RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 150, 27 June 1934, Page 14

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

THE NEW DIVISIONS.

ROUND THE CLUBS.

GOSSIP ABOUT PLAYERS.

The question of which teams are to be relegated to the senior B division has been settled, although not satisfactorily to all, and, surprisingly, University has escaped the danger, and equally surprisingly, Grammar has gone down. Competition this season has been the keenest for years, and with only six teams left in the senior A grade, the tussle for supremacy will bo even more willing. Great football its promised throughout the second round. The Grammar senior team and its supporters are very disappointed in having to go to the senior B division, while University, which did not even fancy its own chances, are equally jubilant, and so instead of only one of last season's trio of champions being left, two will carry on. There is some speculation in Grammar circles concerning what will be done with two teams in the senior B section, although it is likely that, despite some suggestion of incorporating the two teams into one, both will carry on with the good work, the senior of the two endeavouring to earn inclusion into the senior A division next year. There is a suggestion that each year the senior competition should be commenced with nine teams, the three lowest being relegated to the next division after the first round had been played, while the three leading teams in the senior B division at the end of the season would move up into the senior grade for the first round the following year. Such a scheme might well be worth considering, as it would make the competition even more keen, and perhaps even more interesting to enthusiasts. If fortunes changed as this year, it would certainly prove popular. Otalmliu has suffered a severe loss, George Solomon, the popular half-back, who has been showing improvement with every game, having gone to Cambridge. The club will find him difficult to replace. Marist forwards, with McGrory outstanding, have played well this season, but the backs, which have been chopped and changed in every game, have been the team's downfall. Injuries have not allowed the players to work up a combination and take advantage of the work of the forwards and the hooking of Hadley, and on Saturday difficulty was found in fielding a full team, Muller, who was suffering from an injured hip, having to bo played at full-back. It is testing time for Marist supporters, and they need to show what they are made of in rallying round the old club. When Ron Ross, the College Rifles forward, took the field on Saturday week against Technical, Rugby fans thought ho must have returned to the fold, but the truth of the matter was that he had journeyed down from near Dargaville just to help his club in its endeavours to retain its place in the senior A grade. Another forward who will be missed during the next week or two is Charlie .Stone, who has to undergo an operation on his nose. Hoazlewood, the Manukau skipper and fi-M-back. 6ecmed very nervous on Saturday, and it was some time before he settled down. Those who saw Pearson, of Otahuhu, drop-kick a goal against Marist on Saturday, were not, perhaps, aware that he devotes plenty of time and patience to practice of the art. Reid, who turned out on the wing for Technical on Saturday, was playing his first game for two years, but he shaped well. He is a former professional sprint champion of New Zealand. Congratulations are due to Murdoch, of Technical, and Hedge, of Otahuhu, on their selection to practice with a view to rep. honours. Both have been making their mark in the five-eighths line, in which Auckland has been weak for a couple of seasons, and it is pleasing to see them being given a chance. Hamilton, who is playing at full-back for 'Varsity in place of Bush, who is working in the forwards, has come up from the senior B ranks. He shows excellent promise, and should make sure of that position in the senior team, as he is a good tackier, and only lacks a little confidence to make him a good line-kicker. His only fault is that he is inclined to be a little 6low. Of eleven teams which Manukau has in the competition, five had byes on Saturday. The senior B team is very unfortunate just now. On Saturday week ithey did not play owing to the senior B trial game, on Saturday they did not play on account of the rep. game, next Saturday they have a bye, and the following Saturday they will not be playing again because of the big match at Eden Park—a total of five weeks without a game.

Vear, of College Rifles, who could not turn out on Saturday week, showed form on Saturday, when he scored several tries as skipper lor the Air Force team against the Aero Club. The Rifles team is in strict training, and .hopes to step back into the A grade at the end of the season. The University senior selector watched the play of the "junior team on Saturday with an eye to promising material lor promotion to the senior grade when required. One player who took the eye was Heskcth, the first five-eighths, who shows promise as an inside back. Chater, m the second position, also showed promise, and combined well with Hesketh. Kirkland played well on the wing, and he is likely to contest senior status next season. The College Rifles third grade teams offer a contrast, the intermediate having only wdli one game, but proved that defeat cannot burr their keenness by turning out Saturday after Saturday in tiic true spirit of Rugby..The third open grade team is still on top in that grade, and includes some excellent players ia both backs and forwards. Very many statements, quite of a wild nature at times, have been made as to the frequency of a referee whistling in a match at Eden Park. Last Saturday a count was kept in the Manukau-Grammar match, with the following result:—Ball in touch .'5, penalties 10, knock-on 16, sacks on the mill 12, marks 2, unintentional oil'sidc 1, scrum infringements 7. In addition there arc, of course, whistles for injuries and signalling the clock, tries, goals, and starting and stopping the games, but outside these the total number of times the referee whistled was 60. Probably those who think that the number runs well over a hundred hear the whistle of the referee on No. 2 ground, and include this in the total. JUNIOR MANAGEMENT. At last night's meeting of the junior management board of the Auckland Rugby Football Union it was reported that the activities of the committee set up to visit various grounds on Saturdays for the purpose of weighing players were having a marked effect. Last Saturday all teams weighed had been found to be in order with the exception of a sixth grade team, in which one player was overweight. R. McGregor, of the Northcote Club, was regraded from second to intermediate grade. The transfer of J. Cowan from Eastern Suburbs to Marist was granted. PRIMARY SCHOOLS' FIXTURES. Draw arranged by the Auckland Trimary Schools' Rugby Union for Friday : — DOMAIN GROUP. Senior. —Newton Central v. Vermont Street. No. ,'i ; Meadowbank v. Parncll (practice match), No. 7. Intermediate. —Parncll v. Newmarket. No. 0; Grafton v. Parncll Juniors (practice), No. 8. Juniors.—Grafton v. "Meadowbank, No. 0; Newton Central v. Newmarket, No. 4; Parncll v. Grafton intermediate (practice), No. 10. VICTORIA PARK GROUP. Juniors. — l'onsonby v. Richmond Roarl, 3.1 n p.m., No. :: ground: Vermont Street v. Wollesley Street, ;J.l."> p.m., No. 4 ground; Bayfield, a live. Intermediate. — Ponsonby v. Richmond Road, 3.15 p.m.. No. 1 ground ; Vermont Street v. Welleslc.v Street, 3.4."> p.m., No. 2 ground ; Bayfield, a bye.