FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1304, 22 April 1915, Page 20

FOOTBALL.

CLUB FOOTBALL IN AUCKLAND. Much speculation, has been indulged in regarding the prospects of club football in Auckland during the coming season, the absence of a large number of senior players who have joined the Expeditionary Forces causing some anxiety in Rugby circles as to the probable strength of this season’s teams and the standard of play that is likely to be attained in the club competiions. Each of the clubs in Auckland has lost the services of many of its prominent players as the result of the war, and a material reduction in strength is only to be anticipated, despite the fact that a great number of juniors are available to fill the vacancies. A review of the situation so far as the various senior clubs . in Auckland are affected should prove interesting to Rugby enthusiasts. Present indications point to Ponsonby playing a strong senior team in the field, for though they will be without the services of several of their players (notably G. Murray, the crack centre three-quarter) in consequence of the war, it is expected that the 'ranks of the senior fifteen will not suffer to the extent of the other clubs entering teams in the senior competition. One of their best backs in M. R. Stewart (wing three-quarter) has returned from Samoa, and unless that player elects to join the Reinforcement contingents the club will profit by his services during the current season. It is rather early to place any degree of reliance in the promises of several of last season’s crack senior players to again don the jersey, but the probabilities of a strong team being got together are certainly greater than can be said in respect to any of the other senior clubs. That the enthusiasm displayed in the club’s affa rs is not on the wane' was demonstrated by the large attendance of members at the annual meeting, and the hearty manner in which the report was received? The club had a very successful season last year, and has every reason. to view the prospects for 1915 in a most favourable light.

The City Club will be weakened considerably through Two of their best forwards in T. French and V. McNab joining the Reinforcement contingents, while H. Burns’ absence from the backs will also make itself felt. Should A. Bruce, J. D. Stewart, and O. Stewart all be available for the season the club, which will retain the services of a number of last year’s senior players in addition to having many promising juniors to draw upon, should again take a prominent part in the decision of the championship. The Marist Brothers Club have lost the services of their best forward, A. Downing, who enlisted in the Expeditionary Force, while the death of B. O’Brien robs the back division of one of its mainstays. Cornago, the fleetfooted wing three-quarter, is now serving his country, and his loss to the team will assuredly be felt in matches to come. The club has a valuable acquisition in the Otago representative P. Sheehan, who will play for Marist Bros, during the coming season, while it is expected that J. Barrett, R. Casey, E. McDonald, J. O’Brien and T. Earlly will all be found doing battle for the club when the season opens in real earnest.

University, who won the senior championship last season, have suffered considerably as the result of players joining the Expeditionary Force or Reinforcement contingents, and it is hard to conceive how the light blues can possibly show to anything like the advantage which characterised their last season’s operations. Their capable skipper, F. Wilson, who played brilliantly on the three-quarter line last season, has enlisted for the front, while Lambert, the crack goalkicker and centre three-quarter, is at present in Egypt with the Expeditionary Force. Both W. Geddes and W. Gray are endeavouring to get away with the reinforcement contingents, which will mean the loss of two more of their splendid back division of last season, while the club will suffer an irreparable loss through Ross, the sturdy half-back of the team, having joined the Reinforcement camp. The fact that V. J. Macky, their remaining three-quarter, does not intend to don the jersey this season, makes the disbandment of last season’s brilliant Light Blue rearguard practically complete. In the forwards the club have lost the services of Sexton and Bilkey, both of whom are serving their country, while further vacancies will also have to be filled in this division.

College Rifles have fared particu-

larly bad in respect to losses sustained in their senior team through members joining the Expeditionary Forces, and only with great difficulty will the club be able to place a senior team in the field this season. Several of the returned members of the Force which was stationed in Samoa may tide the club over a disastrous period, but judging by the weakened state of the senior team last season their prospects at present appear anything but bright. The club is undoubtedly faced by a situation which will call for much tireless energy on the part of the officials if it is desired to keep a senior team in the field and so young and enthusiastic a club is deserving of a large measure of support from those who have the interests of the Rugby game at heart. The Parnell Club will make an effort to place a senior team in this year’s competition, and with such keen supporters of the club as Messrs. S. Somerfield, A. J. Twiname and A. C. Wilson there is every possibility of the comm.ttee achieving their object. Eight or nine last year’s senior players are reported to be available in the event of the club deciding to again enter the senior competition, and with a general weakness all round in the senior clubs the time seems opportune for the wearers of the maroon jersey to once again grace the senior ranks in the Auckland Rugby Union’s competition.