NEW ZEALAND RUGBY TEAM

Manawatu Times, Volume XLXI, Issue 3480, 14 December 1926, Page 9

NEW ZEALAND RUGBY TEAM

(From Our Own Correspondent.) LONDON, Nov. 1. The New Zealand Rugby League Team arc not meeting with the success anticipated. They were beaten for the first time in their match against Oldham. As was at first conspicuous, they are weak forward, and the fault has not been remedied. Before meeting Oldham, there was some mystery about the team that would take the field, and, when the men appeared, it was seen that among the forwards were Dufty, the full-back, and Gardiner, a wing threequarter. There was a good reason for thebe remarkable changes, but it was not made public. The result, however, was disastrous. The forwards were outclassed, and this lead to a defeat by fifteen points to ten. Though the industrial depression has not affected the attendances at the New Zealanders’ matches to the extent feared, the tour can now hardly be as successful financially as was that of the Australians in 1921-22. The Australians took home over £2l, 000, but, with a third of the present programme finished, the total receipts have amounted to only £9,000. It is probable that the visitors will add another fixture to their list. All their matches have been arranged to be played in Yorkshire and , Lancashire, the professional Rugby centre, but they have been invited to appear in London, and they will probably do s o. The opposing team will, of course, have to be drawn from the counties mentioned, but it is believed that the thirteen aside game would De a novelty for London, and that as such it would make a popular appeal. The one difficulty would bo to find • ground. A Rugby Union ground would not be lent for the occasion, for that would bo against the rules, but arrangements will perhaps be made with one of the Soccer League I clubs.