RUGBY NOTES

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6613, 18 May 1928, Page 9

RUGBY NOTES

(By "Tho OIT-sidcr.” )

THE JUNIORS. i The most promising feature of this i year’s entries is the increase in the junior championship section. Last season eight teams being entered, one being from the Linton Club which iias this season become defunct. At the present time, three new junior teams arc in the held—Feilding Old Boys, West End Old Boys, and United Valley. No province can progress In the football world unless it possesses a good reserve of j r oung players to till the gaps in the senior ranks. The increasing popularity of the junior grade in the Manawatu augurs well for the future of Rugby in this district. A Comparison. In this connection, it is interesting to compare the number of entries for the junior section in the Manawatu, with -those in other districts of a similar size. In Taranaki the Rugby district is divided into two divisions —North and South. In the Northern division, six junior teams are in the competition and in tho Southern, four. For true comparative purposes wxtii Taranaki, therefore, .wo should really include the junior teams playing in tho Horowhenua Union which would bring the Manawhenua quota up to fourteen. In the Otago Rugby Union district, with a considerably larger area and population, they have only one more junior team than can be found in the combined union. In the Hawke s Bay district are twelve junior fifteens, Wanganui, eight, Southland, eight, South Canterbury six, and Wairarapa six. It will be seen from the above figures therefore, that this season the entries in the Manawatu Rugby Union’s junior competition compare more than favourably with those from similar districts. This is a significant and very promising feature which looks well for the future of the national game in this district. This week our available space is being devoted to a review of some of tho junior teams in the field. The balance of the fifteens will be dealt with' next week. Last Year’s Champions, j High School, who last year, bagged | the junior championship both of the Manawatu Rugby Union and the Combined Union, look like going very close to the championship honours again this year. The School fifteen won the first two games of tho season with a comfortable margin of points, while it was somewhat unlucky to have to submit to a draw against St. Patricks on Saturday. P.N.B.H.S. are fielding a hefty set of forwards although none of last year’s "firsts” are numbered among tho pack men. Trcmcwan last year’s "big boy” of the team is eclipsed this season by Swindell a very solid customer from St. Patricks College who turns the scales at over fifteen stone. A Solid Pack.

The big lock possesses greater speed and ability in the loose than his predecessor. A distinct addition to the School side. Millar played a number of games for the "firsts” last, year, and demonstrated even then that ho was a very useful scrummagor. He is one of the biggest forwards in the junior grade this year, and is playing solid football. Clcvcly, Jordan, Scott, Naylor, Nathan and Fraser are all promoted players from tho school’s junior grades. On Saturday they played a very sound game and, coached by the school masters, should develop into a frontal brigade fit to take place with any of the previous wearers of the blue and white.

A New Set of Backs. Only two of last year’s backs have relumed to school this season. E. Fletcher, who is ono of the most promising backs in the Manawatu, is at centre while the last line of defence is filled, by M. O’Keefe, another young player who will go far. O'Keefe played in tho same position last year for School, although towards the end of the season, he was replaced by Paccy. 0 ’Keefe’s play on Saturday was a feature of the game. Duushea, who played beside the scrum last year, has been moved out to first live-eighth this season. Saturday’s match showed that ho will need a little more time to change his game to fit his new position, but, that as a genarally handy man in all weathers, he possesses all of last year’s ability. On tho right wing, is Trcmcwan, another of a family who have helped to make the School’s football history. This yoar,s representative will be ono of the most dangerous backs on the School side. Bradley, Metcalfe and McLuno arc all promoted men. All three promise well in a side that, favoured by some of the best coaching in the Manawatu, should Jive up to past traditions. St. Pats. The prospects of this Club for the season seem very bright. An influx of new players has strengthened what was already a strong combination, as was proved by tho prominent positions occupied by the club’s teams at the conclusion of last season. The junior team has included in its ranks, Rose, of High School's last year’s "firsts,” who has quickly jumped into top-notch form. The Rearguard Strength.

