Australian Rugby League Visitors Here Next Week

Northern Advocate, 28 September 1949, Page 8

Australian Rugby League Visitors Here Next Week

NORTHLAND SPORTS DIARY . . .

WINTER sports enthusiasts will be able to see top-flight Rugby League as it is played in Australia next Tuesday when the touring .team plays a Northern Provinces side at Jubilee Park, Whangarei. Coming as they do from a country where League is the national winter sport, the Australians may be expected to give a display of brilliant football in a code which has always been spectacular and fast.

Such is the popularity of the code in Australia that club games in Sydney draw attendances of 60,000 people. The Northern Provinces’ team has a distinctly Northland bias, as four members of the Northland League are included, while several of the Auckland players were resident in Whangarei and Hikurangi before they moved to Auckland. Commencing in 1927 in Whangarei, Rugby League quickly took hold. During the period of pre-war strength, the code purchased the valuable property at Jubilee Park, with room for two playing fields on a good surface, backed by terraces, on which it is intended to erect a grandstand as soon as building restrictions permit. It was on this ground that the Englishmen, the last overseas touring side, thrilled the spectators with a wonderful exhibition of football in 1936. On this occasion, 6000 people witnessed the game, and the executive of the League is confident that a similar crowd will see the Australians. REVIVING GAME During the war years the League code went into recess, and it is to the credit of the men who played the code that the great majority of them saw overseas service. In the winter of 1947 the game was revived, and the uphill battle to place League on a good footing once more commenced. After a number of ups and downs in the next three seasons, enthusiasm grew, and the number of active players increased, until six clubs now compete in the competitions. It is a feather in the caps of the administrators of the League that the game on Tuesday has been arranged, and that it can be played on the code's own ground. In. adopting the name Northland, League gave a lead to other sporting bodies.

Northlanders will be sure of'seeing a grand game, at Jubilee Park next week.'

Maori League Team To Play Australians

NEW PLYMOUTH. Tue. (PA.). The New Zealand Maori Rugby League team to play the touring Australian side at New Plymouth tomorrow was announced today by the manager (Mr E. K; Asher, Auckland), and the coach (Mr S., Watcne (Auckland) as follows:—Fullback, R. Martin (Waikato) 1 ; threequarters, A. Berryman (Waikato) R. Hohaia (Wellington), C. Masters (Auckland); five-eighths, R. Hahua.tßay of Plenty). S. Toka (Waikato); halfback, W. Aoaki (Waikato); forwards, F. Williams (Waikato), R Paratehe (Auckland). J. Wright. (Auckland), R. Ewe (Auckland); D Bolton (•Wellington), G. Hohaia (Wellington); Reserves: Backs, R! McCulloch (Taranaki); forwards, G. McLeod (Taranaki).

Mangakahia Golf

Best cards returned in the first round of the Mangakahia Golf Club's competitions for the president's trophy at the week-end were; Men.—C. R. Wilson, 58 net; E. A. Wilson, 63; G. Ruddell, 65. Ladies.— Mrs J. M. Alison 60, Mrs W. Wordley 63. Mrs G. Hunter 67. Handicap reductions were: Men.—C. R. Wilson, 21 to 15; E. A. Wilson, 25 to 24. Ladies.—Mrs J. M. Alison, 31 to 21; Mrs W. Wordley, 29 to 22. Mrs G. Hunter. 27 to 24. In the final of the ladies' junior championship, Mrs W. WordJey beat Mrs G. Hunter, 1 up.