LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19290, 31 March 1926, Page 18

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

OUTLOOK FOR THE SEASON. MANY PROMISING RECRUITS. CARLAW PARK IMPROVEMENTS. The approaching Rugby League season, which opens on April 24, promises to bo outstanding, chiefly becauso of the departure from New Zealand of a representative team 011 an extended tour of England. Tho conditions in regard to out-of-pocket expenses have made tho trip financially possible to most players. From inquiries mado it is evident that there are plenty of forwards available for selection, and that a few recruits from the Rugby coda will be seen in action. Carlaw Park has been carefully treated during the summer months, and the No. 1 playing area is as clean and almost as level as a bowling green. Mr. W. J. Hammill, chairman of the Auckland League, stated that considerable improvements in tho. shape of a fine new building for players' dressing rooms will shortly be erected. Tho building, which is estimated to cost about £2500, will be most up to date, and a feature of the appointments will be a large plunge bath installed on the second floor, Hot water shower baths will be provided on tho ground floor, and a large meeting room will bo at the disposal of the clubs. Selection of Touring Team. From a competitive point of view tho season promises to bo full of interest, and already most of the clubs have held practices. To win tho club championship should bo "the aim of every player, and with such a fine ground at thier disposal there is :no lack of facilities. Patrons of tho code will have plenty of opportunities of witnessing representative games, as at least, four trial matches in connection with tho selection of tho Dominion team will be played at Carlaw Park and the best players from all parts of New Zealand will be assembled. The Auckland League has extended invitations tc all tho Southern leagues, and it is almost certain that Canterbury, Otago and West Coast representatives will play against the Auckland team. It is too early to discuss the club championship prospects, but a review of the players available is interesting. ' Notes About the Club. City, the winners of last season's championship, appears to have most of their players ready for the opening day. They are usually early in training, but so far few players have donned the jersey. Tho club intends to try out several promising juniors, whose form last year was above the average. The halfback, J. Mitchell, is stated to have announced his retirement, and W. Ghent, who once captained Marist, will probably take Mitchell's place. The possible appearance of a prominent Rngby wing threequarter, and of R. Taylor, a fullback from the Waikato, is also mentioned. With M. Wetherall, B. Davidson, R. Crewther, N. Bass, A. Townsend, H. McDonald, V. Thomas and G. Reid on hand, City should have a good side. No. club promises to provide better football than does Ponsonby, whose team has already done a little training. The. team will be almost indentical with the side that defeated City on three occasions last season. This alone should give Ponsonby added combination and an advantage when the ball is set rolling next month. It is stated lhat Herewini will bo missing from the Ponsonby teara and that Langley, a junior who showed up well last year, may take his place at fullback.

.The star backs of the club, Delgrosso, Gardiner, Peckham, Riley and Littlewood are all in good form and first-class play can be expected from them. An evenly balanced side is the expectation of the Devonport Club whose ability to field a strong team is well-known. The combination that has played so many good games appears to be intact and should be capable of holding its own. Prominent Pteyers Leave.

Athletic have experienced a severe loss by the departure for Christchurch of Wilson-Hall and B. Mason who will play this season for Hernsby Club. WilsonHall gave a brilliant display at half-back when playing for New Zealand against Queensland and his absence is a distinct loss to the code in Auckland. Mason is a fine forward,

Some difficulty is being experienced in replacing these two players. E. Avery, E. Herring and 15. Hadley are three prominent players who will again assist club.

It would bs difficult to find a hardeT working lot of officials than those who are guiding the destinies of the Marist Club. Two well-known representative forwards in W. Noble and W. Deere will wear the green jersey this season. Noble comes from Poverty Bay where he has played with distinction and is one of the best-known of Wellington forwards. He weighs over 15st., and when he learns tho finer points of the code, should be a decided acquisition to the game. It is reported that the brilliant forward, A Singe, applied to his club for a transfer to Richmond, but as was to bo expected, his application was refused. With all their other forwards playing Marist will have a formidable pack. In the rear division J. Kirwan, P. Gregory and W. Brisbane, will again be seen in action. Richmond's Acquisition. Followers of the game admire the Richmond thirteen which last season won several great games, J. Parkes, . tho crack Canterbury and New Zealand wing three-quarter, has thrown in his lot with Richmond. Parkes played fine football in Australia and his presence will greatly assist his new clab. The Richmond officials are keen to give several of their juniors an opportunity of making good and B. Jenkins, whose form in the second grfide stamped him as a most promising player, hus been singled out. for inclusion in >-he senior thirteen. IT. Bickerstaff a | wing three-quarter from Hawke's Bav' is a back likely to make good. Tho Richmond scrum will havo the services of K Carroll who played last season for Marist. Little is known of the Newton team but tho one-time champion dub can he expected to get together a useful side The inauguration last year of the senior B section was a step in the right direction and proved very popular with players 7b ° A US " /■ ™ c l ua,if y {or places in t A S£ fion.. This season Para oil have announced their intention of entering a team m tho lower grade.