THE ASSOCIATION GAME

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21470, 19 April 1933, Page 16

THE ASSOCIATION GAME

PROSPECTS FOR NEW SEASON GREATER INTEREST SHOWN COMING TOUR TO AUSTRALIA "With greater interest in the code, the Coming visit to Australia and the sounder financial positions of the various associations, prospects for the coming Association football season in New Zealand appear particularly bright. This is borne out by reports received from the governing bodies in the various provinces where every endeavour is being made to place the game on a better footing. The impending visit to Australia by li New eleven, with tlio resultant early trial games in tho various ccutres, lias given tho game a stimulus usually missing at such an early stago nnd players can be expected to take the field at the beginning of the season in first-class condition. The New Zealand public; will see very little of the chosen players to tour Australia as the team leaves on May 16 but tho experience the players will gain with the resultant beneficial effect on tho game will fully compensate lor their absence from club and representative football. The' New Zealand team is scheduled to play its first match at Sydney on ' May 20, to be followed by eleven other games, including three tests, the first at Sydney on May 27, the second at Brisbane on Juno 10 and tho third at Sydney ou June 24. The team is expected back in the Dominion on June SO. / Representative football had an early start with Auckland playing Wellington for the Campbell Rose-bowl last Monday, owing to tho desiro of the New Zealand selector, Mr. B. L. Salmon, to see as many prospective players for the Australian tour as possible. Auckland will meet the Navy on May 6 with the additional prospect of a game against South Auckland on June 3, so it .appears that a strenuous representative eeasoii is ahead. Blandford Park Improved A feature of the Auckland I 1 ootball [Association's efforts for this season which should greatly improve the standard of club football is the vast amount of work put into Blandford Park in improving the ' playing surface. The players had little cause for complaint last season, and with extra draining, top-dressing and sowing of new grass, the surface should be ideal for fast and scientific play. The large number of local clubs desiring senior status this season revealed a commendable keenness but the personnel of some of the teams submitted to the control board did not comply ill the latter's opinion with the necessary standard and little hesitation was "shown in adhering to tho same number of teams as last year. It would appear a •wise .decision to limit the teams as an increase invariably lowers the standard of play. Club prospects are bright, keenness firaong plavers being particularly pronounced. Y.M.C.A., last year's champion, is taking a line which, if pursued, will make it a very hard proposition again. The club is promoting the juniors and although Kay and Christie will not be in the team, Chapman, Thornes, Mowat,' Ross, 1 Cowie and Humphries, together with Murano and Whaley, will form the nucleus of a very strong combination. The iutentions of Kay/ind Christie are not yet known. Always a hard-fighting team, Thistle, on paper, seems to .have a formidable combination. The club has lost that fine rorner-kiok. Cunnuings. and E. Williams, but Woods is really a right-wing and with Dunsmore back to make the , openings,, a dangerous wing should bo ' formed. Gerrard will probably be back in goal to save what passes McCosh and Williams. Wright will be the pivot again with' Haycock nnd Watson beside him, while the front line will be under the direction of Williamson, with the aid of Hislop as an insside forward. Promoted Team The successful application of Comrades for senior rank should meet with general approval. It that some of the more experienced clubs will be fully tested to maintain tho pace set by this youthful side, which has moved up practically intact through all tho grades from seventh, taking with it a succession//of championship titles. New Accord is the team which Comrades superseded. The former was due to drop out of the senior competition owing/to being defeated by the second grade team, Abel's, in the relegation match last season. Abel's did not wish' to enter the senior grade, however, and comrades was given its chance. Now it has dropped its association with Manurewa, tho Tramways Club has 'reverted to its name of former times., With the exception of N. Cummings and E. Williams, who have transferred from Thistle, and W. Gill, of Korth Shore, the remainder of the team, Batty, Tinkler, Simpson, Spong, Bell, Fyfie, Spencer and McMillan read like the club's Chatham Cup side of a couple of years ago. Onehunga impresses as a very likely combination. The club will have the services of two goalkeepers in Zuill and New. formerly of North .Shore. The team will again have Dick as its pivot. Ho will have Dawson and Davis to assist liim. The front line should be strong, numbered among it being Scott, Forrester, from Ponsonby, McLeay, A. Donaldson and Huston. There is an abundance of junior talent to draw on. Jepson for Ponsonby Youth is also being given its chance in the Ponsonby team, where judicious profnotion is expected to build a fine side. The club has secured one of the "finds" of the season in Jepson, the former Mount Albert Grammar and secondary school's representative, who earned a fine reputation for his straight shooting and heady play in the centreforward position. With lnnes, Diamond, Foreman and Cole supporting him, this young player should prove a fine acquisition. Watson will be in goal while H. Stewart will have for his partner at fullback Haggett, who showed outstanding promise last season. Morrison, Grant and Masters will .ho candidates for the half-line, while G. Pearson, a junior, will also offer his services. The decision of the North Shore and Belmont Clubs to amalgamate should greatly promote the game across tho harbour, and the combined team should play an important part iu this year's competition. North - Shore has always been a force to be reckoned with in all grades, and Belmont teams also carry a high reputation. Apropos of this change it is interesting to noto that the North Shore Club was first formed in 1894, and is thought to be the oldest existing club in the Dominion. The late Mr C. C Dacre. Hon. E. W. Alison and Sir Edwin Mitchelson are names which figure in the early minutes of the club. D. .Tones, the former Auckland representative captain, who has been out or the game for a season, is expected to play. Most of last year's team will be availaole, and with a judicious sprinkling of Belmont players, a strong side should be placed in the field. Yarnton is regarded as a very promising player from the latter club. The season in Auckland will commence on Saturday with a seven-a-side competition, while tho competitions proper will begin the following week.