CHEERFUL PROSPECT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 96, 24 April 1930, Page 15

CHEERFUL PROSPECT.

TEAMS GETTING READY. KICK-OFF NEXT SATURDAY. A RUN ROUND THE CLUBS. Rugby will kick-off next Saturday for the 1930 season, Which is expected to be one of the big years of the game in New Zealand. The visit of a British team for the first time in 22 years will, of course, be the event of the season. In fact, it will be a series of events, for the itinerary embraces 21 matches, including four tests, and will extend over a period of twelve weeks, from May 24 to August 13. Intertwined with these matches and extending right on to September will also be the usual long programme of inter-provincial games, so that enthusiasts are looking forward to quite a feast of Rugby this year. At the moment, however, players and followers of the game are chiefly concerned with club prospects and the possibility of the local competitions bringing to light fresh talent which will be available for the provincial team when the British team comes along this way in July. At the present moment it seems that all the stars of last season are still available, and that there has been practically no influx of players of All Black calibre from other provinces. In the off season, Auckland has lost only one of its great players, R. McWilliams, who has gone to reside in the Waikato, a province which will benefit this year also by the return of the All Black half, J. Tuck, and by the presence in the' district of the ex-Wanganui and Wairarapa players Carlsen and Vangioni. Reports from the clubs indicate that competition for the club championship this year will be keen among the Ponsonby, University and Grammar Old Boys, with Tech. Old Boys, Manukau and Marists adding to the interest, and Training College, City, College Rifles and Grafton rather below last year's standard. -_ CHAMPIONS CONFIDENT.

Without making any bally-hoo, Pon- - sonby, crack team of the senior competition last year, are quietly confident of their ability to retain their laurels this ■season. The champions' most serious losses are K. McWilliams, the All Black forward, who is now living in Hamilton, and E. Hook, who will be prevented by a leg injury of last season from filling one ofthe wing positions. The responsibilities of the last • line of defence will again be carried by Fraser, who, in the past two seasons, has proved himself a very useful fullback. On one wing will be L. Hook, while the other will likely be occupied by either McLeod or Pope. Lucas will be in the centre of the threequarter line, and will have Cammick and Jamieson as the connecting links between himself and the scrum. The five - eighth pair have been tried, not only in the Ponsonby side, but also in the representative team, and have not been found wanting. For the job behind the scrum the blue and blacks have the younger McManus, with Mouatt, formerly of Hawke's Bay, as an excellent stand-by. On paper it looks as if the Ponsonby attack will be as dazzling as ever and woe betide the team that allows any of the stars just a glimpse of an opening. Soloman will .again carry a roving commission. The vanguard will show more changes than the back division, more particularly so if Palmer, about whom there is at present a doubt, is not available. Generally speaking, the pack will be young and on its showing in practices it should develop into a well-balanced combination. If Palmer is not available it is likely that Bishop, a promoted junior, and Haywood will be the hookers. Edwards will be the lock, and probably Gallaher and Hardy will be the side row forwards. Webb, the ex-Training College forward, is regarded as a certain starter, and, probably, Bunting or Somers will complete the scrum, although there is Hardley and one or two other forwards who are well worthy of a place.

STUDENTS POSSESS STRENGTH. Runners-up in the championship last year, University are \ likely to prove strong challengers for the premiership this season. The backs will be much the same'as last year, the chief change relating to the full back position. The student's last line of . defence will be Butler, formerly of Training' College, who has changed places with Bush. As both Butler and Bush have represented Auckland, the • move is not likely to make much difference one way or the other. The flying Minns "will be on one wing and, probably, D. Millikjn, the ex-King's College player, will be on the other. Stotter has been named as the Var-. sity centre, with McKay and Jenkin in the five-eight line, and Eae, formerly of Training College, behind the scrum, but it is known that Stokes, of I)evonport, is also a candidate for a place. University have lost the very valuable Keane for good, but believe that in Jolly (Otago), a New Zealand University representative of last year, they have an excellent rover. The front row pair will be chosen from Robinson, Edwards and Douglas, the last named being also a Dominion Varsity representative from Dunedin. J. Jenkin has effectively locked the scrum in the past and should do so again this year, with Clarke and Anderson on either side of him. Stacey, a former Training College stalwart, and Barker, who is reputed to have played big football in the Bay of Plenty, will complete the ; van. Two forwards whose presence will.be missed from the royal blue ranks are Linton, who is in Nelson, and Colgan, who will not be playing this year. ©

