AUSTRALIAN TRIALS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26216, 29 July 1946, Page 6

AUSTRALIAN TRIALS

TEAM FOR NEW ZEALAND (Rec. 8 p.m.) SYDNEY, July 27. As a result of interstate Rugby Union games played yesterday the following teams have been selected for a match between Australia and The Rest next Saturday, which wlil have a final bearing on the selection of the Australian team to tour New Zealand:—

Australia.—Backs—R. Rankin; J. Stone, T. Allan, P. Johnson, C. Eastes; D. Bannon; C. Burke; forwards—K. Windon, A. Buchan, W. Hamilton; G. Cooke, G. Nosovich, R. McMaster, K. Hodda, E. Tweedale.

The Rest.—Backs—K. Kennedy; *J, McLean, M. Howell. M. Quatremass. K. Murphy; J. Neremin; R. Cawsey. Forwards—C. Windon, G. Gourlay, A. Livermore, P. Hardcastle, W. McLean, H. Davis, W. Dawson, E. Freeman. Windon will captain Australia and W. McLean The Rest. With the exception of four Queensland forwards, the Australian team consists entirely of New South Wales players. The Rest has eight New South wales players, five Queenslanders, and two Victorians. This selection is earlier thdn was expected, and other players still have a chance of being included in the touring team. Although New South Wales beat Queensland by 20 points to 8 yesterday at the Sydney Cricket Ground, the game was closer than the score would indicate. Queensland led eight—nil in the early stages, and only in the last 15 minutes, when superior condition told, did New South Wales go ahead. Rankin laved i xceptlonally well, and probably will be the only full-back taken to New Zealand. A feature of the game was mighty line kicking by W. McLean, one of whose punts travelled over 80 yards on the full. Sports writers claim it to be the biggest kick ever seen on the Sydney Cricket Ground. Another surprise wag the way in which the Queensland three-quarters, Quatremass and Dean, bottled up the scoring combination of Allan and Johnson. The New South Wales second team overwhelmed Southern States by 57 points , to 23. The outstanding player in this match was Bannon, who piled up 24 points. He needs only experience to develop into the five-eighths Australia needs.