TO-DAY'S RUGBY MATCH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20620, 19 July 1930, Page 12

TO-DAY'S RUGBY MATCH.

IVISIT OF IJMTISII TEAM.

CONTEST WITH AUCKLAND.

VAST CROWD EXPECTED

EDEN PARK ARRANGEMENTS. For the first time in 22 years, a British Rugby football team will play in Auckland to-day. The last British team to bo pitted against the men of this province was the Anglo-Welsh combination of 1903, led by A. F. Harding, who is now a resident of Taih.ipe. Auckland won that contest by 11 points to 0. The British team of 1930 was welcomed l>y a large Jrowd on its arrival by tbo Botorua express yesterday afternoon. At ' Fden Park this afternoon, when tho visitors will tie faced by a team determined to uphold the splendid traditions of the province, it is expected the. clash of Rugby strength will be witnessed bv a gathering of record dimensions. With improvements which have just been completed, it is esti nated that Eden Park will provide accommodation for 42,000 spectators The keenness with which gra.idstand tickets were sought indicated a tremendous enthusiasm in regard to the match, and gate tickets have sold freely dining the past thfee days. It is anticipated that the capacity of Eden Park will bo fully taxed, and, in view of this, very complete preparations have heeii made to facilitate the cntranco of spectators to the ground. A rumour that enthusiasts had commenced to lino up outside the gates last evening, prepared to spend tne night in the open in order to get first choice of the vantage points when the gates opened this morning, proved to be unfounded. At 9 p.m. Eden Park was deserted except for a police patrol and the refreshment room staff, who were prepared foi an all-night task. However, it is expected that many people who are not the fortunate possessors of grandstand tickets will assemble at an early hour this morning, in anticipation of the opening of the gates at about nine o'clock. The record attendance to date at a representative Rugby match in Auckland was 25,000. on the occasion of the Springboks' .visit in July, 1921, when the match was played at Eden Park. Crowds almost as large witnessed the two previous matches against British teams. The estimated attendance in both 1908 and ICO4 was £2,000. The scene of those memorable contests was Potter's Paddock, which has now become ihe Alexandra Park trotting course. The accommodation at Eden Park lias been considerably extended since 1921. In preparation for to-day's match the embankment has been built up at the Dominion Road end between the main stand and the terraces. An interesting memento, the ball used in the historic match in which Wales defeated the IGOS All Blacks, is on view in a window at Milne and Choyco's premises. It has been presented to the Auckland Rugby Union by Mr. G. A. Tyler, who played in the front row of the New Zealand pack on that occasion. Wales won by 3 points to 0 and a con'troversy arose on the point whether or :not a try had been scored for New Zealand by the late R. G. Deans An interesting link between to-dav's ; match and the first visit of a British team to Auckland will be provided by tbo presence at Eden Park this afternoon of .Mr. T. B. O'Connor. He captained Auckland against A. E. Stoddart's team in 1888. Still a resident of this city, he will have the pleasure of seeing another contest, Britain versus Auckland, 42 years after that memorable one in which ie took part. As a compliment to the Irish members of the British team, the Irish Free State flag will be among those flying over the grandstand at ( Eden Park to-day. The members of the British team will rot stay in Auckland until the test match next Saturday. They will leave by motorcar to-morrow for Rotorua, and are expected to return to the city on Thursday.

INTEREST FOR THE CROWD.

SINGING AND BAND MUSIC.

THE CURTAIN-RAISER GAMES

The first main influx of spectators will be carried to Eden Park by special tramcars, which will leave the. city between half-past eight arid nine o'clock this morning. The ordinary Sandringham service will he augmented throughout the day by 70 cars, which will be despatched from the park to all suburbs after the game.

No cash will be taken at tin; gates of ihe park, tickets having to be obtained at special selling boxes. These have been erected in Sandringham Road, opposite tho railway bridge and at the main entrance and the new entrance near the train loop. Further boxes have been placed behind the grandstand and on both sides fif the entrance in Cricket Avenue, whicTi is on the Dominion Road side of the park. / Special admission gates have been erected and admission must be through these or the turnstiles. A staff of 130 men, including 80 ticketpellers, has been engaged for duty at Eden Park. Men will be stationed over the whole ground, and they will control ihe seating with a view to economising in space. School children under 4ft. 6in. in height will bo admitted inside tho playing area, and will require to be in their places before noon. While the stands and terraces are filling tho crowd will lie entertained by cornmuiiity-ysingirig and band music. A special programme of music will be plaved by tho Ponsonby Boys' Band, and well-known song-leaders will take charge of the community sincing Leaflets bearing (he words of popular songs will be distributed among the crowd.

The first curtain-raiser panto will commence at 11 a.m.. tlie match being a primary schools' representative one between trams from Auckland and South .Auckland The second game, commencing at noon, will lie between Morrinsvillc High .School and Sacred Heart College. A representative game between King Country and Auckland 15 "ill be played, commencing at 1 p.m. All these matches vvill be played on No. 1 ground. RECORD OF THE TOUR. FIFTEEN MATCHES PLAYED. The British Rugby team touring New Zealand has played 15 garnes to date, winning twelve and losing tht e>-. 1 he team has scored a total oi 2i7 points against their opponents' 125 points. The following table shows the record of the matches to date:— Against Wanganui.—Won. 19- -3. Against. Taranaki.—Won. 23—7. Against Manawheniia. —Won. 34—8. Against. Wairarapa.—Won, 19—6. Against Wellington.—Lost, o—l2. Against Canterbury. —Lost, B—l4. Against West Coast. Won. 34—11. \ gainst Ola go.—Won. 7)3—9. First Test.--Won. 6-3. Against SJouthland.—Won, 0 3. Against Southern ( oinl ined. --Won, 16 <J. Second Test. —Lost, 10 -13. Against Maoris.—Won. 10- 13. Against Ihuvke's Kay. Won, 14—3. Against T'.ast Coast (Cishorne). —Won, 25—11. The following matches have vet to bo played by the British team in Xew Zeaiand:— N«i X t.-Tl,ird test at Kden Pg'iS 3 °'~ V " Nwth Ancklan «'. Wha"aSss q-y- x v ,ik:,, °' at t