New Zealand League To Regain Prestige

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 37, 6 May 1927, Page 7

New Zealand League To Regain Prestige

INVITATION TO AUSTRALIA

At the meeting of the New Zealand ,^ ue Council last evening it was dento exten d to the Australian Board 1 Control an invitation to send an ustralian team to New Zealand this .fason, and * n the event of the invitarat? n bein k” accepted, that communication be made to New South Wales with 'lew to ascertaining if a New South ales team could be sent over, in opposing the motion Mr. D. W. cLean said that the question of nance had to be seriously considered. arwf ebt of £Bo ° was owing to Otago, off as that amount had to be wiped F’ r * McClean contended that a team nould be sent from New Zealand, as bring better financial results, cod Stallworthy said that the ti? 6 ? ad * ost a certa in amount of presin New Zealand, which must be Sained, and he therefore thought that w . team were invited over here, it °nid be to the code’s advantage, as •' e Public would have a chance of seesome good football. -R- Sterling said it would be a aft b * under . to send a team away k suc h a disappointing tour of Eng-

Dp fuller centre also wrote strongly Se esti ng against a combination being Zealand FOSS Tasman from New A^vi*? 8 decidod on the motion of Mr. Lea to write the Auckland Rugby fid*** 116 * asking why A. Menzies. a bona £ e membe r of the South Auckland Anou? e ’ - was allowed to play for the and and All Blacks” last Saturday, A pl-i °, to ascertain from the South Derail bod y I* Menzies was granted In ° n to Participate in the game, traiin le * v cf the Possibilties of an Auseidprf! team coming here, it was deSxtm. 10 a North v. South Island nevr (i ’ dat; e to be made at the q meeting. It J} the motion of Mr. A. Ferguson, *leot S d ? cided that the New Zealand v apir*° rS x a PP° in ted immediately. The leagues would therefore be * fortnight** nominations close within committees have been t-; a m connection with the council: Messrs. G. Nichol, S. Mend.,| • McLean, N. Culpan. 0 v«?? : H. Stallworthy, R. Sterling Nichol, W. Murray. A p c yers: Menzies, H. Lipscombe, H. Taylor. *eb a V*° r *; Messrs. R. Sterling, A. Worthy ipscomb e, E. H. StallDr*p? ption: Messrs. D. W. McLean, Pr. y £ n * G. Nichol. - ess Steward: E. H. Stallworthy.

Rika Comes to Light Rika, the Maori forward from Whangarei, was one of the finds or the Maori tour, and he played some games abroad that were, according to onlookers, worthy of the highest traditions of Rugby. English critics compared Rika with Brownlie and Seeling, and their praise was echoed by his team mates. Rika is not a young player, he must now be close on 30—but he is an exceptionally fine physical type, and plays hard, fighting football of international standard.^ The South African Tour

On the result of the South African tour, to be undertaken next year, depends New Zealand’s prestige as the leading Rugby country of the world, and form disclosed in this season's club and representative games will be watched with the closest interest.

The dearth of half backs is likely to cause the selectors some heartburnings. Neither Mill nor Dalby is likely to be available, and it is a little doubtful yet if Kilby, the ex-Southlander, comes up to their class. He is about the only serious candidate at present on view, but there is a great chance for some of Auckland’s aspiring donkeymen. Incidentally it is worth noting that the Maori teams’ chief trouble was the failure of its halves. Neither Kingi nor Shortlands was up to standard.