ENGLISH RUGBY LEAGUE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22834, 19 March 1936, Page 5

ENGLISH RUGBY LEAGUE

TOURING TEAM'S CHANCES (From Oun Own Correspondent) SYDNEY, March 12. Tremendous interest is being taken in New South Wales and Queensland in the forthcoming visit of the English Rugby League team, which is to visit New Zealand. It appears certain that this code of the Rugby game is in for a "bumper" season. Mr Harry Sunderland, one of the controllers of the game in Australia, had a conversation by radio-telephone with Jim Sullivan, the captain, and Mr R. Anderton, manager, and, reporting this, Sunderland wrote: " Sullivan is confident of his team's prospects.'. ' What are your chances for the ashes?' I asked him. 'Do you think you will win % '' ' Certainly,' came the answer; ' that's what we're going for.' It sounded like Sullivan —with command, conviction and definiteness in his voice. Sullivan chatted about the players of his side to visit Australia, and ventured the opinion that it is the best of all the four teams he has been chosen to tour with. " Bob Anderton was next to come to the telephone. He told me that Alan Edwards, the Welsh winger, is the youngest tourist who has ever come to Australia —younger than Sullivan was when he first came in 1924. Edwards is only 19, and, weighing 11.0, is sft BJin tall. He hails from Aberavon. Bob had a wealth of information about the English team. He told me their touring side will be a splendid combination. "' It is the most versatile team wc have ever sent,' he said. ' I am sure they will provide the thrills for the public. Wc have many players who can play in several positions and will never be short of good men. Stan Brogden can play at .stand-off half-hack, centre or wing, and there are others like him. Brough and Risimui are equally good at centre or full-back. Bclshaw is the same. The standard of the players is up to anything we have sent out before. Our greatest trouble is going to be whom to leave out in the tests.

" ' We have every confidence that our boys are going to retain the ashes. A more versatile side has never been sent, out since the days of the first tour of men under Loinas. Wc have three great goal-kickers, and Sullivan already this season lias kicked 88 goals, Martin Hodgson 09 for Swinton, and Gus Risman 09 for : Salford. Our wing men are also great try-getters. Jack Morley, the Welshman, who came from Newport to Wigan, has scored 24 tries. Barney Hudson, of Salford, 19, and the other Salford winger, Alan Edwards, 18.' "