ENGLISH FOOTBALLERS HERE

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 August 1920, Page 5

ENGLISH FOOTBALLERS HERE

MEN OF BREADTH AND WEIGHT GREAT FORM REPORTED FOR TO-DAY’S GAME —gem WJiyuß RECEPTION IN GREYMOUTH LAST NIGHT

The English Northern ‘Union football combination, 14 in the party, rived in Greymouth by the express from Otira last evening. They are to play a West Coast representative team at the Victoria Park this afternoon.

ever beautiful we may make things there is nothing more beautiful than nature, and nature has made New Zealand beautiful. I hope the Coast boys will put up a good fight to-morrow. The greater the fight you put up, the greater ability our players show. (Laughter.) I really mean that—seriously. We have during our tour in Australia and New 7 Zealand met with some real good sporting friends. I may add that we are all particularly hungry—(laughter) —and there is one game that we are good at and that is eating. (Renewed laughter). I thank you on behalf of the boys for your cordial' Welcome and hope the match lomorrow 7 will give you the satisfaction you have been looking for during the', past few weeks. I should like to introduce to you the captain of the team which will meet the Coast- to-mor-row —our vice-captain Thomas, who comes from Huddersfield, the same place as Mr. Naylor who has just spoken. I think in Huddersfield they have the most wonderful team that has played Northern League for nine years. (Applause.) V Mr. Thomas, the vice-captain said, On behalf of the beys, I have to thank you tor your great reception.’ We did not expect to have such a good reception and by such a fine band. I can assure you that whatever happens tomorrow w 7 e shall do our best to in axe it an open game, and to make it spectacular. If the V est Coast hoys be it us w 7 e shall be the first to shake them by the hand and pat them on the back. It is the best welcome we have ever had and once again I thank you on behalf of the team.” (Loud applause.) The team then sang their football song, after which a veise of ° God Save The King was sung by the crowd. Proceedings at the Albion being closed with cheers for the band. Whilst the visitors weie having dinner the band rendered popular selections outside. MANAGER INTERVIEWED.

The manager reports a pleasant trip over the hill with all the players in good fettle, nothing happening on the trip worthy of mention. They had -an early welcome from Mr. Wingham, president of the Rugby League, and members of his committee. The evening was bright, but cool. The visitors seemed to think it resembled their own spring rather than anything approaching winter. Perhaps they° are right. It depends on what one has been inured to. For instance, some West Coasters this morning shiveringly suggested that the day was very cold.

The EngFshmen and the Welshmen —for there are a few 7 from the Principality in the party —look very well. They have a big, husky, formidable looking lot of forwards. These men of breadth and weight are said to be very fast in the loose, and as fond of the heavy work of the scrummage and ruck as thought it were sheer delight. Therefore, we are prom’sed something special in the line of foiward play and incessant on-the-ball Rugger when they set out in earnest for the scalps of the West Coasters this afternoon.

The hacks, with a few exceptions, seem to be much smaller relatively. A. E. Wood, who was out with the last tourists, looks very well. He is lighter than in 1914, but is the better lor that. He is no younger of course, but his form is likely to he better than of yore, THE RECEPTION. A magnificent welcome was extended to the English team last night on tno arrival of the Otira express. As the captain of the visiting team remarked “it had not been beaten anywhere.” Not for some considerable t me past, has such a large crowd of ca"cr citizens waited the arrival of the express, and last night the crowd was reminiscent of the old war days on the occasion of the arrival of a lairg. number of returned soldiers. The station was crowded. When thejuain arrived the Deputy Mayor (Mr. V . HParfitt) mounted the platform and called for three cheers for the visitors. Outs'de the Citizen’s Band waited in readiness to lead the procession to the Albion Hotel where Die civic welcome took place. On the arrival at the hotel the Englishmen filed out on to the balcony and were greeted with a ringing cheer. The wharf in the vicinity was crowded, work was stopped for a short time on a vessel berthed opposite the Albion, and theie ue.e quite, a number of vehicles present. The deputy-mayor (Mr. W. IT. Parfitt) said that it gave him great pleasure to extend a real hearty West Coast welcome to the English Northern Union team. He desired to congratulate them on the success achieved dur ing their tour and to sympathise with them owing to the absence from their ranks of their brilliant half-back, J. Rodgers. He greeted them on behalf of the citizens of Greymouth and hoped that their comrade would be about before long. He also wished to congratulate the local League Centre for the arrangements made in connection with the visit, of such a fine combination as the English team. He was sura the local hoys would give a great exhibition when they met the pick of England on the morrow. On account of the cold ho would not detain them any longer, and he was sure the visitors would he able to do ample justice to a hearty meal. He offered them the best wishes on behalf of the citizens of Greymouth when they saw the Englishmen in action they would realize how the men of England wore able to do such great work in the titanic struggle (applause.) He desired to introduce Mr. A. Naylor, a native of Huddersfield, to them.

