VARSITY FOOTBALLERS

Evening Post, Volume CI, Issue 150, 25 June 1921, Page 7

VARSITY FOOTBALLERS

SUCCESSFUL TOUR COMPLETED.

The success of the recent tour to Australia by the New Zealand University representatives , exceeded expectations, the manager (Mr. G. Lusk) and members of the team speaking in high praise of the hospitality extended to them during the trip. ■ :

Mr. Jjusk, states that the attendances were very good, the crowds at the three test matches averaging; 5000. In , all, six games (including that against Wellington) .were played—four were' won, one was drawn, and one lost. The only defeat was' at the hands of the.Metropolitan 'team,,' which,'"'with on® or two exceptions, was the same as that chosen to represent New South Wales to-day against'the South Africans in the first big match of the Springboks'- tour; "We would have given Metropolitan a much better go if we had met them later in the tour," said Mr. Lusk, "but I don't say that we wou'.d have .won. Our players had only been ashore for one and a-half days, and were not able to give of their best." There was a general opinion, he said,, that the standard of play in Sydney Was much higher than last year. If good games resulted from tho South, Africans' tour, there was every prospect that Rngby would gain further popularity, and the Rugby, people in Sydney were very hopeful of regaining much of the ground, that had •been lost. Much interest was taken in the New Zea-lfljiderV 'a-prpearanee, apparently more than that shown when the 1920 All Blacks visited Sydney.' Financially the tour had been very successful; in fact, .'the takings were. much better than was expected.. The members of the team were a very happy, family 'throughout, and thoroughly enjoyed the tour. Their ■ play after the first match in Sydney, was good, some of the players doing exceptionally well. fW. R. -Fea had the misfortune to receive ■a. severe injury to one of his arms during the early part of the first test match. He was incapacitated for the remainder of the tour, and will probably be, unable to play again this season. His loss was keenly felt by the team. A* feature of the New Zealariders' play was the splendid tacliling. ! The results of matches were as follow : _V. r Wellington, won by 12 points to 6; v. Metropolitan, lost by 31 points to 17; v., Sydney 'Varsity (first test), drawn, 9—9; v. Duntroon' won by 34 to 4; v. Sydney 'Varsity (second test), w^on by 19 to 11; v. Sydney 'Varsity (third test), won by 19 to 11. It is-worthy, of note that in trie two last tests the scores were exactly the same.