RUGBY PROSPECTS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21644, 3 May 1940, Page 9

RUGBY PROSPECTS

War Affects All Clubs

Promoted Juniors Should Shine

Bright Football Likely

While most of the Rugby clubs in South Canterbury will be affected this season by the war, many prominent players having already departed overseas, while others are in camp, the prospects still remain very bright. Those who are left, and the younger players who will be promoted, have adopted as their slogan “Carry On,” and the enthusiasm they are displaying augurs well for a successful season. It is widely recognised that Rugby is one of the finest means available to young men to keep fit, and those who will be taking the field are deserving of every encouragement on the part of the public. The Government has given a lead by making available sufficient supplies of petrol to enable all competitions throughout the country to be continued, and by that action they have indicated their view on the need for the maintenance of recreations such as Rugby. The season will possibly prove to be one of the most difficult in the history of the game, both for the Union and clubs, who will find their ranks continually changing, but the flag must be kept flying, and to do this the earnest co-operation of all interested in the game will be needed. The Management Committee of the Union is confident that it will have the support of the players, and it is equally confident that the public, by their presence at the club matches, will assist in surmounting the difficulties which lie ahead.

Reviews of the probable strength of the respective clubs is appended, and from the information obtained it will be seen the splendid response made by footballers to the country’s call. The places of these men have been taken by younger players, many of them of distinct promise, and their promotion to senior ranks will, it is hoped, raise the standard of the game. For some years the lower grades have provided attractive football, and the prospects are that the infusion of new blood into the highest grade will prove most beneficial. Eight Senior Teams Eight teams will take part in the senior competition this year, the two extra fifteens coming from Waimate and Makikihi. Waimate ranks have been depleted by enlistments, and it Is possible that the Sub-Union teams will remain in the Union’s competition until after the war. With eight teams competing, it will mean two matches in Timaru each Saturday, one at Geraldine or Temuka and one at either Waimate or Makikihi. The SubUnion need have no fear on the score of games, as they are certain of one each week, home and home matches being provided for. So far no decision has been made regarding Geraldine and Waimate, when these teams are drawn to meet. If it is the desire of both to be saved travelling the full distance, the Union will probably consider the teams meeting on a convenient ground. As the draw has been arranged, two teams will travel twice in each round, and country teams either three or four times each round. If they travel three times in the first round, then they will travel four in the second, or vice-versa. Celtic Club The prospects of the Celtic Club for a successful season at the present juncture look extremely bright. Teams have been entered in the senior, third and fourth grades. Among the newcomers to the club are:—E. O’Hagan (Dunedin), W. Dwyer (Athletic, Christchurch), B. Gladstone (Auckland), P. Flanagan (Auckland), S. Allom (Fairlie), and P. Brosnahan. Prominent absentees from the senior team will be J. Delury who, after 14 years’ continuous playing with the club is now in Egypt with the New Zealand Military Forces. Last season’s full-back, J. Goddard, also will be a serious loss to the senior team as he intends leaving the district shortly to take up another position. J. O’Connell will be unable to play this season owing to injuries sustained last season: The following are likely to take the field:—Forwards: P. Fitzgerald, F. Garty, B. Mulcahy, F. Butler, B. Gladstone, B. O’Sullivan, B. O'Sullivan, H. Smallridge. Backs: A. McDonald, D. Ryan, W. Dwyer, E. O’Hagan, C. Ryan, B. Cox, S. Allom, A. Woods, J. Fitzgerald, C. Fitzgerald, P. Brosnahan and P. Lawlor. Mr M. D’Arcy will again officially coach the team.

