1958 RECORD UNDER ATTACK No “Easing Up” By British League Men

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32350, 16 July 1970, Page 15

1958 RECORD UNDER ATTACK No “Easing Up” By British League Men

The manager of the British Rugby league team (Mr J. B. Harding) yesterday reiterated the tourists’ determination to remain unbeaten in New Zealand and denied any suggestion that the players would “ease up” during the second test at the Show Grounds on Sunday.

“We want to return to England with the best record any touring team in Australia and New Zealand. If we lose one game here we will only equal the record of the 1958 side,” Mr Harding said.

The British team will be announced this morning. All members of the side which beat New Zealand, 19-15, at Auckland on Saturday have reported fit, although D, Edwards, the full-back in the second international against Australia, remains on the injured list. Back-line Changes? Observers travelling with the team expect the pack to be unchanged from that which performed so impressively at Auckland, but two alterations are possible among the backs.

K. Hepwdrth, who withdrew from the first test because of an arm injury, will contest the scrum-half position with his replacement, B. Seabourne, and R. Dutton may make his test debut at full-

back in place of M. D. Shoebottom. Dutton played only three times during the Australian section of the tour before suffering a severe shoulder injury. He played his first match for four weeks against the Wellington Invitation XIII on Tuesday, kicking nine goals in very wet conditions and boosting his average to nearly 14 points a game. Strength of Kicking In the first test R. Millward failed with four conversion attempts before S. Hynes kicked Britain’s only placed goal from an easy position. Several of Dutton’s successful kicks on Tuesday were from wide angles and his pointsscoring potential, plus Shoebottom’s lack of experience as a full-back, may earn him promotion. Although Seabourne played well against the Kiwis, Hepworth gained the ranking of top scrum-half in Australia and would be expected to return to the test team if fully fit. Neither played at Wellington because of minor injuries, Millward moving in from stand-off half to fill the gap. The tourists relaxed yes-

terday while New Zealand trained twice—a hard run for about 75 minutes in fine weather In the morning and a 20-minute session in rainy, cold conditions during the afternoon. The Kiwi coach (Mr M. W. Church) said that the second run was abbreviated because of the risk of muscle injuries which may have resulted from a stop-start session that had been planned “to iron out a few things.” E. M. Carson, the Auckland scrum-half who was added to the squad on Tuesday evening arrived in time for the afternoon session. The team will probably be announced tomorrow.