PATEA’S PROSPECTS

Taranaki Daily News, 12 April 1935, Page 9

PATEA’S PROSPECTS

TEAM TRAINS SERIOUSLY

CLIFF WILLS TO RETIRE?

As the. Taranaki champion team last year, Patea has a proud position to maintain. Judging by the preparations already made, the club will not give up the kingdom of the provincial castle at all easily. ■Some' members of the team have been training for weeks and the care taken should have good results in the first stages of the competition. Certain Patea players can claim membership, not only of the Taranaki champion Rugby team but also of the West Coast champion surf team, and competitive work with the’reel and line is fine training. Patea made a good showing on Saturday in its initial try-out, beating Kaierau, Wanganui champion team, but Kaierau’s superiority in hooking suggests that some serious work will have to be carried out in the scrum.

Most of last season’s players are available and the nucleus of the forwards will probably be Baldwin, Bremer, Richards and McTaggart. A valuable newcomer in’ the forwards is Woodford from the Otahuhu club (Auckland) while L. Johnson of last year’s junior .gave a very sound display in Saturday’s match with Kaierau.

In the backs C. Gudgeon is again at the base of the scrum while Bourke, Edwards, Hunt, Milliken and Zimmerman of last year’s team are again available. J. Crawford has not appeared so far and his' place may possibly be taken by J. Cameron an ex-Hawkes Bay player- of likely stamp. . D. Milliken is training very seriously and will be worth watching. Injuries prevented him showing his best form last season, but the- ex-Aucklander is a heady player who, in form, would be a good man for the Taranaki side. P. Bourke is in training again. “Paddy” is a great club * man. The forwards are heavy and solid and the team will certainly be one of the best at the southern end, if not in the whole competition. It is reported that Cliff. Wills has given up the game. He played some fine games last year and when his nose became scratched and his face slightly red, one was certain that he was “ploughing in” in proper style.