CLUB SIDE FROM AUSTRALIA

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28162, 28 December 1956, Page 8

CLUB SIDE FROM AUSTRALIA

Arrival To Begin N.Z. Tour

The Rockdale Kia Ora cricket team, a strong Australian club side which will tour New Zealand during the next three weeks, arrived in Christchurch by air yesterday. The team will play its first match of the tour against South Canterbury at Timaru today and tomorrow. First-class batsmen are included in the strong side. Ron Seaman is a dashing left-hander who scored a century for Combined against the touring M.C.C. side, and Peter Macaree frequently bats with the Australian test player, Colin McDonald. Keith Knight is another batsman in the side who can score freely. The weight of the bowling attack will probably rest on the shoulders of T. Callaghan, a member of the New South Wales squad for the last two seasons. He took 49 wickets in first-class cricket last season. H. Brunton is another bowler who will be kept busy on the tour. He is a first-grade Rugby League player with the St. George club. He has taken 30 first-grade wickets this season The tour is expected to provide New Zealand cricketers with valuable experience before the official Australian eleven arrives in February. The team’s itinerary is:— December 28 and 29. v. South Canterbury, at Timaru: December 31 and January 1, v. Waimate, at Waimate; January 3,4, and 6, v. Otago, at Dunedin: January 8 and 9, v. Petone United, at Petone: January 11 and 12, v. Hawke’s Bay, at Napier: January 16 and 17, v. Combined at Auckland.