RUGBY FOOTBALL

Grey River Argus, 19 August 1931, Page 3

RUGBY FOOTBALL

AUSTRALIAN TEAM. WELCOMED AT AUCKLAND. (Per Press Association). AUCKLAND, August 18. Confident that they will win many more matches than they will lose, the Australian Rugby Union team arrived by the Ulimaroa to-day. They leave to-night for Dunedin to open a tour there with a match against Otago on Saturday. The team were met by Mr Dean, chairman of the New Zealand Union, and Mr Frost, chairman of the Auckland Union. “This is probably the best side that has ever left Australia,” said the manager, Mr T. C. Davis. He said that the Rugby Union was well established in Australia now, and for that they would be ever grateful to New Zealand, which alone had made it possible. S. J. Malcolm said: “New Zealand has taught us many football things, and we are still out to learn; that’s what we’re here for. Our game is the open game.” With the exception of Malcolm, Cerutti, Judd and Towers, all members of the team are making their first Rugby trip to New Zealand. Judd toured with the 1925 team, and the other three in 1928. The party comprises fourteen from New South Wales, nine from Queensland, and two from Victoria. NEWMAN SHIELD. The Newman Shield competed for annually by Rugby teams from the secondary schools on the West Coast, will this season be retained by its last year’s winner, the Greymouth Technical High School. Only one game has been played for the Shield, Greymouth defeating Hokitika. Reefton forfeited to Westport, and the Westport team has notified its intention to forfeit the fixture with Grey mouth.