FOOTBALL

Hokitika Guardian, 4 July 1930, Page 6

FOOTBALL

THE SECOND TEST. To-morrow, after noon all sporting people througliout the (Dominion ~v-ill be interested in the result of . the second Rugby test match at Lancaster Park, Christchurch, when the' visiting British team will again meet the pick of New Zealand. In view of the success of the visitors at Dunedin, %. a very narrow margin the interest fin the second game has , been further increased. The New Zealand team has four alterations to that which played ill the first game, Mark Nicholls and Corner in the hacks, replacing Lilburno and Mill, while in the forwards Stewart and Hore replace Batty /valid Irvine in the forwards. Stewart was unable to play in the first game owing to ail injury, while Irvine though again selected is unable to play as the result ol a minor injury. The British team is the same as played at Dunedin with tho exception tha t' Novis replaces Reeve, who was injured at practice during the week, while Prentice (Captain of the team) replaces 1 Hodgson in 'the forwards.

It is hoped that the weather will bo on its best behaviour lor the day and that thc ground will lie in good on lei; so that the teams will bo able to si)ppFy' : of the if host. The game ..should be a very; fast,; .and exciting contest, -inid' will'. hc'' watched ’by as large a -crowd its "Lancaster Park can hold.’ Fi-eiir- nti parts 'of New ; Zeip Land fodfcbfiU : entliusiasts afe travelling to Vie# theJgiun'c,. find tlie AYest Cpapt is' ; sefj tfivi g" •fife: <j n ota' "d f spodi ul fi-ains caifi-yiiig pati-oiis ‘from' Hokitika,' GrfiyifioUtlL/ifiid Reef toil' • districts. CJllrist'efutfcll sbouid' therefore, hold a full and overflowing repre,senation 'of tire Tfiimin ioii as a whole for the great contest. It is stated that tho British team are slightly favourites, lint many will feel that the Dominion’s representatives arc able to hold and extend their opponents, and reverse the result ol tlie Dunedin game.

A. AVcliingloti scribe comments:—Though defeated by three points in the first Test at Dunedin, and defeated bypa-.(team thpt/had .territorial advantage! /still the/; odds appear" to be in favpur-i'/df the All Blacks.,in the second Test/to be played at Christcliufch oil Saturday. / . : ./ ‘ -'lf Britain/ can fieppat its performance 'there, will lie a general, doffiing. „of hats, '/hut tlld / result . capndt bey take I^.,'/ as .Assure indiefitipn. of its superiority ■ There is no . feeling that New "Zealand was not seen at it best —there is the definite knowledge: that .fit. was not; and; the assumption is that the defects, in the rcargii a l-d/" so/ apparent at Dunedin will ho remedied. The' inclusion of Mark. Nicholls- lirtfiy) pVdbab'ly wifi, justify PPtfinelsJ orjg. pi.., "Sendj '■ -IpjE -Aiark,” and there "is no doubt but that. Nicholls and Cooke form a brillaiit attacking combination, oven if it' j.is-, not as strong as it might lie on defence. Corner ig an experiment at .■‘halb-tmck,'- i-and- is a ireliable if. not brilliant player; the fact that he has -to- justify his .inclusion should .biive /a:..’big -effect on his . general perform/iince,' ;.

New Zealand’s success will depend on its forwards to a very great extent, but, with the inclusion of Stewart tho pfick is a stronger one, and with the benefit of the experience gained in tliefifil;st; Test should be able to do a little more than just bold its own. if it can do this, and if tlie improved back-line can play with better combination there should ho more than three points difference in the scores, and: New Zealand should he on the light side of the ledger.

DULLER PROPOSAL

WESTPORT, July 3

A big contingent is leaving to-mor-row night for Christchurch for the second test,. It will be a case of travelling all night. Cars are leaving Westport at 9 p.m. on Friday to connect with the train at Innngnhiia Junction which leaves the latter place at 11 p.m. arriving at Christchurch at 8 a.m. on Saturday and leaving on the return at 7 p.m. Regret is expressed in many quarters that the railway authorities did not provide for a train to leave on the rc-iurlV-on'• Sunday morning, instead of •.Saturday 'evening, so as lo give excursion istfi a night’s rest, or enable them to attend the theatres or other enterteainments in Christchurch on Saturday evening. It is pointer! out tha + tliere should lie no lack of accommodation in Christchurch on Saturday evening. people leave the city on return to 'their homes when the occasion that

brought thorn there is over. A belated decision by the railway authorities in this direction would be "heartily welcomed.

