KIWIS HARD HIT

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30155, 12 June 1963, Page 7

KIWIS HARD HIT

Eight Players On Injured List

“The Press’" Special Service

BRISBANE, June 11.

The New Zealand Rugby League team will play against a strong Toowoomba side tomorrow without a recognised hooker. Both G. C. Blackler and J. R. Butterfield are on the injured list.

Butterfield has not yet recovered from a pulled ligament in his'chest, while Blackler has his left hand in plaster after breaking the middle finger during the match against Brisbane on Monday night.

The Canterbury front row forward, J. H. Fisher, will take over the role of hooker against Toowoomba.

The teams is: Full-back, J. E. Fagan; wings, N. L. Denton, B. T. Reidy; centres, J E Sparnon, J. R. McCracken; five-eighths. J. D. Ellwood: half-back, G. T Woollard; loose forward, R. D Hammond, C. L. McMaster. B. S. Lee; front row, K. F. George, H K. Emery; hooker, J. H. Fisher.

Last-minute alternations have been made to the Kiwi side following their match against Brisbane when a hard ground caused many injuries, bringing the team total to eight. G. R. Phillips, the test fullback, is in doubt for the second test with a bad leg injury. Blackler will be out foi about a fortnight, the captain, M. L. Cooke, is receiving treatment for bad blisters on his feet, H. R. Sinel has a strained ankle injury whirti may force him to miss a couple of games, R. C. Ackland has a dislocated finger and G. M. Kennedy has. an injured thigh.

Hard Grounds Blanjed S. K. Edwards and Butterfield are expected to return to football on Saturday when the Kiwis will play Queensland at Brisbane, but hard grounds here in Queensland might cause more injuries. The Kiwis may be hard pressed against Toowoomba. The defence is no; as strong as it was against Great Britain last year: the tackling has been high and too many players have missed their man.

Toowoomba was narrowly beaten by the 1959 Kiwi team. 21-19, and defeated the 1948 tourists, 15-10. Seven of its side will play for Queensland on Saturday. Strong Opposition Considerable interest is being shown in the game with Queensland, which will have seven Australian representatives—F. Drake, L. Morgan, A. Gil, B. Muir, R. Hagan, P. Gallagher and K. Day. In addition, J Gleeson was reserve back for the first test last Saturday and R. Duncan was reserve forward foi Australia in tests against Great Britain last year.

The Queensland team is: Full-back, Drake; wings, Morgan, Hagan; centres, Gil, R Tait; five-eighths, Gleeson; half-back, Muir (captain); loose forward, R. Duncan; second row, M. Velvets, Day: front row, Gallagher, J Cleary; hooker, M. Lili.