THIRD GAME

Southland Times, Issue 21093, 27 May 1930, Page 8

THIRD GAME

BRITISH FOOTBALLERS MATCH WITH MANAWHENUA VISITORS’ SIDE ANNOUNCED (Special Representative —Copyright.) Palmerston North, May 26. The British team to play Manawhenua on Wednesday is:— v ull-back: R. Jennings (13.8). Three-quarters: A. L. Novis (12.2), C. D. Aarvold (13.0), T. Jones-Davies (11.6), J. Reeve (13.10). Half-backs: H. M. Bowcott (12.0), N. Poole (12.0). Forwards: S. Martindale (14.2), D. Parker (15.2), H. Jones (13.12), M. J. Dunne (13.12), J. L. Farrell (13.11), F. D. Prentice (14.7), J. McD. Hodgson (14.10), H. Wilkinson (12.9), M. J. Dunne 12.9 Dunne, Prentice, H. Jones and JonesDavies are all playing for the first time on the tour, leaving Bassett the only man who has not turned out. Bassett’s ankle is still troublesome, though he may be fit for Saturday. In the meantime he is turning out for practices until authorized by a doctor. On arrival at Palmerston North to-day, the team were welcomed at the station and again at the Council Chambers. An interminable civic reception left little time for practice, but anxious to stretch their legs, the players had a gallop at the Showgrounds in gathering darkness. Manawhenua claim that their team will be the strongest the tourists have yet met. Civic Receptions. Municipalities which wish to impress their hospitality on the British Rugby team would be well advised to make their Civic receptions, if they must have them, reasonably brief. In the 12 days in which they have been in New Zealand, the members of the team have faced half a dozen formal receptions, and they are to be taken out to Feilding to-morrow to endure another one. Whether civic receptions at any time have any real value is a question that might be seriously argued, but when they come, as the Palmerston North ceremony did today, straight on top of a tiring train journey and occupy an hour in which the players’ principal desire was to get away to practice instead of listening to tedious dignitaries whose chief object seemed to be to boost Palmerston North, there can only be one answer. The only redeeming feature to-day was the brief speech of Mr R. C. Tennant, 82 years of age, who in Nelson in 1869, helped to form New Zealand’s first Rugby Club. J THE WING-FORWARD "AN ILL-ADVISED STATEMENT.” (Per United Press Association.) Auckland, May 26. There is much comment in Auckland today on the reported statement by Mr Baxter, manager of the British Rugby team, that the wing-forward is a deliberate cheat. Mr- J. Arnell, President of the Auckland Rugby Union, said: “I think Mr Baxter must have ‘forgotten himself.’ The statement is altogether too sweeping and is tantamount to accusing some of the most prominent men in New Zealand, who once played in the wing-forward position, of being cheats, and Mr Baxter was ill advised to make such a charge.” UR S. S. DEAN APPROACHED NO COMMENT AT PRESENT. Wellington, May 26. When Mr Baxter’s remarks on the wingforward "as a cheat” were referred to Mr S. S. Dean, chairman of the Management Committee of the Rugby Union, he stated that he would prefer not to comment at present. He would have an opportunity of replying later, and fully intended to do so. Mr J. Prendeville, president of the Wellington Rugby Union, declined to comment on Mr Baxter's remarks until he knew the full facts of the position. ■