FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18679, 8 April 1924, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

THE RUGBY GAME. PROSPECTS FOR THE' SEASON The Season of Rugby football, which opens this month, promises to be especially attractive, consequent on the approaching tour of the New Zealand team for England, and tho series of trials to be held in June, in the North and South Islands, and the final selection after the trial in Wellington. All the prominent pliers of last season are again available, and with a number of promising young players the game should reach a high standard. Possibly never m tho history of Rugby in the Dominion has so much "interest been evinced. In Auckland the prospects are exceptional bright. Not only are all last season's players Available, but a number of players who were forced to retire through injuries i'xave recover? and will turn out again. • .. , The Grammar Old .Boys team will be ■well served with all its last season s play, ers, in addition to several who were not available last year, and \one or two new plavers from other centre*. _ V. ana u. Badeley, who were injured in the eaily part of last season will be in the team when the season opens. mto " *"[. Knight, the two stalwart forwards, will also be available this year. Among the prominent newcomers who will be found in the Grammar Old Boys tea is • McLean, from the Bay of le^yj^ n d has taken up his residence in Au<MandMcLean should be, a great a^ a iS-dy the Grammar pacK, as he is a stu. ay forward of the dashing ..ype. , »>• Don Wright, the wellAnown hahback will "be in his usual P^ a behind the scrum. Wright may however, not be long, available « he has rood rirosnects 01 inclusion m the INev, Inland team for England, wlnch iu Julv Altogether, Grammar Old IJons should be represented by the strong st side which has yet worn the -11-white C, tho ox-Christ's College fivei eighths, who was selected for the Auckland representative team last season and I met with an injury against Ha ke Bay, has since made a good reco-j , 7't> ov3 will be available for Grammar Ola Boja team this season. , There is some doubt, unfortunately, respecting the ability of K. Uwrson to turn out this season owing to " he^ v Acting on medical advice IfvVprson 'Welect to " stand down " for a time, brt he has not definitely decided. It is hoped that Ifwerson will be available before the 1 season is far advanced. As a g« nc ™ Ifwerson is of incalculable value to. tho Grammar Old Boys team. His brother, Neil Ifwerson will be available. Among prominent new players who will, appeal' in Rugby football in Auckland this year is Thomas, of Victoria College, Wellington, and New Zealand University representative threequarter hack, who has joined Auckland University College Club this season. _ ~ Other players of equal note are L. .McLean, of Bay of Plenty, the well-known New Zealand representative forward, who has joined Grammar Old Boys Club and will play for that club's senior team Mys season. Ross McLean will also be ft player for Grammar Od Boys, while Neil I McLean will assist College Rifles Club as | a senior grade player.

University College Team. The Auckland University College team also promises to be a better and stronger combination than last season, consequent on the fact that all the old players are again available, with the addition of soma new blood. The coach of the University team, Mr. A. Braund, the Auckland representative, has great hopes for his side this season, and, if the players rise to form it should be a difficult team to defeat. Last season the University team plaved fine football in its opening matches, but in later games fell away, there being little combination behind the scrum. The backs should be fast and clever. The forwards, too, should bo better than last season, and with coachins should turn out a well-combined pack. The College "Rifles team, which promised last season to be the strongest side in the senior club championship, but failed to combine, should also be a better team. The Grafton fifteen also promises well, as the majority of the old players are available, and with the material assistance of some new players, should again appear prominently in the championship. Cooke will be the star back at fiveCl ft is reported that O'Brien, the lock forward of the Grafton senior team, and an Auckland and New Zealand representtive, who was a member of the .New Zealand team which toured Australia, tw\> seasons ago, has gone over to the league game, and will play that code this season Buckland, the Grafton half back, and Boon, five-eighths, are not available lor Grafton this season, consequent on their transfer to the country. Find lay, who was not available until the middle of the season last year, owing to a serious illness, has made a good recovery, and will play in his old position at fullback, The return of Findlay will be most welcome in the Grafton fifteen, for whom he played fine football two seasons' ago, when his illness necessitated his retirement.