Robinson, who has been on the bank for a season, promises well as docs also W. Shcerin, who comes with a good record. Last year’s backs, F. Nesbit, J. McKenzie, H. Shecrin, and J. Redwood, arc all displaying good form and thijrc scorns to be foundation for a good combination. The forwards will bo led by Cope (captain), and McLaggan, who displayed excellent form last ycar,/and these with R. Nesbit, Kerrigan and D. McKenzie, a newcomer, form the nucleus of a very formidable pack. J. White, who filled the five-eighths position for Old Boys last year, has also donned the green jersey and gave a particularly good display against his old club mates, two Saturdays back. Present Achievements. So far, the greens have gained only one championship point, but they may, perhaps, bo classed as the most unlucky of tho junior fifteens. On present form they certainly deserve to stand further up the ladder. They did not make the most auspicious of openings by losing their first two games, but in both cases, it must be remembered, that tho margin was only a bare three points. Meeting Old Boys, who are undeniably one of the strongest teams in tho competition, St. Fats led 6 —nil at the beginning of the second spell. True, in the cud, tho blacks took the championship points, but it was only after a hard battle, n which the greens crossed the line twice to their opponents once—for six of Old Boys’, nine points accrued per medium of the boot. Then again on Saturday, the wearers of the green fought a drawn battle with School, one of the competition leaders. There were many ragged patches, of course, but St. Pats, demonstrated very convincingly that once again they arc a force to be reckoned with in tho junior competition. A notable feature of St. Pats.’ play is the keenness of their fast breaking

pack of forwards who are always on the ball and grafting hard. Kia Toa. One of tho most promising junior fifteens this year is Kia Toa, who appear likely to develop a formidable rearguard combination. The light blues have, some very promising new recruits, one or two of whom should be useful to the seniors in times of emergency. Kia Toa opened the season well by defeating St. Pats., 9—(5, after a solid game in which the light blue pack worked well together. Again on Saturday, Kia Toa added a further two championship points against Bunnythorpe. On this occasion they demonstrated that they possess a promising sot of backs who should go well after some further coaching. The Light Blue Strength. This year, J. Weston, who wore tho green jersey last season, has returned to the Kia Toa fold and is filling the last lino of defence very capably. A now arrival from Wellington is Bcrggrani, a wing ihrcmquarter, who should go beyond junior grade this season. He is a weighty fast customer with a good pair of hands, and should prove a productive try getter. Morgan and Topic will probably bo found on the two wings with the new Wellington man as centre. Two snappy five-eighths arc Holden and Hancock, of last year’s team, while at tho base of tho scrum is J. Powell, an ex-Bunnythorpc player, who is showing some great early season form. Another addition from tho country team is Argyle, a solid forward and a dangerous man in the loose. Last Saturday did not sec tho expected materialisation of both O’Keefe brothers, as additions to the pack, Jack alone turning out as lock-man. It was expected that Bert, would be found hooking with Spencer, a promoted third grade player of last year, who gives promise of developing into a very handy man. Brown, Mitchell, Thomas, and Comber arc four good forwards from last season’s team who will add weight to tho pack again this season. The light blues appear to have a good reserve of promising players for their junior fifteen, a fact which augurs well for future prospects. The Wearers of the Black. The Old Boys’ Club appears to be fortunate this year, in the results of the recruiting for its junior fifteen, Old Boys, as a club, generally secure the pick of the secondary school players, ns can bo gauged from the fact that in all the club’s teams, the c\'sccondary scdiool boy is in the majority. This is a very important factor in building up a well-coached, fast, rear-guard combination, such as tho Old Boy ’s junior fifteen is fielding this season. At the present lime, Old Boys arc heading tho junior ladder with Feilding, who have also registered three wins since the season opened. ■ Recruits From High School. From last year’s High School ‘firsts’ have come six very solid additions to the. black ranks. Page, School’s dashing five-eighths, who has delighted local followers of the secondary school game so often, is playing next to Norris, the ex-skipper of the School fifteen. These two playing together should be the best pair of junior live-eighths in the district. Another of last year’s school-boy stars, Lqncc Seymour, is skippering Old Boys this year and is playing on the wing where ho has already given a good account of himself, bulk as a kicker and a try-getter. In the scrum are throe of School’s cxpackmeu, Yarcoe, Paccy and Banks, while last Saturday. Fraser, who played lock for the 192(3'first fifteen, was in the black ranks. Last Year's Men. At fuil-back will be Bennett, who filled the same position last year, and is a Manawatu junior rep. E. Collins, of Newbury, is another player who gained his "cap” at school two years ago and made a name as a last winger and good kick. He is filling the

