RUGBY FOOTBALL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21783, 24 April 1934, Page 17

RUGBY FOOTBALL

OPENING NEXT SATURDAY KEENNESS AND ACTIVITY CLUB PROSPECTS REVIEWED The exceptional keenness and activity which has been in evidence among all clubs during the past several weeks should culminate in a highly successful start to tho 1934 season of the Auckland Rugby Union next Saturday, when tho first scries of matches in the first round of tho senior grade championship will be decided. Prospects are for a particularly bright and progressive year and the coming representative matches and the English tour in 1935 should provide the necessary incentive to players to produce of their best. The efforts of the Union, clubs and players to pave the way for a brighter type of football and a higher standard of play, a subject which has been receiving serious consideration, are expected to bear fruit this season, and all concerned feel confident of an outstanding season. It is anticipated that the senior championship will provide very close competition again. Last year it was found impossible to separate University, Ponsonby and Marist, which finished at tho top of the tablo with 26 points each, and were bracketed for tho championship. Grammar and Grafton followed these teams very closely. These five leading teams can again be expected to fight hard for the premiership, while sonic less fortunate clubs last season should bo quito capable of staging a revival this year. Owing to tho defection of Training College, tho competition will be confined to nine teams this season.

Versatile Back Line . While its pack suffered to soino extent owing to withdrawals, Ponsonb.y will field practically the same versatile back line. An outstanding loss in the backs, however, will be D. Kerr-Taylor. M. Eraser, H. Bond and F. Solomon are the only remaining forwards, but they should provide a nucleus around which can be built a fine pack. Acquisitions for tho forwards will bo Gudsell, formerly of Manukau, Richardson and Organ. Two sons of G. Grace, a former Auckland representative, will also bo striving for places. W. Frankham will work the Ponsonby scrum, while the club still possesses its two fine five-eighths in Jamieson and Pearman. Hook will probably be centro again, with K. Carter and Pamsey the likely wings. Moses, captain of the King's College first fifteen last year, is also spoken of as a candidate for one of tho inside positions. The Marist team should be a powerful combination, in spite of tho fact that the club has suffered a groat loss owing to the retirement of S. Hadloy. J. Locke and C. Hadley will be other absentees the forwards, while E. Friend, B. Connolly and R. Liddle will be missing from the backs. A wealth of younger talent, however, is expected to compensate for these losses. Acquisition of Backs Tho club has a valuable acquisition in 0. Rogers, tho brilliant Wanganui fullback of last year. K. Smith, formerly of Otago University, G. Griffin, Hawke's Bay, J. Cooney, star Te Puke live-eighths, M. Elliott, L. Curtayno and W. Turner should also prove valuable additions. The forwards should find added strength in the presence of Fleming, Fowler, a Wanganui representative, and J. Cossill, tho North Auckland boxer and footballer, and D. Bailey, a Sacred Heart product. Members of last year's team who will bo out again are Muller, 801 - Booth, Loombe, Eville, McGrory, Irvine, Judd, Toyc, Poland and W. Hadley. Under tho watchful eye of L. K. Hcazlewood, who will be player-coach, Manukau anticipate developing into a forceful side. Of last year's team Poul-

ton, Berridge, Brimblc, Hadlield, Flett, Pearce, Johnson, Pepper, Kcroopa, Wiklund and Constable "vvilL be available, while there are any number of younger and promising players to fill vacancies. The tenm intends to try and rectify the mistake last season of leaving its run a trifle too late, and is confident of making its weight felt by the time the competition has properly settled down. Otahuhu's Keenness One club in particular is fully confident of improving on last season's performances and that is Otahuhu. Handicapped by injuries to players, Otahuhu was seldom able to do justice to itself last year, but the keenness of officials and players this season promises a different story. The forwards, the team's spearhead, arc again expected to prove exceedingly troublesome to the opposition, while a stern

attempt to bolster up the back division is being made. A former League representative, Abbott, is looked npon as the most likely candidate for halfback, while other newcomers will be Hedge, Harland and Coleman. Pearson should prove the main attacking force in the backs, while Jury, Williams, Jones, and Pearson will be offering their services again.

The University Club has a fine array of talent from which to choose its senior team. A strong back line is anticipated, while, although three fino forwards have been lost in Anderson, Stacey and Bobinson, the front division will bo strengthened by the return of It. Peacock. It is anticipated that a fine team will be moulded around players of the typo of Bush, Caughev, Kedgl.ey, Mulvihill, Lewis, Drake and Jcnkin, the last-named returning after a season's spell.

Juniors Promoted The Technical Old Boys' Club will endeavour to strengthen its senior ranks by the judicious promotion of junior players, Haslam, B. Murdoch, M. Turbott, It. Common and A. Wilson should prove outstanding members of the team. Ashley, Savory, Ansley, A. Keane and It. McKenzie will be helping their club again. Tho College Hiflcs Club will have the majority of last season's team to call upon, while a number of good juniors will provide keen competition for any vacancies. Several newcomers will be among the candidates, prominent among them is Du Temple, wlio represented Canada against Japan, and Trewby, a new forward from the King Country.

Owing to a surplus of good players, the greatest difficult likely to he experienced by Grammar in choosing its senior fifteen is that of elimination. W. Batty will not be playing, but the majority of last year's team will be available, while rising talent and several newcomers will complicate the selection. On paper, the club promises to be one of the strongest in the competition. It is doubtful whether Matheson will be an active member. Grafton is another club which has suffered to very _ little extent from withdrawals, and it should be capable of putting a first-class combination in the field. A fine acquisition will be McLean, the New Zealand, Wellington and Taronaki representative. Benjamin, Smith, Piekard, McKearney and Kayner are new players of whom much is expected.