FOOTBALL

Hokitika Guardian, 25 July 1930, Page 6

FOOTBALL

SATURDAY’S GAMES. . „N.Z. TEAM OHANGES. THIRD TEST. AUCKLAND, July 24. Finlayson,-Stewart and Olliver have been omitted from the All Black team to meet Britain in the third test at Auckland on Saturday. The Britishers arrived from Rotorua this afternoon and are staying at the Hotel Cargen. The All Blacks practiced* to-day at Eden Park in the presence of the .selectors. The All Black"team for the third test was chosen to-night as follows: Full-back: Nepia (East Coast).' Three-quarters : Hart (Canterbury),Cooke (Wellington), Lucas (Auckland). Five-eighths: Nicholls (Wellington), Strang (South Canterbury). Half-back: Corner (Auckland). Wi n g-f or ward : Porter (Well in gtori ). Hookers: Cottrell (Canterbury), Hore (Otago).' ; Lock: Steere (Hawke’s Bay). Supports: McWilliams (Auckland), Hazlett; (Southland). Bade row: Batty (Auckland), McLean (Wellington). • Foremost in football pomes, the third test match' between the British team and New Zealand at Auckland. The British team selected is, with one exception, the same as played in the second test game at Christchurch, Murray being replaced by Poole. , The New Zealand team will show some alteration to that which played at Christchurch. Among the backs Oliver has dropped out and Lucas goes to the wing, Cooke to centre and Nichols to second fiveeighth, while W. A. Strang (South Canterbury) goes in as first five-eighth. Strang was selected to represent New Zealand on the South African touion the night of his 21st. birthday, in 1927. He played' as five-eighths in three of the Test maches against- the Springboks, winning the second -one with a potted goal. On that tour he scored 35 points, registering'four tries, converting eight tries, potting one goal, and kiclcing une penalty goal. In the inter-island match, played at Athletic Park on September 27th. 3929 Strang, playing at second five-eighths for the South Island, was responsible for seventeen of the twenty 7 points scored by the southerners. He scored a try, converted one try, and kicked four penalty goals. His outstanding play for South Canterbury against the British team at Timaru on June 28th. however, again won him due recognition. His inclusion should strengthen the New Zealand team, as he is fast, and is equally good on attack and defence. ■ In the forwards, ,M. Finlayson (aside owing to a septic hand) and Stewart (whose knee has apparently kept him out) are replaced by McLean (Wellington) and Batty (Auckland). These two are reported to -be in great form, so the strength of the forwards should be equal to that of the previous team. In view of the honours being even, tbe outcome of the present test is being eagerly looked forward to. In the last two games there has not been jrtuoh between the two teams and tomorrow's game should also be a hotly contested on©. SEDDON SHIELD. The West Coast representatives meet Golden Bay Union representatives at Motueka to-morrow afternoon in a challenge game for the Seddon Shield, held by the latter Union. The West Coast team, following their success on Wednesday against Nelson, should have added some further degree of combination and the game should prove of advantage, and enable them to make a strong bid for victory. ON CASS SQUARE. On Cass Square the Greymouth B. seniors meet Westland B seniors ana an interesting game should result, both teams being well representative of the senior players, with the representative players away at Nelson. The an'nual game for the Newman Shield will also- take place between the schools teams of Greymouth and Hokitika on No. 2 ground arid an oi>en exposition of bright school Rugby should result: The junior representatives of Westland travel to Greymouth to meet the Grey junior representatives on Victoria Park.