centre position this scasuu lor the black fifteen, while next to him us a winger, is Gordon Scorgic, another exstar from P.N.B.H.S. At tho base of the scrum is 0. Waugh, who was donk-ey-man for Old Boys last year’s senior fifteen. O’Shea,, who is playing rover took the field for Old Boys seniors against Feilding two Saturdays ago. "Pat” was back again with the juniors on Saturday and promises to be a source of annoyance to opposing donk-ey-men during the season. Rennet, Snell, Lancaster and Linklater complete tho personnel, all being members of last year’s junior fifteen. All four arc fast, solid forwards and some of the best battlers in Manawatu junior football. Taken all round, Old Boys junior fifteen this year, is a very formidable combination which should certainly finish very near the head of (he championship ladder. How Athletic Stand. The wearers of the green and black, st. far this season, have two championship points to their credit —a win against United Valley on the first Saturday of the season providing an auspicious opening. Since that date, .they have been somewhat unfortunate in meeting two of the first teams on the championship ladder —High School and Feilding. At the present time, Athletic’s chief weakness appears to be in the backs —they have some good material in the forwards which have already given a good account of themselves. The personnel of the team is much the same as last year, with the addition of. one or two new players who show distinct promise. Some of tho New-Comers, J. Burgess, who hails from the River. City, is a fast breaking forward, who tackles solidly. Burgess, has a fair turn of speed and should do well with a little more coaching. He. lias been tried in the backs, where ho should also bo able to fill a gap. Young, who is playing on one wing, is a promising lad, possessing a good pair of hands, and a useful boot. Ho is a hard grafter and not afraid of the hard stuff.

Sherrin at first five-eighths has been displaying good form and is, perhaps, the pick of tho backs. With loss selfish inside men he could make his presence felt. Some trouble is being experioned in finding a suitable half, last year’s donkey-man, Fitzsimmons, showing good form at practice, but failing badly in the one match he has so far played in. At the same time, a little more attention to business would make this player quite a useful man at the base of the scrum. A Few More of tho Team. McNac, a player who turned out for Athletic seniors a touplo of limes last season, can be used in the rearguard, but lacks speed. On his play at FeilJing, McNae looks like a first rutu forward who keeps the leather ever at his toe. A. Flowers is skippering tho team this year, and is certainly the pick of the forwards. This player wore Bunnythorpo's red jersey a couple of seasous ago and is one of tho best junior forwards in the district. He is a good skipper and pack loader. Hemi is one of Athletics best backs and has been playing well, so far this year, lie is a dangerous man on attack, but perhaps inclined to bo too much of an individualist.. As centre three quarter his defence is also not quite as sound as it might be. Tho remainder of tho green and blacks arc a solid enough crowd, tho whole fifteen being a combination which should improve as the scasou advances. Pars From Down the Line.

Shannon seniors are badly in need of a place kick as successor to Cliff Hunt. So far only one kick has been successful this season.

The Dalzcll brothers arc playing good football for the seniors at Shannon, and marked improvement is noticeable as the season proceeds. Roberts is playing a solid game for

■Shannon seniors. His ability to take the ball at any angle and at any speed has been very noticeable. Ho is a valuable asset to the team. It will bo interesting to see who turns out as full-back for the Shannon senior team in their next game. So far, out of four games played, there have been four different full-backs. Tantrum was in good form for Woraroa against Shannon seniors last Saturday. His kicking was excellent.