THE ALL BLACKS

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 28, 1 August 1929, Page 14

THE ALL BLACKS

AUCKLAND CAME OFF

INSUFFICIENT SOUND MEN

In reply to further representations made,for the playing of a"Rugby football match at Auckland next Wednesday between the All Blacks and a representative Maori team,' Mr. J M'Leod, manager of the New Zealand team, has advised the New Zealand. Kugby Union by cablegram from Sydney that it is impossible for the team to fulfil the proposed special engagement on its return from Australia, After careful consideration of the representations to play a game in Auckland, it was emphatically agreed, Mr. M'Leod advised, that the proposal wag .quite impracticable. Apart from the question of arranging extra leave, the team would not have fifteen sound players for the match. Tho manager also mentioned that Nepia, Dalley, Oliver Carleton, M'Williams, and Steere were all on the injured list, and others'were suffering from colds. The team is to leave Sydney to-morrow by the Ulimaioa, and is due at Auckland on Tuesday. :

It has been proposed that, fai linn- ■& match with the All Blacks, the Maori representatives should play a game ■with the Auckland representatives nest Wednesday. To this, however, the Auckland Rugby Union has been unable to agree, as its team is to leave Auckland that night for the Wairarapa, where it is to play a match for the Eanfurlv Shield on the following Saturday,"l •"' The Maori Rugby representatives, therefore, will -be without a special match, but, as a. result of-the-Prince of Wales Cup match at Auckland yesterday, the representative players of two of the Maori districts, covering a wide area, will have a game •in Wellington on a date to be arranged. The Wellington Rugby Union has agreed to the match being played on a Wednesday at Athletic Park, and it is expected that it will be played towards the end of. the present month. ■