 p.m. (Mr C. Hills); Pap v. Lin. Showground No. 2, 1.15 p.m. (Mr C. Day); Univ v. Dall, Jerrold st., 1.15 p.m. (Mr W. Wilkinson). Third Grade.—Pap v. Syd, Bradford Park, 1.15 p.m. (Mr I. Howell); Horn v. Mar, Rice Domain, 1.15 p.m. (Mr J. Guy); Wool. bye. Line umpires—Oval, 3 p.m.: Mr V. Henry, Mr W. Massey. Oval, No. 2, I p.m.: N. Jones, A. Kerridge. Timekeeper: Mr G. Williams. Schoolboys’ Draw Under 17 Years.—Syd v. Pap. 10 a.m., Papanui Dorn. No. 1 (R. Allen); Rice v. Lin. 10 a.m., Linwood Pk (W. McKenzie). Under 16 Years.—Horn v. Add, 10 a.m., Jerr st. (J. Lander). Under 15 Years.—Chch v. Pap, 10 a.m., Syd Pk (N. Jones); Lin v. Rice, 10 a.m.. Rice Dom (K. Young). Under 13 Years.—Dall v. Wool, 11 a.m., Wool Pk (P. Yaxley); Syd v. Add. 11 a.m., Jerrold st. (J. Lander); Horn v. Pap, 10 a.m.. Pap. No. 2 (D. Smith). Under sst 101b.—Horn v. Mar, 11 a.m.. Sylvan st. (A. S. Dennis); Lin v. Chch, II a.m., Lin Pk (W. McKenzie); Dall v. Rice, 10 a.m., Avon Pk (M. Gibson); Pap B v. Shir, 11 a.m.. Pap Dom No. 1 (R. Allen): Pap A. bye. Under sst.—lo a.m.. Showgrounds. Referees: W. Wilkinson, J. Clarke, V. Warr, B. Cox. I. Howell. Fly-weights: Dall v. Lin; Shir v. Horn: Add v. Mar; Wool v. Pap. Bantams: Lin v. Shir: Add v. Rice. Midgets: Mar v. Wool; Shir v. Add; Dall v. Pap: Horn v. Chch.

. Under sst.—Midgets: Showgrounds Oval. 3.30 p.m., Seven-a-side: Pap v Wool. sst Midgets—Addington v. Addington bantams, 2.30 p.m.. Showground Oval.