Strength of Marist Old Boys. Marist Brothers 01c 1 Boys anticipate a return of nearly all ;;heir last season s players, who showed solid 'form in the club championship contests. Among the backs there are likely to be some changes, as Malloy, the fine centre of last season, has been transferred further out in t\ie country, and may experience some difficulty in getting into the city every Satur* day. There is, however, such solid material in the Sacred Heart College that ' Marists should not be weakened by the absence of any of its players of last year. Marist Brothers Old Boys will be materially strengthened by the inclusion of Kirwan, the well-known threequarter back of Hawke's Bay, who will fill the place of Malloy, who is now out of range of the , Marist Club, having been transferred to Taumarunui. The Ponsonby Cub will open the season with specially bright prospects, consequent on an increased membership, which places the club in the position of putting no fewer than nine teams in the field. Practically the same team is available for the senior grade championship, with Matson returning after an enforced retirement through injury, and the reappearance of Wade and Lucas, who will be the star backs of the team, particularly the latter, who is in line for the selection of a New Zealand team for England. It is anticipated that two prominent players from Taranaki will play 'the team this season. L. Righton, the forward, may also be lost for the same reason, though there arc such a number of good forwards in New Zealand that the Auckland representative in the test team may be in danger of being passed over. Ponsonby, however, should place a strong side in the field, and as the team plays attractive football it should retain its popularity. The North {Shore, Newton, Eden and Suburbs teams will be practically the same as last season, with brighter prospects, consequent on several new players joining. King's College Old Boys will be one of the new senior teams of the season, as on ;ast year's form the Old Boys we,re too good for the majority of the teams, they met in the junior grade. Promotion to senior grade is well merited, and King's College Old Boys should put up bright and attractive games in the senior Championships.

WHANGAPJEI UNION. [bv; telegraph.own correspondetvtO WHANGAREI, Monday., Nominations of teams for the Whan gaud Rugby Union's competitions have close c'.. There aro only three in the senior aradt\. and 11 in tho junior grade. An effort is being made to promote a. j senior team from public works employees, j and from the remnants of the once for- | midable MaUngakaramea. team.

QUESTION OF ALLOWANCES.

DELEGATES SPECIAL MEETING. A spccial meeting of delegates of the Auckland Rugby Union was hold last evening, Mr. J, Arneil presiding over a. good attendance. The rocon.mendation of the management committee respecting the dividing of the senior grade club competitions into two sections was adopted. It was resolved that tho rule that representative players bo selected from senior grade players only be rescinded, the opinion being expressed that it would not be to the interests of tho game that the selector's choice should bo restricted. Tho meeting carried & recommendation to tho management committee that a, classification board be appointed. An honorarium of £25 was granted to Mr. A. J. Don, hon. secretary of the Auckland junior advisory board. The delegate from the North Auckland Union stated that that body was in favour of the payment of out-of-pocket expenses. Mr. H. Frost, one of the Auckland delegates to the New Zealand Union, eaid the matter of most vital importance to be discussed at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Union was that of the payment of allowances to members of tho All Black team to tour England. Had not t,he arrangements gone too far to allow of it, he would feel disposed to cancel the tour if tho English Union did not make some concession. He would like a free hand at tho annual meeting. It was resolved that, in the opinion of the meeting, it was unfair of the English Rugby Union not to grant an allowance to players, as it was detrimental to the members of the team and to the tour generally. further, that this opinion be expressed at the annur>l meeting of delegates to the New Zealand Union. SIANUKAU SUB-UNION. {BY TELEGRAPH.OWN CORRESPONDENT.] PAPAKURA, Monday. The annual meeting of the Manukau RubUnion was held on Saturday evening. Four clubs were represented. Mr. McCall prosified. The balance-sheet showed a credit of £26. The olection of president and secretary was hold over. Mr. Dickey, the present secretary, said ho would continue in office meanwhile. Messrs. McKenzie and Wilson W ?pi* appointed delegates to the union. Hie opening of tho season was fixed for Mav 3. THE NEW ZEALAND UNION. (B* TJXECRATH.— PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON. Monday. The New Zealand Rugby Union met this overling, Mr. S. S. Dean presiding. It was decided to confirm the change of divte for the Weiline:ton-Wan£anui representative match at Wanganui to Friday Mriy 16. " * . It© \Vostland Sub-Union wrote applying through the West Coast Union, for permission to affiliate as a separate union. The chairman said that it was necessary for such a J?r c ?°B*l to be proposed and seconded by affiliated unions. It w agreed to make a loan of £3000 to tho Southland Union.

THE LEAGUE GAME.

ENGLISH TEAM'S TOUR. FIVE MATCHES IN SYDNEY. The following Programme of matches ha? been arranged for the English Rugby j.*-Msruo teams tour of Australia this seaecvi:— Vay 31—England v. Country Team, at ]Ne« castle. Tam«°or?h": En£land V " C ° Dntr7 * ara ' at Sydney ~ EnSlaDd T - N ° W South Wales, at Sydney & ~* nd v ' South Wales, at Sydney Enff ' and '• New South Wales, at .Tune v. Australia, at Sydney. June 28--England v. Australia. at Sydney mow 7 g nd v " Conntr y Team at Lis-