Rugby AUSTRALIANS TO OPEN TOUR

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28660, 9 August 1958, Page 7

Rugby AUSTRALIANS TO OPEN TOUR

First Match At Napier Today (New Zealand Pre*s Association) NAPIER. August 8. The 1958 Wallaby Rugby team will not be able to go away from New Zealand with an unbeaten record. They lost their first match today, when they were overwhelmed 12-5 at basketball by the girls of Hukarere Maori School. Even with a certain amount of good-natured cheating by the tourists, and a good deal of help from the referee, they were unable to match the girls. The Australians have settled down very well, and on form should beat Hawke’s Bay for the first time: Hawke’s Bay teams have won both their previous matches against Australia, in 1936 and 1955. Apart from two changes, the Hawke’s Bay side is the same as that which lost to East Coast last Wednesday. The Australians did not see that match, but are surprised that JI. Phillips, who played in the recent New Zealand Maoris-Australia series in Australia, has been dropped, and replaced by D. Aldprson. who has been a Hawke’s Bay representative for several seasons. The Australian backline, with only two newcomers, H. Roberts at fiveeighths, and B. Ell wood at centre, impressed at training with speedy, crisp running, and looks better balanced than that of the Hawke’s Bay. Providing the Australian forwards get a share of the ball, the tourists' backs could sparkle. McLean Park is in good order for the match, which kicks off at 3 p.m.