ARMY RUGBY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 March 1940, Page 9

ARMY RUGBY

MATCHES BEGUN IN EGYPT NEW ZEALAND UPHOLDING REPUTATION. SELECTION OF REPRESENTATIVE TEAM. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. New Zealand Expeditionary Force Rugby has begun in Egypt. On Saturday last the first matches were played in an inter-unit competition for a cup presented by the Divisional Commander. Major-General B. C. Freyberg. V.C. Names prominent in New Zealand Rugby are included in the list of officials and players, indicating that the reputation of the New Zealand Army teams of the last war will be worthily upheld. These competition matches will be played twice weekly, and will culminate in a trial game and the sclec-

tion of a New Zealand Army team to play in a triangular tournament at Easter. The selectors for the New Zealand team are Lieut-Colonel T. J. King, a member of last year’s management committee of the New Zealand Rugby Union, Major J. T. Burrows, 1928 All Black and an All Black selector in 1937, and Private J. L. Griffiths, wellknown Wellington representative and All Black. Saturday’s results were: Wellington Battalion 12 v Engineers and Signals 3. Auckland Battalion 8 v Cavalry and Ambulance 0. Canterbury-Otago Battalion 5 v Mechanised Transport Company 3. Artillery 9 v Divisional and Brigade Headquarters 0. Machine-gun Company 9 v Army Service Corps 0. The games were well attended and form was good for opening matches. Good tackling and solid rucking by the forwards were features of the games. The following New Zealand players represented British Troops, Cairo, versus British Troops. Alexandria, on February 25; Sergeant Coull, Corporal Morrison, Corporal Wales and Private Griffiths. Cairo won by 9 points to 0. The form of the New Zealanders caused favourable comment. Morrison and Griffiths are All Blacks. Coull, one of Taranaki's best forwards last year, took part in the All Black trials last September at Athletic Park and won a place in The Rest, which defeated a New Zealand side in the final game. Wales, Athletic and Wellington representative, has also played in All Black trials. Several games have been played between New Zealand and British units, the New ' Zealand teams performing well. The New Zealand Artillery beat fhe previously unbeaten Air Force. Heliopolis team, 18 points to 3. The New Zealand units are keen. A good side should be available to meet the British Army and Air Force teams in the projected triangular tournament at Easter, proceeds of which will go to charity.