THE ALL BLACKS

Hokitika Guardian, 27 June 1929, Page 6

THE ALL BLACKS

HAVE A ROUGH TRIP. (Australian Press Association) SYDNEY, June 26. The New Zealand football team landed this morning, glad to feel solid ground underfoot again, after a voyage which most of them will remember as the worst they have ever known. Tlioyi hope, with practice in the afternoon, and steady training during the intervening days, to be able to meet New South Wales on Saturday in a condition to give the latter a proper example of All Black play. The team was officially welcomed by Mr Wood,; .President of the New South "Wales Union, at Usher’s Hotel, when a large and representative gathering of sportsmen enthusiastically endorsed Mr Wood’s eulogies of th* visitors. The President also expressed regret at the earthquake calamity which recently visited the Dominion. Messrs J. McLeod (manager), Porter (captain) and Dean replied on behalf of the team. Mr Dean mentioned that the visit of the Englishmen next year was expected to ho the most important event in New Zealand history. It was announced that it had been arranged for the Englishmen to play j seven matches in Australia, instead oi ! five, as originally planned. | As the Englishmen will he the strongest possible combination. Mr Dean said that the New Zealanders anticipated that heroic struggles would, mark their tour, and regarded this visit to Australia as a testing time ! for tho men to meet the Homelanders, | whose presence in these southern lands | should make for the growth of the j amateur game which all held so dear. I The All Blacks'will be subsequently tendered a civic reception at the Town Hull.