WHITE JERSEYS KEEN

Taranaki Daily News, 12 April 1935, Page 9

WHITE JERSEYS KEEN

BUILDING UP YOUNG TEAM . ■ . ' 1 ■' New Plymouth Old Boys has commenced the season on the crest of a wave of playing enthusiasm—s 7 footballers •were stripped for two practice matches on Saturday. Ha told Masters, one of the heroes o? Ute Taranaki-Springboks game in- 1921, has come out of his retirement and has the senior team in hand. There is no dearth of material—most of it young and exceptionally keen. Once again there is a brilliant array of backs, although Ken Fookes has definitely decided to retire. Clifford-Jones, Medley, Ford, Galbraith, H. L. Thomson, Boyd Mace and Olson are all downing the white jersey again, and Priar is coming back to Old Boys after a season as Taranaki’s League full-back. The forwards have suffered badly, no fewer than six of last year’s pack being lost to the club. Clarke, Biggar and Insult have all left the town, Maclean has transferred his interests to the Star club and Birch his to the game of golf. Jack Blakeney has retired with the honours of a successful season in the Taranaki pack still thick upon him. Sid Fookes still has five regulars with him—Luxton, Jim Mace, C. Evans, Purser and Hamilton —while W. J. Thomas’ head may also be seen going down in the front row.

Recruits to the Old Boys ranks are two good Stratford footballers, Richardson, of the Celtic, club of two seasons ago, and his namesake, Bob Richardson, captain of last year’s Stratford High School tehm. Five of the New Plymouth High School first fifteen, Ulenberg. Whittington, Meredith, Simpson and Carroll, have also graduated to the Old Boys team.

Attendance at every practice is being insisted upon, with 19 definite seniors selected to be played in rotation—besides which Harold Masters knows how to get the utmost from a team. He has a team of youngsters to deal with, backs with a reputation and more and forwards both heavy and fast.