British Side May Find North Hard to Beat

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1037, 30 July 1930, Page 10

British Side May Find North Hard to Beat

WHANGARF.I GAME TODAY COMMENT ON THE TEAMS Special to THE SUN WHANGAREI, Today. Though without I. Finlayson, its captain, and the pillar of its pack, who as a result of an injury to his hand is unlikely to play again this season, the North Auckland side for the match against the British is considered a strong team,' with good forwards who may hold the visitors at all branches of the game. Included in the pack are two of the curiously-named Rika family, who are all named after days of the week. Those playing against the British team are “Monday” and “Wednesday.” Another forward with a considerable reputation is B. Fletcher, the veteran Aucklander, who lives only 35 miles away from Auckland but is actually located within the borders of the Northern Union. Fletcher is the man who some time ago distinguished himself by effecting a brave rescue of endangered bathers in the Muriwai surf. To save them, he rode into the breakers on horseback. The Northern backs are an unknown quantity; but local opinion regards them highly. It is significant that Waterman, one of last year’s famous All Black team that was “picked out of a hat” for the tour of Australia, cannot now get into the North Auckland side. The British today have a good line of backs, with Jones-Davies playing his first game of the tour at stand-off half. Parker, who developed an abscess of a tooth, had the offending tooth extracted today; but he may possibly stand down, in which case either Jones or Dunne will go into the pack. Rew has a septic leg which will require medical attention; but it will not prevent him from playing. If Britain can subdue the North Auckland pack, its superiority behind the scrum should allow it to give a sparkling exhibition; but if the forwards prove to be evenly matched there should be a keen and probably well-contested struggle. “WINTERLESS NORTH” The British team’s first introduction to the so-called winterless North was celebrated by the heaviest frost known in Whangarei for the past thirty years, some people actually seeing natural ice for the first time. A beauUtul clear day followed; but though several of the team had been anxious to go fishing for hapuka and kingfish, and several launches had been placed at their disposal for that purpose, it; was found that the heavy sea running outside as a result of the prolonged easterly weather, made the expedition impracticable. HITCH IN ARRANGEMENTS Several, therefore, played golf; but the bulk of the party motored to Whakapara, where a tree-climbing exhibition by Maori climbers shod with iron spikes and with hooks in their hands was to have been given. Unfortunately, the arrangements somehow miscarried, and though the footballers, with a large accompanying party, stood round a noble isolated kauri for some time, no climbers appeared. When they finally did arrive, they had no gear, and the only entertainment those present enjoyed was derived from the sight of Jones-Davies, Rew and others of the party giving exhibitions of horsemanship on a steed that happened to be handy, and from the spectacle of Bassett, Dunne and Hodgson driving round the paddocks at breakneck pace in an incredibly ancient four-wheeled buggy. Subsequently the team went on to a Maori entertainment at Wliakapara village, where a traditionally enthusiastic Maori welcome was extended.