ALL BLACKS' ABSENCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23082, 6 July 1938, Page 22

ALL BLACKS' ABSENCE

SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP

FORMER REPRESENTATIVES DEATH OF SOUTH ISLANDER The Auckland team \yill play one representative match while the All Blacks are au'ay, that being against North Auckland at Eden Park on July 23. Dick and Carson will return to Auckland on August 18, two days before Auckland meets the King Country representatives at Eden Park. In that case the selector may not feel disposed to play them so soon after a sea voyage. It appears, therefore, that the players who replace the All Blacks will be in the Auckland side for at least these two matches. The Auckland team is playing confidently and well and it will take a good fifteen to bring about its defeat.

Former Taranaki representatives who were present at Eden Park last Saturday included the Hon. J. McLeod, M.L.C., and Messrs. R. B. Lusk, wellknown Auckland solicitor and former racing judge. G. Jago, H. Rothery and C. Brown. The last-named was also a North Island and New Zealand representative, besides captaining the New Zealand Army team which had such a successful tour of South Africa immediately after the conclusion of the war.

Footballers in all parts of the Dominion learned with regret during the week-end of the death at Christchurch of K. S. Mortlock, the former Canterbury and South Island representative back who took part in the trials before the selection of the All Black team which went to Britain in 1935. Aucklanders will remember Mortlock as vice-captain of the Canterbury team •which won the Ranfurly Shield from Auckland at Eden Park three years ago. Mr.' A. J. Tilly, who has been chairman of the junior management committee of the Auckland Rugby Union for over 20 years, and also a member of the senior committee for several years, will leave for Sydney on Friday "next. He intends tourinp; with the All Blacks and seeing all the matches on their programme. Another official who is leaving Wellington to-morrow with the team 011 the Wanganella. is Mr. Martin Oldbury. vice-president of the King Country Rugby Union. Nine members of the New South Wales fifteen selected to play the . All Blacks in the first match of the New Zealand team's tour at Sydney on Saturday week toured the Dominion with the Australian side two seasons ago. They are: —R. Rankin, fullback; J. D. Kelaher, wing-threequarter; V. Richards, five-eighths and captain; K. Windon. A. Hodgson. F. Hutchinson. J. H. Malone, A. H. Stone and K. M. Ramsay, forwards, ft has since been announced that Kelaher will be unable to play on account of injuries.

MATCHES FOR NEXT SATURDAY The second series of matches in the second round of the Auckland Rugby Union's senior championship competition will be decided on Saturday next. The two leading teams in the competition, Ponsonby and Technical, both with 14 points, will be in opposition and this match will create unusual interest, Technical made a promising start in the first division by defeating Marist at Otahuhif last Saturday week. The team possesses a lively set of forwards. and this may prove an important factor on a heavy ground. Grafton, with 12 points, will plav Marist. 7. As Dick and Prentice will be absent the former team will he considerably weakened. Training College, also with 12 points, meets Manukau, while the remaining contest will be between Grammar and North Shore, each with 10 points.