Devonport Ready.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 85, 11 April 1928, Page 12

Devonport Ready.

Surplus Of Good Players Offering For Seasiders.

One of the strongest senior teams this season will lie Devonport, although at the moment the club's officials are somewhat in a dilemma, as the difficulty is going to be who to leave out when the first thirteen is finally chosen. The sea aiders are able to field practically the same team that they had last year. There is one notable retirement. The veteran Bert Laing, who has served the club faithfully and well for a long time, has decided to retire,

leaving behind him a wonderful playing record and a line reputation for, sportsmanship. Bert Laing has won every playing honour in the code. The l>est of his work, both in club football and in representative teams, was done in the fiveeighths line, where he" was a splendid exponent of the

straight running plaver in attack. There is a shade of doubt about "Pip" Webb's movements. He intends to play, but at the moment is out of Auckland, and might not be available to link up for the first game. Apart from those two players all the other Shoreites are ready for the fray. There' are three talented juniors ready to come up to the senior ranks, and probably an opportunity will be given to them in the trial games at Carlaw Park on April 21. For fullback Shore has two good players offering in Perry and Svmonds. * The former is light, but with ail the qualifications for the post. Svmonds, who came into the League fold near the end of last season, is a young player of exceptional physique, and can play equally as well in the three-quarter line. In Scott, Beattie, Holmes, Cleaver and Seagar there is a wealth of talent available for other while Rhodes, the secondary school boy who shaped well behind the Shore pack last year, is also out for a place. 11l St. George, Rule, O'Brien and Dixon—the latter is now manager of a business at Hamilton, but will probably be able to play—Devonport has the nucleus of a rep. pack. There is also the dashing, exuberant Ruby. One report says that he will not be available, but the latest advice is that he has bought a new pair of football boots, and -that's a very sign* 4 - -r-