BRITISH RUGBY TEAM

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 July 1930, Page 5

BRITISH RUGBY TEAM

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS DOINGS AT ROTORUA [SPECIAL to “stab.”] ROTORUA, July 22. Congratulations were in order today for D. A. Kendrew, the youngest member of the British team, who celebrated his 20th birthday and was presented by his fellows with a small souvenir of the., occasion. Another birthday falls next Monday, when Morley, the Welsh international, who has been among the most consistent performers on the present tour, will be 21. When the team was being selected, Morley was probably not held in mind as a test winger, but from his first appearance in the opening match, he played himself right into the front line. ' Steady rain, which lasted nearly all day hampered the British team’s training activities to-day, no formal training being indulged in, though before breakfast the forwards, led by Beamish, had a brisk walk round the outskirts of the town,. In the afternoon, half a dozen, braving the adverse weather, played golf, while others either went round Rotorua shops purchasing postcards or souvenirs or stayed indoors playing cards or writing letters. As the day for the closing of Home mails approaches each member of the party gets to work on voluminous correspondence. Diaries, which have to be kept up-to-date, though more often they are several days in arrears also demand attention, and several members of the party have albums in which periodically they paste newspaper clippings, postcards, photographs, and snapshots, which form an interesting pictorial record of the tour.

Nothing more has been done about getting an extra half-back from Home, principally because the New Zealand Union refused in the first place to bear the cost. Later, the Union modified its attitude, agreeing first to go fifty-fifty, then to bear the full .expenses. By that time, however, Mr Baxter decided that in view of the delay that had occurred it was hardly worth while going ahead, with the proposal. Matters ' will be improved by Murray’s recovery. He will be playing either at. Wh.anga.rei or Hamilton, and if the shoulder stands the strain of match play, will be available for the fourth test.

For the matches in Australia, Davis, a Navy scrum-half, now on leave in Sydney, has offered his services, and these will be accepted, if the necessity arises. ' ALL BLACKS’ TEAM. [special to “star.”] AUCKLAND, July 23. Present indications are that McLean (Wellington) will replace .Stewart (Canterbury) in the All Black forwards in the third Test, as Stewart is convalescing. Strang is practichlly certain to play five-eighths, Cooke centre, and Lucas wing. TRIAL MATCH PROPOSED

‘ CHRISTCHURCH, July 23. The Canterbury Rugby Union passed a resolution that, the New Zealand Union be asked if it can see its way clear to arrange for an inter-island game to be played in Christchurch this year, the teams to be comprised of players who have not been included in the present All Black test sides, with a view to giving these players a chance to show themselves, and to give the selectors an idea of their ability in view of the visit of the ' Australian team here next season.