THE AUSTRALIAN TEAM

Waikato Times, Volume 110, Issue 18441, 23 September 1931, Page 10

THE AUSTRALIAN TEAM

FOOTBALLERS ARRIVE. CIVIC WELCOME EXTENDED. CREATING HAPPY RELATIONSHIP. Hamilton's welcome to the members of the Australian Rugby football team, which arrived hero yesterday afternoon, took tlie form of a civic reception in the Civic Theatre at 5 p.rn. yesterday. Cr. F. 11. Clapham, after apologising for the unavoidable absence of the Mayor (Dr. F. D. Pinfold), extended a warm and sincere welcome to the visitors on behalf of the burgesses. All followers of Rugby had been watching the team's progress with keen interest, and personally he believed it had met with more than !(s share of bad luck. They were ad looking forward eagerly to to-day’s match. Cr. Clapham recalled the visit of the Australian Dairy Delegation some 18 months ago, and the opinion of some of the delegates that they had never seen greener pastures for the time of the year than in tho Waikato. He reminded them that Hamilton was the centre of the great dairying industry, and produced some of the best butter in the world. After recommending a visit to various points of interest Cr. Clapham concluded by wishing the Australians the best ot luck and expressing the hope that they would have the pleasure of another visit. Captain Incapacitated. On behalf of the Waikato Rugby Union, Mr W. Fraser, chairman of the Management Committee, added his word of welcome. He apologised for the absence of the president (Mr B. Chapman), who lived in a “small village” some distance from Hamilton. It was a delight to have the Austral!in team here. He regretted that the captain (Mr S. Malcolm) would ho unable to play to-day. He had the pleasure of seeing him play at Auckland, and considered he was one of the best half backs he had ever seen. His play was an eye-opener. However, there were plenty of otheworthy exponents of the code among the visitors. The most the WaikatoKing Country team could do would be to endeavour to prevent some of the open play expected from the visitors. The Australians would doubtless And the forwards from the butter-fat district a strong enough vanguard. He wished the team prosperity and a safe journey home. “Strangers No Longer.’’ In reply, Mr B Palmer, actingmanager, warmly thanked the speakers for their welcome, which had been typical of those met with throughout New Zealand. They would never be able to repay the debt they owed to tho good people of New Zealand for the kindness extended to them. They had como as strangers and now felt thoroughly at home. They would return on Friday with many regrets, despite the fact that they would go back to their own sunny land. Football tours, he believed, were not only Ane from tho football and social points of view, but because they brought together the peoples of two great countries and enabled them to get to know each other. (Hear, hear.) Travelling about the Dominion, they soon realised that New Zealanders and Australians were brothers and sisters. Neither country must do anything which would injure the prosperity, freedom ani happiness of the other. They would return as ambassadors of New Zealand. “Played the Game.” “Naturally we are disappointed that we have not met with the success wo wished,” added Mr Palmer. "But we have tried to play the game In the best spirit, and we hope people will say we played like sports and took our defeats well. We make no excuses for the defeats and take our hats off to the victors. We shall return home lioping that we have done something to cement the happy rehtiosn between Australia and 1 New Zealand." (Loud applause.) “A SPLENDID TOUR.” ACTING-MANAGER PLEASED. A YOUTHFUL SELECTION. “It has been a splendid tour and your pooplo have been good to us—too good,” Mr B. Palmer, actingmanager of the Australian Rugby team, told a Waikato Times reporter when tlie members of the team arrived in Hamilton from Waitomo yesterday afternoon. Mr Palmer remarked that tho New Zealanders had given them a splendid time and they were loath to leave the country. Referring to the matches played, he said the side had been well and truly beaten in those lost. They hail been unlucky with some games, especially tho test, when Bush, the New Zealand full back, happened to have ills kicking hoots on. All tho penalties against them had been fair ones. They were looking forward to to-day’s match, ho added, and intended exerting every effort to obtain a win. The side selected was tlie strongest available, taking into account that some had to be stood down through injury.

Some of tlie players look little more than youths. The average age of the team is 23 years. The backs average list 71b in weight, the forwards 13st 71b. They aro line, clean types, drawn from every class of the community.

Mr Palmer stated that influenza had been prevalent in almost every town they had visited in the last fow\voeks, but so far the team had escaped infection.

After to-day's match the visitors wilt be tho guests of the Waikato Rugby Union to dinner at the Hamilton Hotel at G. 15 p.m. They will be present at the Old Boys’ Football Club dance at Alexandra Hall this evening. To-morrow morning the members of the team will catch the Limited express for Auckland, whence they will sail for Sydney on Friday afternoon.