In common with all clubs, Zingaii will be considerably weakened by the absence of several well-known players at present on military service. The severest loss is that of Geo. Mills, last year’s outstanding forward and All Black trialist. but it is pleasing to hear that he is playing well up to form in the Burnham team. C. de Clifford, L. Munro and Sandy Slee are also with the Forces, and their places will be hard to fill. Last year’s half and first five-eighth, S. Price and L. Christiansen, and the full-back, S. James, are now living in other centres and last year’s captain and vice-captain, I. Parsons and W. Budd are retiring, but will probably turn out whenever the team is short. These gaps are being filled by the promotion of several of last year’s promising juniors, notably G. Scott, F. Barr and R. Baker and by new members including C. Wilson, a representative five-eighth from Wanganui who has already shaped very well in friendly games, B. Love, a fine type of forward from Otago Central, and H. Saunders, a hooker from Mackenzie. With these additions and with a number of last year’s team, including G. Goddard, L. Pelvin, A. Bennett and W. Simmons again turning out, Zingari should field quite a strong senior side. Old Boys Old Boys, too, have suffered severely through players enlisting and will be without the services of several of last year’s players. Fortunately there is a wealth of talent forthcoming from the lower grades, and this year’s senior team will be comprised mainly of juniors from last year, who promise to be fast and enterprising. At this stage it is possible that experiments will be made, but the nucleus of the side will include Hunter, Rendall, W. Hart, F. Hart, L. Andrews, S. Smith, N. Riley and K. Hall, of last year’s team. Newcomers will include P. Gifford (’Varsity B, Dunedin) who will play in the forwards, and Henning, and Bluett, who were prominent five-eighths in the Christchurch Old Boys’ side last season. Star Star’s prospects appear quite bright, the livening of old and new players a. versatile side. Old players

who will be seen in action will include S. Wilson, R. Wilson (who was injured early last season), N. Ford and W. Jack in the backs, and G. O’Hara, W King, T. Brophy and J. Brophy in the forwards. The ranks will be filled mainly by promoted juniors. Smith and Davidson are both solid forwards while K. King was a junior representative last season. He is a brother o! Gordon King, a former South Canterbury representative. The new back? include Landman, a former junior League player and A. Gliddon, a promising three-quarter from the Pleasant Point Club. Wes Jack, judging by his form in a practice game should be a tower of strength both or attack and defence. The forwards wil’ be a very even lot, and after a game or two should develop into a solic pack.

