FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17294, 18 October 1919, Page 14

FOOTBALL.

THE RUGBY GAME. N.Z.EIF. TEAM V. AUCKLAND. A good match is promised at the Show Ground this afternoon, when the New j Zealand Military Rugby team will play an Auckland representative fifteen. The j New Zealand team had a brilliant record | in England, being defeated only once in ; the inter-allied services football tournai ment. Their tour through South Africa was also most successful, for out of the 15 matches played they won 11, drew 1, and lost 3. The team selected for to-day I is a strong one, and if the members were j in their best form there would be little ; doubt as to the result. However, they 1 have not been in training since leaving i Africa, and this will prohabiV have the | effect of making a close and interesting game. With such players as Stohr, j O'Brien, Roberts, Sandman, Cain, Hasell, j and Bruce, the soldiers are bound to give i a good account of themselves. The Auckland team is also strong, and for the most part includes men who have played in the principal representative matches throughout the season. If the ball gets out to the backs some really attractive, football should be seen. The teams are :— NEW ZEALAND. Fullback: J. G. O'Brien (Auckland). Threequarters: W. A. Ford (Canterbury), L. Stobr (Taranaki), R. W. Roberts (Taranaki). Five-eighths: B. A. Bellis (Taihape), W. L. Henry (Canterbury). Half-back: D. Sandman (Canterbury). Forwards. A. P. Singe (Auckland), IN. Cain (Taranaki), E. W. Hasell j (Canterbury), J. A. Brace (Wellington), !J. Kissick (Taranaki), A. H. West i (Taranaki)_. R. Fogajry (Otago), and A A. Lucas (Auckland) AUCKLAND. Fullback : Burns. Threequarters: Wilson, Grierson. Nicholson. Five-eighths : Badeley, Milliken. Halfback: Poison. Forwards : Sutherland. Molloy Watson Wilson, Billington, Fletcher, Harty' Stormont. * j Emergencies: Biraie, Gasparich, Righton, I Pilling, Good, Hansch, Keepa, Suns. : A curtain-raiser will be plaved at 2 p.m. between the St. Stephen's Native ; College and the Ponsonby fourth grade team. THE LEAGUE GAME. MATCHES AT THAMES. Members of the Richmond and Maritime Clubs will visit Thames to-day, where they will play a series of matches and exhibition games. They will leave by the Wakatere at half-past eight o'clock this morning, and return to-morrow, leaving Thames at 2 p.m. An excursion is being run in connection with the matches Otahuhu will play Southdown at Otahuhu this afternoon. i ——- NOTES AND COMMENTS. i The Queensland champion footballer of ; the season. D. Thompson, returned to ; Sydney last week on his way back to : Brisbane, after a visit to New Zealand. I He states the form shown by the Ausj tralian team, on the whole, was very l good. The New Zealand forwards were I very solid in the scrummages, but the Australian backs were generally better in their combined work than their opponents. He was very much impressed with the : footba.l of Ifwerson, the Auckland back, j whose form was even better than any- : thing he showed over here. On an Aus- ; tralian s'de he would be a star, a most brilliant player. Harold Horder showed wonderful form. In the first match the ! form of Sweeney at fullback was brilliant —a game out of the box. Asked about the umpiring in the Christchurch match, j the Q.ueenslander merely smiled.