Kiwis Choose Blackler For First League Test
“The Press" Special Service
SYDNEY, June 6.
The former Canterbury hooker, G. C. Blackler, a 6ft, 20-year-old policeman, will play for New Zealand in the first Rugby League test against Australia at Sydney on Saturday. Blackler has been chosen in place of the veteran R. J. Butterfield, who is injured.
The Auckland forward, B. S. Lee, has also won a place in the side. He will play in the front row instead of the Maori forward, S. K. Edwards, whose badly bruised leg has not responded to treatment.
Blackler, who at 13st 71b, is one and a half stone lighter than Butterfield, played impressively at Grafton and Newcastle last week-end. It will be his first test match.
He will be a definite asset in the scrum and should be able to give the Kiwis a larger share of ball than they obtained against New South Wales when Butterfield was out-hooked, two to one.
The other two Canterbury players chosen are J. A. Bond end M. L. Cooke. TTie centre, G. M Kennedy, is from the West Coast
The two replacements came
as a surprise for it was expected after training on Wednesday that there would be no changes to the side which played against New South Wales. The team is:
Full-back: G. R. Phillips; wings: W. L. Denton, B. T. Reidy; centres: R. W. Bailey, G. M. Kennedy; five-eighths: 3. A. Bond; half-back: W. L. Snowden; loose forward; M. L. Cooke; second row: R. C. Ackland, R. D., Hammond; front row: H. K. Emery, B. S. Lee; hooker: G. C. Blackler. The two alterations are not expected to weaken the side. "What New Zealand would lose in experience will be made up for by the play of Blackler in the loose,’’ said Mr G. G Plant, the team manager
Phillips, who missed training on Wednesday because he was suffering from influenza, appeared to be fresh and fit today. The Australian team trained in morning and afternoon sessions. Mr C Churchill, the coach, kept R. Hagan. R Gasmer and K J Irvine at goal-kicking practice. This might pose a problem for Australia as it has no recognised goal-kicker in the side
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Bibliographic details
Press, Volume CII, Issue 30151, 7 June 1963, Page 7
Word Count
367Kiwis Choose Blackler For First League Test Press, Volume CII, Issue 30151, 7 June 1963, Page 7
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