SPONG IMPROVES SIDE

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1030, 22 July 1930, Page 1

SPONG IMPROVES SIDE

THREE CHANGES IN TEAM THAT PLAYED HERE

With the exception of three men. the British Test side is practically the same as that which played Auckland on Saturday. For the Test side Morley replaces Novis, Spong plays at fly-half instead of Knowles, and Rew replaces Martindale in the forwards. The inclusion of Spong should make ; a considerable difference to the British . threequarter line, which on Saturday was repeatedly forced out as a result • of the running across of the English fly-half. Improved scrumming by the British forwards can also be expected. It is • rather too much to expect that the ; New Zealand seven will pack down ■ as well as the Auckland forwards, l who. in their training, had been given special coaching in this department of the game. Yesterday afternoon and this morning the New Zealand team trained at Eden Park. This morning more serious work was done. The backs were taken by Mark Nicholls and they indulged in a good deal of fast sprinting, with and without the ball, and also passing out from the scrum. With the backs moving quickly around in a circle the ball was shot rapidly out in unexpected directions. The handling generally was good. Porter meanwhile had charge of the forwards. Particular attention was paid to line-out and scrumming work. Dribbling rushes, passing-out from line-outs and fast sprinting work was also done by the forwards. This afternoon the team will go to one of tile golf links, where the light exercise following a good morning’s work will