THE BRITISH TEAM’S VISIT

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1027, 18 July 1930, Page 7

THE BRITISH TEAM’S VISIT

THIS afternoon the British footballers will be here. In the past week, they have had tbeir full share of strenuous travelling. Maybe they will be glad to “settle down,” even if only for a week or so, in the Dominion’s largest city. Auckland, and a wide-flung province which holds within its borders one-third of the population of New Zealand, welcomes them. They are doubly welcome; first as a great team which so far has “broken even” with the All Blacks, and second, as a fine lot of fellows who have created a splendid impression wherever they have gone. Auckland’s welcome will be warm and sincere. AVe hope to provide them with a hard game tomorrow—a hard game and a sporting one—and, if they win, Aucklanders will not he backward in congratulating them on breaking the home province’s formidable record against visiting British teams. There is no need for false modesty in reminding ourselves as well as our visitors that Auckland was one of the only two provinces in the then colony which secured a victory against Stoddart’s famous British side of the ’eighties. More than that, it defeated Bedell-Sivright’s side of 1904 by 13 points to nil—the biggest defeat inflicted on this fine team in New Zealand. It was again successful against the Anglo-AVelsh four years later by 11 points to nil. Times have changed since then. But there need be no regrets that these days Auckland is unable to place its full and united Rugby strength in the field against the "latest invader. League is strong here; nud there is room enough for both games without pin-pricking antagonism. Jn fact, the rival code has shown a fine spirit by putting off its games next week as a mark of courtesy to the visitors.

It is not necessary to dwell unduly on the playing side of the British team’s visit, beyond remarking that tours have got to he paid for, and the public, which foots the bill in the long run, can be assured of a game tomorrow that will he worth seeing. For the rest, every effort will ha made to make the stay of our visitors a pleasant one, and to make them feel at home. It need only be added that Auckland hopes that they will take away with them happy recollections of keen games here, much good fellowship. and the unstinted hospitality of both city and province.