AUCKLAND'S HAPPY POSITION

NZ Truth, Issue 1063, 8 April 1926, Page 11

AUCKLAND'S HAPPY POSITION

Eden Park Scheme Tq Cost £10,000

(From "Truth's" Special Auckland Representative.)

With the half of jSden Park the Auckland Rugby Union is m the happy position of having a home of its own for all time. .■.'""■ " ■.-■

LJ ARMONIOUS working with the Ij[ Cricket Association will ensure

the park being made one of the best grounds m. the dominion if the scheme In view, costing perhaps £10,000 to £12,000, is accomplished. The new season, which will pro- '- bably open on April 24, is full of promise. . ,;. . , . „ Though the number of clubs may be less, there, will be no falling off m the number of players taking part m the competitions. In fact, everything points to an increase rather than a decrease m this direction. ; King's Old Boys will fall out as a senior club, but members .are joining up with various other clubsY Sheen, the outstanding back of King's, will join up with the College Rifles. • Newton are having a hard time this season and it will not be Very surprising to find that they are unable to put m a senior team. The club has. been weak for a goo-i many years now, and has found it difficult to enrol new member's. Ponsonby will again have teams for practically every grade. "Winners of the championship for the -past two seasons, there is every prospect of the club 'scoring for the third time,. "._: • 'Varsity's Weakness 'Varsity should be a better combination than they we're last season. There is every possibility of several several good juniors being promoted m addition to- the fact that some good talent from rthe south, now residents m tils northern city, will strengthen this club. Last season's weakness was m the tackling by the rearguard. Graf ton will feel the loss of both Alt Black Cooke and his younger brother, "Ginger." The former will don the jersey, for one 6t the Hawkes Bay* teams, while "Gin." will be 'seen m action m Wellington. . College Rifles are happier this year than for some considerable time. "With additions from the King's Old Boys and one or two other new men they report that everything is satisfactory and prdmising I—quite1 — quite a new, departure at this time of the season. Grammar Old Boys at the moment are m a state of doubt. "; "t.■■ . • ' . At the annual meeting an endeavor was made to alter the constitution so that admission could be open for player's who had attended any secondary school as an amendment of the existing rule that only ex-Grammar School boys were eligible for membership. The motion was lost, but another effort is being made to reopen the matter and' those suppdrting.it suggest that there is every probability of the alteration taking place. Marists Old .Boys had a very successful, annual meeting and

from what can be gathered have ; every promise' of again being a strong club. Last year they were runners-up to Ponsonby and a little strengthening m the back division will make them a hard proposition for 1926. s North Shore are optimistic of their prospects and : perhapsT-so. far as juniors are , concerned — rightly so. ■, The club have found great difficulty m keeping a first-class senior team, due tD so many of the Shore residents preferring to play for one of the more successful town team's or to be at least m the "A" section. . . ' Manakau Rovers are' not boasting of what they are capable- of, but it is quite certain that considerable improvement ' will be shown by the experience of the past season. \ This young club will place teams m most of the grades, and remembering that they are the holders of the fifth grade championship there does not appear to .be any reason why the trophy should not be retained m Onehunga and even fresh honors added. Suburbs are very quiet as to their prospects, probably having m mind the fact that knowledge by town teams as to the merits of players from the suburbs is a dangerous thing. Under such circumstances they are of the opinion that silence is- golden. Provision of Grounds „ Taken all round, Rugby ihas nothing to fear for the 1926 season so far as Auckland is concerned. The only matter that the management committee may have some anxious, moments about is the number of grounds that will be available to them. / Unfortunately for Rugby, the Avondale Jockey Club's fine playing areas will be m the hand's t>f the contractors and there does not seem much chance of them being m a fit state to use this year. ■:•.'. However, the Otahuhu Trotting Club have come to the union's assistance m: a generous manner and several grounds will be .available at Mangere, probably five, but these will be taxed to their limit each Saturday. Under the circumstances it is the duly of the Citx. Council to make better provision m the Domain. One new club has applied for affiliation to the union. They have headquarters at Orakei and consist of Maori players. Two teams will be entered. Otahuhu is also making an effort to form a club with every prospect o£ success. There appears to be no reason why several teams 'should nqt.be playing from this fast-growing suburb. Already supporters are looking forward to seeing trie team that will be sent to New South Wales and the Maori team that is. to tour France v and Britain m action at Eden Park.