“What of League in the Dominion?’’

Well, it is my personal opinion that the war greatly retarded the advancement of the game.” sari Mr. Foster, manager of the Lnglish Rugby League team to a “Star” reporter to-day. “At the commencement of liosti.it os League was gaining ground, hut seveneighths of your men joined the forces, many were killed, and it will take one or two years yet before the game recovers. Things are now better and stronger, and the future of League ;n the Dominion is very promising.”

Regarding the New Zealand players, he thought that the forwards in tins country are rather on the small size. It would be a great advantage to get bigger men in the forwards for at present they had speed but lacked weigut. The New Zealanders, added Mr. Foster are too fond of kicking, which is not so effective as if the passing game were adopted. By kicking a player sends the ball to an opponent, instead of retaining it himself. This fault could be very easily got over, and no doubt would be after the English visit. “I do not think,” continued Mr. Foster, “that the general standard of the game in New Zealand is up to that of Australia. In Sydney the game is up to Club standard at Home.” Reverting to League in England be added : “tA present League in England is stronger than at any period during the last ten or twelve years. Many of the younger men are taking seriously to the game and in fact where League is played in the industrial towns it has far outpaced the Rugby Union .code. The whole of the clubs in the Northern Union are in a very satisfactory financial position in fact, I do not know of any club which did not make handsome profits last season. Regarding my own club (Halifax) we made a profit of £2OOO on last season s work. Many others did as well and some better.”

Questioned as to the charge of professionalism levied against League, M r Foster replied that the word “professional” should not be used in the majority of instances. Fully 90 per cent, of the League players did not receive one penny. In the true sense they were amateur as any other club. There was a wrong impression regarding League. For instance, of the Englishmen travelling, none of the players lived out or the game. How could they on the wages for playing football? Of the whole touring team there was not one man in the team who did net follow an employment outside football. At Home none of the players receive a weekly remuneration, and are only paid for the matches they take part in.

Mr. Naylor said that it gave him great pleasure to say a few words oi welcome to the Northern Up ion Rugby League representatives. As an old resident of the North oE England, he had played the game himself, and he was pleased to assist ethers interested in the same game. At Home he had played on' the same ground with the captain of the visiting team. Ho adLeague football for it was more interesting'from a spectacular point of view. Everyone should see the gieat Enel and versus West Coast game. Regarding the local team he saw signs of improvement since the game had commenced a few years ago. He hoped that in time they ivould be as good a team as that which was before them that night. (Applause.) Mr. Wingham said ; It give me much pleasure on behalf of the Rugby League to give the English players a hearty welcome to the town. We have been looking forward to this visit for some time. I hope our boys put up a good fight to-morrow and that they ■will learn a lot about the game from playing with the English team. Three hearty cheers were given, for the English team. Mr. Foster, manager of the team, m responding said; It gives the boys and myself the greatest possible pleasure to come down to your ‘city.’ - New Zealand is the most wonderful land I and the boys, have ever seen and particularly the country through which Sve passed to-day. , The magnificence of the scenery has been sometimes staggering but in passing oyer the; range, it was not only beautiful, but dangerous and for this reason it has the greatest charm for the boys. Its rugredness must be admired. There has been no more beautiful scenery than

“ What is the standard of the team playing against the Coast to-day ?” asked the “Star” reporter. “It is a good representative team,” replied Mr. Foster, “three parts of which have represented England in the test matches in Australia and New Zealand. The backs are speedy, resourceful and clever. Stone, the wing three-quarter is probably one of the fastest men playing League at the present time. Thomas and E. Davis are players of exceptional merit, while Stock well is a fast and resolute player. Park’ll, the scrumhalf, is one of the.greatest successes of the tour and has certainly been the thorn in the sides of the opposing teams in the test games. He is a most unorthodox player, and very difficult to stop when in possession of .the ball. The Australians considered him one of the finest players who have ever toured the Colonies. The forwards

that we have seen in tins country ; you ' have a most, wonderful country. How-

are hefty, but at the same time-are very speedy and clever at footwork. Generally speaking the whole side is equal to any team that have ever visited the Colonies. TOWN V. COUNTRY. Town Country. Full hack. W. Thomas C. Stevens Three-quarters. I). McGirr T. Robson E. Brislano T. N.mmo Renniston J. Kerr. Five-eighths. A. Thomas (capt) W. Robson J. Gamble W. Mcadowcroft Half back. J. McCabe T. O’Neill Forwards. Hop-wood W. Armstrong C. Fraser H. Williams C. Giffney J. Danclo W. Fisher McDonald J. McMinn Haywood T. Wells F. Griffon Reserves. M. * Johnson ' Hudson T. Lim ’ M. Creagh