Millward Only Half-back To Hold Test Place

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32351, 17 July 1970, Page 15

Millward Only Half-back To Hold Test Place

Only one of the four half-backs who played in the first Rugby league test at Auckland, R. Millward (Great Britain), has retained his position for the vital return match at the Show Grounds on Sunday.

The New Zealand selectors yesterday moved R. W. Bailey from stand-off half to take B. Lowther’s place in the centres and introduced a new inside back pairing of E. M. Carson and F. G. Schuster.

K. Hepworth, recovered from an arm injury suffered in the third test in Australia, will return to the British test line-up in place of B. Seabourne. The British selectors have thus restored the half-back partnership that was so effective in the two test victories against the Kangaroos in Sydney. DUTTON TO PLAY The only other change in either side from the teams that played in the opening international—which was won by Great Britain, 19-15—is the replacing of the British utnlity back, M. D. Shoebottom, with the specialist fullback and goal-kicker, R. F. Dutton. The changes were expected. Hepworth emerged as the top scrum-half during the tour of Australia and was the original choice for the first test in this country.

Dutton, playing his first game for four weeks, kicked nine goals in atrocious conditions at Wellington on Tues-

day and will vastly strengthen Britain's scoring potential in his test debut. MORE EXPERIENCED T. W. Patrick, the Kiwi scrum-half in the first test, was comparatively slow around the scrum-base and the experienced Carson should ensure that Schuster gets quick service in his first appearance for New Zealand. Bailey returns to the position where he has played most of his 73 games for his country. Lowther, who returned home to Auckland yesterday with mumps, was somewhat hesitant on defence last Saturday. The teams are:— Great Britain: Dutton: J. B Atkinson, F. Myler (captain), S. Hynes, A. Smith: Millward. Hepworth; D. Hartley, A. Fisher, C. H. Watson; J. Thompson, C. D Laughton; M. J. Reilly. Reserves. Shoebottom, R. A. Irving.

New Zealand: G. C. Ladner; P. C. Orchard, F. R. Christian, Bailey. M. P. Brereton; Schuster, Carson; R. I. Orchard. C. E. O’Neil (captain), D. J. Gailey; W. G. Deacon. J. D. Hibbs; A. P. Kriletich. Reserves: W. Redmond, R. S. Walker.

The two teams will complete their preparations for the test with final work-outs this morning. While the British players rested, New Zealand trained twice yesterday, for 45 minutes in the morning and about an hour at Aranui High School during the afternoon. Redmond, Lowther’s replacement, arrived in time to take part in the second session. I. R. Ballinger, the 1968 Olympic Games rifle-shooting bronze medalist, and Mr W. Colquhoun, the president of the Belfast Gun Club, were the hosts to a number of players at the Belfast club’s grounds yesterday.

The photograph shows five members of the second test forward pack receiving instruction on the fundamentals of trap shooting from Mr Ballinger (fourth from left). Mr Colquhoun is on the far left The players, from left are C. H. Watson, A. Fisher, C. D. Laughton, M. J. Reilly and D. Hartley.