WITH STRONGER BACKS. High hopes of heing able to get very near the championship this season are entertained by Grammar Old Boys, who expect to be able to put in the field the fastest and most thrustful of last year's backs, with the addition of Matheson (from University), Weir (from Training College), and Lewis, who was unable to turn out regularly last year, to add experience and solid defence to the rearguard. Despite Ihe fact that Cathcart has gone to the country, the Grammar pack- will be one of the best in the competitiono, with the Knight brothers, the Batty brothers and Potter still available, and Greville back from India and in excellent playing form. In addition, there are two or three big junior lads of last season who are in the running for first grade honours. The team is again under "Bollar" Francis' eye in training, and is expected to open the season in good shape. WITH HADLEY IN CHARGE. Marist Old Boys, without expecting any great advance on last year's standard in their senior team, are looking forward to turning out a side that will keep the best of the opposition busy and score enough wins to show some headway on recent years. Last season chief difficulty was experienced in getting an evenly balanced rearguard, and the departure this year of Stoupe has resulted in some changing round of positions in order to try out a new combination. Loombe, one of last year' juniors, will open the season as fullback, while Cornth%vaite will go up to centre three-quarter. This will necessitate Stuart being used on one wing, while Johnson retains his place on the other. The five-eighths for the opening game are likely to be Kirton, a recruit from Hawke's Bay, and Smith, who played at this position last year. Rennie, a promoted junior, will be given a trial at half. "Swin" Hadley will be out again in front of the scrum, and will be captain. He is likely to have hie brother as the other hooker, with Hennessey as lock. Other forwards who were with the team last year are Locke and Dunne. Clarke, a very promising junior, may find a place, and it ia expected that Henry, one of of last year's senior B lads, will soon be one of the team's star forwards. Another junior of promise is McVeigh, but he may not be available for the first game or two. Generally, the pack is expected to be a fast and solid one, and while there is good all-round material in the backs there may be some changing round to get the right combination. The club has a large membership and plenty of juniors, but it will not this season put out a senior B team.

ALWAYS HARD TO BEAT.

! Always a hard team to beat, especially on their awn-ground, Manukau Rovers I will be stronger this season than last, and this, despite the fact that Heazlewood, the Wellington representative fullback of last season, Avho recently joine.d up with the club has been unexpectedly recalled South. Last season Manukau lost the services of A. Falwasser, who went to England to play the League code, but as compensation the club has now secured W. Jones, who played in the Maorj team against the All Blacks last year. A native of Te Kuiti, Jones will probably fill a place in the five-eighth line. He weighs a couple of pounds over thirteen stone, and is said to, be capable of covering a hundred yards on the track in 10 l-ss. In the Maori team he played on the wing, but it is considered that he will be of greater service to his new club nearer the scrum. Other new comers to the Manukau senior fifteen will be Dixon, a third row forward, who wore the University jersey in the senior B grade last year. Pile, an exPublic Works player, who will probably be-the rover, and Pepper, Pearce and Satherly, prompted juniors. Looming big among the old hands will be Kahu, the huge Maori lock, whose weight is said to have reached the 18st 21b mark. Other of last year's forwards who will be seen out are Satherly and McGuire. Byres, Linden and Alben are available again for the rearguard, while it is likely that Turei, who transferred to Manukau from Grammar last year, will fill the position which it was hoped until last week, would have been occupied by Heazlewood. As usual the club will be strongly represented in the junior grades.

YOUNG BUT ENTHUSIASTIC. A team which at the end of last season was able to win the Pollard Cup and to beat a good Ponsonby side in an electric light game, Technical Old Boys are expected to be one of the mos.t difficult propositions this year for the older combinations. Lack of confidence was their chief failing last season in the early games, and this should no longer be apparent. The greens have practically the same side as that-with which they won their later matches, bar one forward, Corlett. All round the forwards are a few pounds heavier this year, and as they started their training early they should be able to reproduce, in the opening matches, their accustomed dash. From half to three-quarter line they have nippinees and speed, and if they can get a satisfactory fullback, always one of their troubles, they should have a good season. The opening match, against University, will certainly provide an acid test of their capabilities, and the Easter training for this test has been intensive, including a camp at Onetangi. The club this year has a greatly increased membership, and expects to be able to put seven teams in the field.

RIFLES KEEN. If enthusiasm counts for anything, College Rifles should have a successful season. The men who -will play in the dark hlue jersey this year are reported to be particularly keen, while an increase in membership will give the selectors more opportunities for getting a serviceable fifteen together. The fullback has not yet been announced, but except for one of the wings the other backs are known. Donald, who learnt his football at Wanganui, will be on one flank, while the key position in the three-quarter line will be occupied by Pickering, a Wellington senior player of last year. Clark, who was with Kingsland last season, and McGregor, one of the Rifles' last year side, will be the five-eighths, with Kirk half-back. The position of rover will probably be filled by Warren, who played senior Rugby in 1928, but did not turn out last year. One of the club's hookers of 1929, Stewart, is now in Kaitaia, and it is likely

