THE ASSOCIATION GAME

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22405, 29 April 1936, Page 20

THE ASSOCIATION GAME

NEW SEASON'S PROSPECTS CLUB SYSTEM CHANGED AUSTRALIAN TEAM'S VISIT The Auckland Football Association will celebrate its golden jubilee this year and there is every prospect of a most successful season. Several representative games will be staged, the first of which will be a match for the English trophy against Canterbury on either May 30 or June 6. This game will bo followed by a tour by an Australian representative team, which will play four matches in Auckland. The resignation of Mr. W. H. Zuill, who was so successful as sole selector last season, is, unfortunate. However. Mr. J. Tinkler, the well-known ex-rep-resentative and Tramways player, has been appointed to the position, and from indications will have an amount of promising talent to choose from. If the English trophy is retained in the match against Canterbury it is almost certain that Otago and Wellington will challenge, and it is also hoped that a match can be arranged with Wellington for the Frank Campbell Rose Bowl, which has not been played for for a few seasons. For several seasons past various methods have been tried out by successive control boards in an endeavour to secure a higher standard of play. Unfortunately none of the changes were given more than a season's trial and a definite policy was never stated That the clubs were waiting'for something definite was borne out by tho return en bloc of last year's control board, which enunciated its policy ut the beginning of last season and adhered to it. The policy was to tho effect that the senior grade should bo increased from eight teams to twelve and be formed into two divisions of six. The two bottom senior teams of Inst year have been played in the second division and each club will have to field a reserve team. PROMISING JUNIORS STRONG OLD BOYS* SIDE Last season's champion of champions and Falcon Cup winners, Mount Albert Grammar Old Boys, will field practically the same team. Warren will keep goal, while G. Holdsworth will replace his brother, 0. Holdsworth Shaw will be unable to play and it is anticipated that one of several promising juniors will fill the vacancy. Ward will be the pivot, while the forward line will be led by Jepson. Woods and Fyvie will be on the left, while the right wing position will probably be held by Needham, late of Eastern Suburbs. Spencer will be at inside right. Ponsonby has been gathering -new players from several of the other clubs, Y.M.C.A. being the worst sufferer. Smith, who kept goal for Y.M.C.A. last season, has signed up, while Chapman, who filled the centre-half position for Y.M.C.A. for some years, has also joined Ponsonby, together with Macfailane. lnnes will probably don the club s colours once again. Haggett and Sims will be the back line, while D. Jones will again occupy the centre-half position. Caisley, an ex-Wellington Hospital player, should strengthen the torward line. Mullane, Riggans, Mulholland and McCallum will be other aspirants for positions in the front line. The club's reserve list is a formidable one. and the final selection will necessitate a good deal of serious thought. Thistle players have been assiduously training for some Aveeks, and will pro\e a strong proposition. The club has wisely refrained from seeking players from other clubs, but instead has promoted juniors. A new player to Auckland is Rawlins, late of Linwood Club, Christchurch. who can play in any position on the right. Hunter wjll take care of the goal, and in all probability Wright will drop from centre-half to right back. Kennedy will act as the pivot. The forward line will be about the same as last season. The reserve and junior teams of the club are very strong. SEVERAL CHANGES NORTH SHORE CANDIDATES The North Shore Club is finding difficulty in selecting juniors worthy of being elevated to the first team. Cameron, formerly of Abels, will act as custodian, with Gerrard one of the backs. Blackie, Archer and Walters will form a solid middle line. Of last season's front line, McClusky, Hitchens and V. Scott will be absent. Ekman and Stevenson will be on the left flank. The North Shore Club has some promising junior talent and is to be commended on its decision to give youth a chance. McGowan should make an ideal right wing. Cowie will move from goalkeeper to centre 7 foiward, and Moore will fill the inside right position. Adams is another promising junior who will possibly find a place in the final selection. Metro-College will have the assistance of a new player from Lower Hutt, Costley, an inside forward. Otherwise the team shows little change from that of last year. Gavan will keep goal, with Speed and Holman in front of him. H. Dailimore will replace his lirother Jack, with Cronin in the centre and C. Flyger completing tho halfback line. A. Flyger, Burton, Cleal, Costley and T. Dean, a promoted junior who showed good form last year, will probably be the forwards. The Comrades Club hopes to build up a strong defence. The club has secured tho services of W.>Bentley, the former Onehunga and Y.M.C.A. player, who will fill one of tho back positions. The middle division will be led by Hooten. his partners being Hay ward and Egan. The outstanding forwards should bo Marvin, Carter and Francis. Tho c'.ub has a wealth of junior talent at its command.

EMPIRE CRICKET TEAM

SUGGESTION FOR NEXT YEAR The London Sunday Referee comes out with something very original. It says that " cricket may have its own celebrations in Coronation year, arid understands that a group of distinguished Indian cricket enthusiasts nr*> trying to form a British Empire team to play England at Lord's during tht» summer of 1937. " The Maharajah of Patiala, the Nawab of Pataudi, and K. S. Duleepsinhji arc iaking an active part in the enterprise, and a number of Indian Princes will finance the team. The promoters have begun negotiations with the cricket authorities of Australia, South Africa, the West Indies and Canada. The chief difficulty will bo to establish" a selection committee sulficiently representative to choose an international team " There is another little difficulty, says a Sydney writer. Australia has defeated England. So has South Africa. And India may have the good luck to do so this year. Would not a match of the character lack something of real fighting flavour unless England's strength is vastly revived in 1937?