WEIGHTS OF TEAMS. Though the average weight of the seven men who will oomprise the New Zealand scrum on Saturday is slightly greater than the average of the eight men of Britain’s pack, the average for each set of eight forwards is slightly in favour of the visitors. Ihe se'eu New Zealanders in the scrum aggregate 10.1 s 101 b, an average per man of 14sfc Till). Britain’s eight forwards aggregate .115 afc 81b, an tt\ci* ag c of 14st 61 lib. With Porter's weight of 13st 31 h taken into account, the New Zealand average for eight men is List 51b.

The difference in weight in ■ the scrum will he 13st 121 b, .in favour of' Britain. According to the listed weights, Stewart (lOst) is the heaviest, then comes Einhmifh (lost 131 b), then Beamish (11st 41b). The lightest of tiie forwards is Cottrell (12st 12ll>), with Hove (Alist 21b) next. The British hacks will average about a. stone heavier per man than New Zealand’s. Britain’s aggregate in the rearguard is 87st 1311 b .(aver-: age I.2st 81b), .and New Zealand;s : 80st, 81b (average list. 71b). M. Corneli, the half-back from Auckland, who is only 9st 71b,: .is .easily: the. lightest pt the. hacks, Alorley, .Murray, Cooke, Nieliolls, Lucas and Hart arc all .between 1J46 and’ J2st. ' TK6‘ heaviest back .'is Ba : ssett'.(,(T3st. .Itilb), A'.'fh ’TCejria ' (13st ~31b) flic next heaviest,, r Following are tlie weights of the second test teams. ... BRITAIN,

•FiiVlJbadtoM. M Bassett (13st lOlb). Three-quarters — -1. C. Morley (4tot), C. D. Aarvold (13stV. 11... H. Bowcoit (12st), A. L. Nevis (list 51b). Halves—-R S> Spong (13st), P. R Murray (list IB)). Front Row—ll. Itow (list 101 b). T>Parker (15st 2ll>), H. O’H. O’Neill. (14st). , , ' n . . Middle Row—B. H. Black (list 71b) J. L Farrell (l3st 111 b). Back Row-F. T). Prentice (14st ,71b), G. R. Beamish (IQsb 41b), I v °r Jones (13st 91b). NEW ZEALAND.

Full-back—G. Ncnia G3st 31b). ,Throe-quariJers—G. F. ’Hart list. 71b), F. AV. Likas'(list'474b), D. 01livov (12st ,4irp). v ' . ,Fivp-''ightbs-r-:A.. H- Cooke y(l----llli>), M.‘Nieholl.sr(tlst 71b). y Hdf-back—"M. Corner (9st 71b). r AVing-forward-C. CL Porter (13st ' ' Hookers- I . A. I. Cottrell (12st 121 b),. J..flora (m 21b). V-' \ Lock—E.' R. Steere ,11'4'st 71b). T. Fnihtyson (lost LTb), R G. Al’AVilliams (list. jib). • * Back Row—W'.' E.' Ilar.lett ’’ (lost) , it. Stewart (16st)'. v. ■. ' A'UOIU TEAAI. - ■ . ■ ....va - ; o'rAtvi.MuNA,'vh-v.: The New Zealand Maori footballers have arrived and already are in active training to play Hovowhomui tomorrow'. TEST PROSPECTS ’CHRISTCHURCH, July 4. The weather prospects for the seoo,pd test are fair with a little wind. Both teams spent ,an easy day today, many golfing. Heavy train traffic is oxroctcd, the , arangements being the most comprehensive yet made. The first special gets in at seven o’clock to-morrow morning from Southland, and will be followed by others at regular intervals up to noon. Thirty thousand spectators are exnectod at the .match which' Should be the greatest struggle ever seen at Lancaster Park.