that it will be Campbell, a former Marathon player, who will go down with /S. Souter in the front row. Nicholson will probably lock the scrum, and others who are expected to find a place in the van are Stehr, Dodd, Noakes and Gould. The veteran Sogarty has said that he will not turn out, but he has been on deck so long that it will not occasion any great surprise if he changes his mjnd. Besides Stewart, notable absentees from the Rifles team this year will be Gillespie, who will be on the sideline, and Wilson, who is abroad. YOUNGER ALL ROUND. Training College, which brought off some surprises at the, opening of last season, has lost several of the most notable backs in, Butler (full-back), Abbott (three-quarter), Weir (fiveeighth) and Bae (half). One compensation is the gain of Bush, who was But-* ler's chief rival last year for the rep. full-back position, and was also played as centre three-quarter and five-eighth in rep. games. Connelly, who made a sensational start as an express threequarter last year, but was handicapped later by injury, is still with the team, but the other backs are all young players. Five of last year's forwards are left in, Hodge, Dobbs, Cunliffe, Johnson and Herbert. Three useful men, Blow, Peacock and Stacey, have been lost, and will be replaced by lighter' and lessexperienced players. Generally the team has lost weight in the forwards and pace among the backs, but hopes by nippiness and combination to give the best teams a good game. GRAFTON STILL HOPEFUL. As has been so frequently the case in recent years, Grafton is having difficulty about the composition of the team for the first match. Preparations had to be made to fill vacancies left by the proposed transfer of McKay (half), and Ruru (three-quarter) to another team. The club is trying to build up practically a new team from the very promising material of a junior team that made a good showing last season, with three backs and five forwards of last year's seniors. Among the new backs are Scott (full-back), Fraser and Hall (threequarters), and Lendrum (half), all promoted juniors, who are expected to have with them Moore, Stevenson .and Paewai of last year's team. Keary, Cooke, Hargraves, Finlayson and Hammond are left of last year's pack. It is possible that thte junior hookers, Wiberg and Jackson, will be in the team, with Davis, junior prospects for places. Burke, Thode and Kelleway as* other The Grafton junior teams have always been a good lot. No doubt the wholesale promotion of second-graders will have its effect lower down, but even at that it is expected that the junior teams all round will be of good standard.

ON THE UP GRADE. City's losses during the off-season have not been outstanding, and they have gained McKay (half) and Ruru (three-quarter), who were with Grafton last season. Merridge is expected to be back with this team, and most of the forwards of last year. Generally speaking City should have a combination of a somewhat better standard than last year's.

PROGRAMME FOR SATURDAY.

Matches will be played under the control of the Auckland Rugby Union on Saturday as follow : — SENIOR GRADE A. University v. Technical Old Boys, Eden Park, No. 1, 3 p.m., Mr. G. Peace. Grammar Old Boys v. Training College, Eden Park, No. 1, 1.45 p.m., Mr. F. E. Sutherland. City v. v. Marist Old Boys, Eden Park, No. 2, 3 p.m., Mr. M. Kronfeld. Ponsonby v. Grafton, Eden Park, No. 3, 3 p.m., Mr. C. F. Paull; Manukau v. College Rifles, Show Grounds, No. 1, 3 p.m., Mr. J. G. Gasparich. . SENIOR GRADE B. North Shore v. Marathon, North Shore, 3 p.m., Mr. W. J. Thompson. University B v. Otahuhu, Sturgess Park, 3 p.m., Mr. J. G. C. Wales. Tramways v. Manukau B, Victoria Park, 3 p.m., Mr. C. F. Fowler. H.M.s. Dunedin v. Parnell, Domain, 3 p.m., Mr. H. Thomas. Eden v. Suburbs, Eden Park, No. 3, 1.45 p.m., Mr. E. C. Stretton. Reserves : Messrs. J. Corner, A. Bagnall. THIRD GRADE. Huntly v. Grafton, Eden Park, No. 2, 1.45 p.m., Mr. D. V. Moore. TEAMS FOR SATURDAY. MANUKAU ROVERS. Senior A.—fLurie, Linden, Albon, Brimble (2), Satherby (2), Thomas, Bryes, Jones, Rewlti, Site, Taylor, McGuire, Kahu, Dixon, Da vies, Peace, Laird. Senior B.—Faulder, Moir, Simmonds, Kemp, Cunningham, "Walters, Eustuce, Penny, St. George, Paynter, Lywell, Barker, Harris, Kerapea, Morgan, Penny. . • GRAMMAR OLD BOYS. Senior Grade A.—M'ltheson, Biss, Bell, Wilson, Savoury, Lindrum, Weir, Lewis, Corner, Potter (2), Batty (2), Skelton, Greville, Knight (2), Pollock, Jordan, Dudding. MARIST OLD BOYS. Seniors. —Hadley (2), Hennessy, Dunne, Locke, Henry, Clarke, Eville, Walshe, Rennie, Smith, Kirton, Cornthwaite Stuart, Johnson, Loomb, Corles. Practices at Sacred Heart College.— Second grade v. S.H.C., at 3 p.m.; fifth grade v. S.H.C. fourth grade, at 2 p.m.; all other grades at 2 p.m. All junior players must attend these practices. PARNELL. * Senior B. —Flynn, Dyett, Fawcett, Rhodes, Satherly, McCarthy, Tapper, Hill, Callaghan, Watkins, Greensmith Stevens, Rogers, Munyard, Haining Iverson, Burton, Courtney, • Newland, Macintosh, Bell, Franklin.

CANTERBURY'S DECISION,

* OLD RULES THIS SEASON. v (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) CHRISTCHUBCH, Wednesday. The Canterbury Rugby Union this evening carried a resolution adopting old rules for all grades for the present season. It was decided, however, that in club matches replacement of injured players should be allowed, and that the rule requiring a player claiming a mark to make a mark in the turf with his heel be not enforced. These exceptions will not apply to representative matches.