SENIOR FIFTEENS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 70, 9 April 1937, Page 12

SENIOR FIFTEENS

"Omni.")

A Review oi Teams' Prospects A KN0TTY PR0BLEM

(By

Nine senior llfteens will to-moi-row commenco the combined Rugby championship competition, and signs are not lacking that the standard of play will reach the heights of the previous winter. From reports, it would appear that more than the usual number of new faces will be included in the various fifteens and the football publxc will no doubt exhibit early curiosity in the form of the strangers. Last season's champions, Marist Old Boys, have had their recruiting sex--geant busy all through the summer, and bis h'aul has been a notable one. It is no secret that the wearers of the green jersey this winter are intent on a clean sweep in all grades, a laudable desire even if it is almost an impossibility. For their opening match tbe worry with the selectors is not who to put in the team, but who to leave out. Brewer, now reoovered from his 1936 mid-winter injury, will be the custodian again, and Mclvor will fill tbe centre three-quarter position. The wiugers will be jclansen, previously of Hutt and Wellington provincial representative, and Davis, a North Auckland representative. Hansen is a finisbed footballer possessed of great speed and resource. He is equally at home in the centre position. Davis, a Maori, is a big fellow and fast, reputed to be tbe equal of Charlie Smith, but such an estimate might be too flatterixig. At any rate be showed last Saturday tbat be is a dangerous man in possession of the ball. Robins will lead tbe side and fill the second five-eightbs position, and immediately alongside be will have Benson, with Moss at halfback. In the pack there will be Ireland, Exeter, the two O'Briens, Hargraves, Armstrong, Sorensen and Griffiu. Hargraves has filled out during the offseason, and is one that will do well in ,such a pack. Sorensen hails from New Plymouth, where he played for Tukapa, winners of the Taranaki championship last season, and Griffin last winter represented North Auckland. Both these new-comers are big men. Marist are going to be one of tbe fifteens tbat wi.l be difficult to overthrow.

Napier H.S.O.B. Fifteen. Napier H.S.O.B. will call on Hutchinson for full-back, with Hawkins and Butler as wing tbree-quarters, but the centre position is giving some worry with Cox and Macey, a last year's juuior, contenders for the job. Marr and Bradley will comprise the five-eighths line, with Ciothier at half-back. The forwards will be on the young side, with Crawford 'Smith and Miller the veterans. At first it was thought that Miller would not turn out, but now it is understood tbat he will be on the spot once again, which is good news for the club and representative side, too, Ennor will be haek again, and Cox, Amner and Craig will be on hand too. There will be a vacaney when WCiothier, the young and promising forward, departs for Rotorua, wher© he has accepted a position, H. .Rolls has retired. Old Boys should mould into a good side. Forwards to Burn. Technical Old Boys bav^ forwards to burn, but backs are in short supply. Dalton will lead the forwards again, and he will have with him Johnson, Poynter, Brooks, McAuslin and Murray, a convert from the rival code- Morrissey will turn out later in the season, but Peterson, Rossiter and W. Johnson will turn out for positions furthex back. Another recruit from the rival The half-back position is causing worry code in Cushing is a valuable capture for tbe five-eightbs line, and Vernon Herbert, previously of East Coast subunion, and a Bay representative wing three-quarter is another notable capture. Techv will prove doughty rival s if they can recover the fire in the forwards, previously a feature with them but missing altogether last seaspn. Should Do Better, Pirates last year were nearty a good side. This year they hope to remOve the "nearly" pairt of it. Lister, rep. half for the rival code, will work the scruni, and behind him will be Lopdell, D'Donnell (King, Country), Patchett, Thompson and Rossiter. If Dowrick can be persuaded to turn out he Bhould strengtben the five-eighths line immensely. The forwards will include R. Keeble, Cook, Hill, Hardgrave, Gilroy, McKenzie, Fraser and Bliss, and they should mould into a good pack. This team, if they forsake individual effort for combination, should enjoy more successes than last winter. Will Have a Big Say. M-A.G. are reported to have tbe call on 22 senior players, and with the leadership of Reid, Jackson, the two Matairas, Crawford and Greening in the pack, . the backs should be provided with ample. scoring opportunity. Walford, the speedy winger, has persuaded two more of the family to leave the East Coast for the winter, and With S. Jackson at full-back, the side gives early indication of taking a big hand in the destination of the Maddison trophy, Great Possibiiities. Rumour has it that there is a prospect of Fleming, the Wellington rep. . centre three-quarter coming to Hastings, and should this prove Correct he will turn out with H. H.S.O.B. Actually this . side has great possibiiities. Apart from Fleming the backs will line out with Hardy at half, until Pratt,

the junior rep, half relieves him. Patrick and Holt Will be the five-eighths line, and Palmer, the junior rep. fiveeighths will fill the centre position. This year Apsey will stick to the wing, and Jonson will be at the other end of the line, with McCarthy, the ,goal kick artist, full back. The "forwards promise to be stronger, too, both, in weigjit and ability. Rawiri, a good forWard, who played occasionally for M-A-C. changed over, and Hughes, who played towards the close of last season, is turning out regularly. A place will be found for jpnior rep. Ashman, and newcomers are Rankin, of Wellington Oriehtal, Ford, of Southland, a rep. forward so it is said, and Avery. H. H.S.O.B. should have a good season. Much the Same. Celtic, apart from Haligan at fullback, will be much the same as last year, and with such brigjit lights as Tomoana and Pullen in the backs, they should ably second the efforts of the dashing pack that did sp well last winter. Juniors Promoted. Hastings are pa'omoting many of fcbeir proinisiiig juniors, and in additiou, there is a prospect of Bellis, Central Haxvke's Bay rep. forward, and Wilspxi, from the sam^ area, joixxing up. The team will have a good last line of defence in the trusty Dyer, and possibly Fredsburg may turn out later on. In 1935 Freds"burg was one of tbo Bay's most promising front rankers, but a damaged kixee sustained during training prevented bim from playing last winter. The Village Boys. Havelock North have lost Coghlan, but Max Cooper will make up for this loss when he lands back fx'onx Oxford. Otherwise the boys of the village will be much the same as last winter, when they gave all comers a torrid time in evety match. Now, who can pick the winners of the championship 9