The Temuka team will probably be one to be reckoned with, judging b\ its performance against Methven e fortnight ago. The backs showed surprisingly good form, and should develop rapidly with Horgan, McKenzie, Wilson and Mallett to hold them together. The forwards will have both weight and pace, and prominent in the pack should be Polhill, Stewart, Gale W. Cain, Gilbert and Cameron. Geraldine At the moment little is known of the Geraldine side. In all probability it will be a young fifteen, but if the services of a good coach can be secured a good side should be developed. Waimate Both Waimate teams should he fairly strong, as all last year’s South Canterbury representatives will be taking part. The team meeting Zingari in Waimate to-morrow will contain W. Murphy, W. Lundy. J- Flynn, G Wright, the two Bryce brothers, in addition to C. Whatman, C. Chamberlain and R. Lundy. Makikihi should be a better side than it was in the Waimate competitions last year, as the team will include C. Hanham and P. Hansen, who will strengthen the forwards. Makikihi also has available a number of young players who were showing considerable promise last year. The Waimate team is expected to have better backs than Makikihi, but the forwards have been fair j evenly divided between the two teams. TEAMS FOR TO-MORROW Old Boys Club Seniors v. Geraldine. (Cars leave Hydro* 1.30 p.m.)—F. Ryan, Gould, Hay, Bluett, Moore, Mitchell, K. Hall, D. Andrews, Hunter, W. Harte, F. Hart, Rendall, Campbell, Gifford, R. Sleland, Smith, W. Ayres, N. Riley. Juniors v. Zingari, Fraser Park, 1.15 p.m.—Kerslake, Sutherland, R. Bennett, H. Rendall, G. Sandrey, C. Griffiths, S. Cleland, McFadgean, Morgan, Brown, Walsh, Neave, McLaughlin, Parrish, K. Ryan, Donnithorne, McLeod. Third grade, School Park, 2.30. — Keenan, Jenkins, A. Morrison, J. Mcßae, McLeod, H. Dyson, A. Muir, B. Chapman, N. Haywood, Flanagan, Hornbrook, Houston, Hayhurst, Mahoney, Hampton, Taylor, Jackson. Fourth grade v. Zingari, Ashbury, 2.30. —T. Bailie, B. Cameron, J. Sterricker, C. Nicol, D. Nicol, L. Chapman, K. Cookson, I. Shipman, P. Paris, J. Wilson, F. Welford, R. Wright, E. Hodgson, T. Chisholm, Irving, C. Vinnell. Zingari Club Seniors v. Waimate, Waimate (bus leaves Westport corner 1.15 p.m.)—W. Simmons, G. Thompson, G. Goddard, C. Wilson. R. Baker, A. Skudder, A. Bennett, N. Saunders, E. Waters, D. Andrews, L. Pelvin, B. Love. G. Scott, F. Barr, W. Shewan, P. Parsons, C. Andresson. Juniors v. Old Boys, 1.15 p.m.—D. Thompson, R. Thompson, M. Pateson, R. Laplanche, A. Waters, D. Eddington, W. Valentine, L. Whitticker, K. Hanson, T. Rooney. I. Barr, W. Gold, R. Kinross, T. Tipa, L. Davies, L. McKenna, B. Mahoney, G. Kay, J. Kane, S. Arnold, L. Roddick, A. Aitcheson. Third grade v. Geraldine (bus leaves Westport corner 1.15). —F. Dore, E. Reeves, D. Castle, Glassey, L. Clark, C. Campbell, J. Andrews, J. Glover, F. Mitchell, R. McLay, S. Cormack, C. A. P. T. Clutterbug, J. Petrie, J. Dore, G. Cormack, C. Head, J. Parker, B. Annalls. J. Clark, H. Hornbrook. Fourth grade v. Old Boys, Ashbury Park.—T. Green, R. Finlay, A. Begg, T. Ennis, S. Ennis, J. Williams, R. Williams, T. Fairbrother, M. Lloyd, Newitt, Beynon, J. Wallace. J. Daly, G. Burt, Mcßride (2). C. Kilgour, G. McMillan, R. O’Brien. Celtic Club Seniors v. Temuka.—Fitzgerald <4>, O’Sullivan (2), Butler, Lawlor, Smallridge, Garty, Gladstone, Allom. O’Hagan. Ryan (2), Mu’cahy, Dwyer, Brosnahan, Woods, McDonald, Anderson, Cox. Star Club Seniors v. M-kikihi.—K. King, G. i Hara, S. Ha./, C. Smith, G. Davidson, W. Kin/, L. Brophy, A. Hende - P. Wright, W. Jack, N. Ford, R. Barnes, G. Landman, R. Wilson, A. Gliddon, J. Sinclair, S. Wilson. Juniors v. Temuka. at Temuka. T. Roddick, D. France, P. King, F. Stare, J. Grandi, W. .sitken, Reid, Denn'son, Reid, J. Tempro, P. Gray, F. Sanders, Woodman, Blackburn, F. Clarke, F. Davison, C. Andreassand, R. Bell, P. Hanlon, J. Shipman. (Bus leaves . estport corner at 1.30 p.m.).

Fourth grade v. Temuka, at Temuka. —D. Wesley, C. Solomon. J. Mcßeath, P Henry, J. Williams L. Smith W. Morrison, H. Tubb, C. Kilgour, McWhirter, K. Manning, I. Oram, A. Johnson, L. Taylor, J. Fowler, F. Davison, R. Cooper, F. Snowden, G. Reade.

Old Boys win their third grade game from Celtic to-morrow by default. The Celtic team has withdrawn from the competition.