THE ALL BLACK TEAM.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 1863, 13 July 1920, Page 5

THE ALL BLACK TEAM.

WELCOMED AT PALMERSTON NORTH The New Zealand representative Rugby football team that is to tour Australia arrived in Palmerston North this morning by the Main Trunk express from Auckland. To morrow afternoon they will meet a conn bined Horowhenua-Manawatu-W anganui team on the Showgrounds. The' Mayor (Mr J. A. Nash, M.P.) and members of the Rugby Union, as well as a. number of enthusiasts, met the team on the railway station, and accorded the players a hearty " The Mayor observed that the All Blacks were like the British Army. They went on for ever and never failed. From the ashes of one team arose a new one equally as good Every team that had ever, represented New Zealand had played in a manner that indicated New Zealand to be the home of football. He was sure that the present team would uphold New Zealand s ‘o9ti.ro in the football world as worthily as it '’deserved. He expressed the opinion that the locaPteam would extend the visitors a hearty welcome, and that a very .mod game would result. Three che6rs were given for the All Black team. Mr A M- Onglev, president of the Manawaiu Rugby Union, also welcomed the visitors, and said laughingly that, it this morning’s reception was not warm enough for the members of the team, the had a very hot reception arranged for thcmV After the ong tram journey from the northern city the touring team would much prefer, he thought, to .ret a wav to their hotel, and in consequence the Rugby Union officials did not wish to detain them at the moment. lomorrow night, however, the Manawatu Rugby Union would bo delighted to have the members of the team as their guests at a dinner. , „ T , „ Mr “Dolph” Kitto, of Wellington, well known as a member of the New Zealand Rugbv Union and a prominent figure in amateur athletic circles, is conducting the New Zealand tour. He replied on behalf 0 f the team,- and stressed the point, that, the public need not fear any “go slow with the All Black team. They had bad one or two accidents in Auckland through strenuous play, but that did not matter, the players would do their best. Ibo game in Auckland was spoilt owing to heavy ram fi.Hinrr half-way through and impeding back play, which was most unfortunate for the spectators, as the back division was oneof the smartest that bad been seen m action in the Dominion. If the weather hold ol and the .team had a dry ground he coukt promise rt veritable display of fiiewoiks to-morrow afternoon. To-rnorrow’s match will commence at 2,45 p.m., with a curtain-raiser between, teams from Abraham and Williams, Ltd,, and Barraud and Abraham, Ltd., at 1 p.m. The gates will lie open at. 12,30 p.m. Ihe team held , a practice,on the ■ Showgrounds this afternoon.