AUCKLAND v. BRITAIN.

NZ Truth, Issue 475, 25 July 1914, Page 11

AUCKLAND v. BRITAIN.

This afternoon all roads will lead to the Domain, where Auckland wfllbe A up against a stiff proposition m the all -conquering Britishers. That the league game has made rapid strides towards a high-standard will be admitted by all who have watched the season's play m competition matchos, and though we can hardly expect to defeat our welcome visitors, we can at least rely upon making- them play every minute of the game. In both Wellington and Hawke's Bay, the Britishers won somewhat easily, but they will be up against a much harder problem this afternoon than they have yet encountered m the Dominion. At the conclusion of the cup final, last week, the local selectors got to work and, after analysing the form throughout the season, selected the reps. At first glance it would appear that the only club team m Auckland is Ponsonby, for, despite the fact that they were beaten for the championship, they have five representatives, while North Shore, the season's champions, contribute two members, as does also Graf ton. Newton, City, Otahuhu and Thames have been drawn upon to the extent of one each. G. Gillett, who only came to light for the last two matches, is chosen as full-back, and although he may be the man for tho position, it hardly seems fair to other full-backs, who have played the season through. The selection of Gillett does not hold out any encouragement to others, Another surprise is I-lard-greaves, at five-eights. Ho is not tho brilliant Hardgreaves of old and may find It hard to develop enough pac^ to make tho most of opportunities. However, the team is a solid one and can be relied upon to, put up a big light. At the time of writing the personnol of the British team is not known, but tho following will represent Auck-land:—Full-back: G. Glllott (Ponsonby). Threequarters : Woolley (City), K. Ifwerson (Grafton). Fox (North 1 Shore). Five-eights: Hargreaves (Otahuhu), McClymont (Ponsonby). Halfback: Webb (Ponsonby). Forwards: Savory (Ponsonby), Bennetts (Newton), Walters (North Shore), Mitchell (Grafton). Clark (Ponsonby), Hayward (Thames).