ROUND THE CLUBS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 134, 8 June 1934, Page 12

ROUND THE CLUBS.

PLAYERS "ON THE CARPET," RETURN" OF PERCY MINNS. Thrilling football continues to "be the order in the Auckland senior Rugby competition, and spectators arc wondering whether or not the high standard of play and the exciting nature of the games will be maintained throughout the season, while another point for argument is the belief that sooner or later the teams will settle down and forecasts will be realised. While views are many, there is one general admission, and that is that Auckland is enjoying the best football fare for years, and that the season will be one of the most successful from playing, watching and financial points of view. Saturday's results brought the now familiar upsets, and while the majority of spectators rather expected that Grafton might vanquish Manukau, there are few who would have picked Otahuhu to beat College Rifles, Ponsonby to defeat Grammar and Technical to lower University's colours. These upsets of teams are also upsets for players. Many players are being praised in their own club circles for great work, and others, of teams unexpectedly defeated, are standing meekly on the mat and wondering if what is being said about them is true and justified. Players do not know just where they are, but must feel no small satisfaction in the knowledge that they are helping to provide splendid entertainment.

The bye in the senior competition last week was very welcome to the Marist team, which has been severely depleted owing to injuries. The spell will give the team an excellent chance for recuperation and recovery, and it will not be surprising to find all teams in the competition following the Marist example and taking a rest.

Percy Minns was ready to turn out for 'Varsity on Saturday, but lie was not allowed to play. Poulton, the Manukau centre, lias received a great deal of praise for his brilliant run through, the Grafton team on Saturday, only to lose the ball after lie had crossed the line, and it is whispered that he would be much more solid if lie did not try to be spectacular. It is also reported that he did the same thing against 'Varsity. . Fleming, the rugged Marist forward, is going to New Plymouth and his loss, coupled with the many setbacks the club I lias had so far this season, will be severely felt. Technical forwards showed their best at Pukekolie on Monday in defeating the locals by 19 to 11. The credit for the v/in goes to the vanguard, which kept on top of the country boys all the way through. It was expected that Haslam, who has broken a small bone in an instep, would be badly missed in the five-eighths line, but McAdam, who took liis place, was very sound. Pearson, of Otahuhu, was very much to the fore in the victory over College Rifles, while Jury was very prominent in the forwards. Incidentally Otahuliu possesses a promising lialf-back in Cowper, of the second grade team. Hatfield was missed when lie was taken off on Saturday, the whole ot the Manukau backs being disorgansed. During the week-end the Sacred Heart College first fifteen had a try-out against the Old Boys, and on the form produced should be a hard proposition in this year s secondary schools' competition. Hie main strength is in a heft.v pack of forwards. The Eden senior B team has an excellent record this season. It has played and won six gunies without having had its line crossed, scoring 75 points to six (two penalty goals).