RUGBY PRACTICES BEGIN

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 17, 11 April 1927, Page 9

RUGBY PRACTICES BEGIN

AUCKLAND MEN IN TRAINING NEW SEASON'S PROSPECTS Although the official opening day of senior Rugby football is not until April 30, nearly every club in Auckland, including the numerous recently affiliated bodies in the s üburban areas, was out on the fields on Saturday. In some cases friendly matches were arranged and according to the attendance of both players and enthusiasts, there is every indication of a big season ahead.

ROUND THE CLUBS VARSITY The Varsity teams have turned out for one or two practices, hut so far nothing definite regarding the actual members of the senior team or the coaches have yet been decided. Keene, the Auckland rep., who played for the students last year as rover, is now a resident of Wellington and will not be available this year. It will be hard to replace a man like Keene. Brooker, Mathias and Millar are all in good trim and will be playing for the students this year. Bradanovich, the nippy five-eighths who took the field last season for Marist, is now a full-time University student and since he has been seen in training with the Varsity men, it looks as if he will represent this team in the coming season, especially as there is a trip to Sydney with the New Zealand University team in the air. MARIST A practice of both senior and junior men of the Marist Club was held recently. The training shed was crowded. Bill Wright was behind the scrum again and with a number of other good men all very fit, it is evident that Marists are going to put some good teams on the field this year. Loft, the handyman of the backs, and the three useful Hadley brothers are also fit and will help the “Tykes” along. O’Brien is now at Coromandel and he will not be playing in the city 'this year. There are chances of his place being taken by Cornthwaite, a good junior boy, who played in the Pollard Cup last season. Mouat, who played five-eighth for a Poverty Bay senior team, is now in Auckland and has joined up with Marists. He has a good chance of securing a place in the local club’s senior team.

McDonald, the hefty forward, who received an injury to his eye early last season, is again ready to play this season and is very fit. To compensate for the loss of Bradanovich, who will most likely play for Varsity this year, Marists have a Waikato rep. named Stoop, a crack five-eighth who hap joined up with the club. COLLEGE RIFLES So far, College Rifles have not had a fully attended practice and it is hard to say “who’s who” for the senior team. Last Saturday an attempt was made to arrange a run for all members of the club, but because of cricket and other summer games not having yet terminated many of the best men were unable to attend. Du Chateau, who stands a good chance for the coming season, was on the sick list and could not make an appearance. CITY According to the large attendance of players at the practices, there is every indication that this newlyformed club is going to hold a prominent position in the competitions this year. It has not yet been decided whether its first fifteen will be a senior A or senior B team, but on all accounts the third-grade team will be very strong.' Leo Cornaga, who played for Petone on the wing alongside the Nicholls brothers, has joined up with the City Club, and if he is the same Leo Cornaga of two seasons back he is certain of his place in the senior team. Reg. Lewis, a senior from the Linwood backs, is also going to play for City. A. Mansill, one of Auckland’s last year’s representative League men, is in the team and is sure to be associated with the senior team as either full-back or a wing-three-quarter.

On Tuesday, April 12, the City Club is holding a gala night at Dixieland and it is hoped that when funds are better that the club will be in a position to hold such functions in their own hall. GRAMMAR OLD BOYS Grammar Old Boys are going to find it a hard job to announce their senior team before the season is in full swing. At last Saturday’s practice 26 senior men attended and Mr. Meredith, who shows a very keen interest in the club, acted as coach and put the boys wise to some good “getting fit” stunts. Cathcart, who is farming not very far away from the city, is very fit and keen. Batty, too, is in the best of form, having kept himself fit throughout the summer months. L. Wright, who played senior football in Hamilton last year, has had a had attack of “flu” and it is not certain that he will be ready to take the field for Grammar at the beginning of the season. Goodacre, the hefty forward, who was unable to play last year, is now very fit and will most likely find a place in the pack. Dr. Bridgman, of the Auckland Hospital, hooked with Munro in Otago in 1924 and if he finds it possible to obtain sufficient time for training he will be out with the Grammar team this year. Hook, who has made a name for himself recently at various sports gatherings, stands a chance of a game with the senior backs this season. That honest- forward, Phil. Potter, should do well this year, as he appears to be putting on weight. As a forward he was always on the light side.

“Bill” Turei, who played for Auckland Grammar School first fifteen two seasons ago and more recently for Te Aute College, and who took part in the senior competitions at Napier, is a player of the Nepia type and will probably find a place in the senior team of the Grammar Old Boys this year. At last Saturday's practice he showed great accuracy and dash.

PONSONBY The Ponsonby Club has not so far left the gym. for training, but it is expected that next Saturday ■will see the team in full swing on the field. There is every chance that the team will be about the same as last year and if any changes do take place it will be probably men coming up from the juniors. Lucas is very fit and lie will naturally be In the limelight again this year. Cammick had an operation for appendicitis not long ago and although he is very keen and wants to play he may not be able to do so until later in the season. Palmer is out of town, living at Manurewa, but the club is hoping to obtain his services again. MANUKAU ROVERS The Manukau Rovers have started their practices and are in full swing. They have some promising talent in both the junior and senior grades. It will be remembered that the senior team played great football in the Pollard Cup competition last season. OTAHUHU Anticipating the opening of the Rugby season with a creditable show of optimism, the followers of the code at Otahuhu have bought an area of ground near the new playing field in Sturges Park and the erection of a training shed has been started. Although Otahuhu are not possessed of any outstanding cracks, the team in general is very strong and this, together with the keenness which they are showing, augurs well for the new season. TAKAPUNA Takapuna hopes to field a senior team this year. The club was formed in 1914, but it received a severe setback as the result of the war. Thirteen members of the senior team enlisted in the Main Body. Some funds have been held in trust since that time and the revival of the new club has been enthusiastically received in the trans-harbour suburb. SHORE

Shore is keenness personified this year. With most of last year’s team available and one or two additions to its ranks, it will field a strong side. The arrival of Ruru, the speedy Maori player, will leave the club with quite a little problem to solve. In Holmes and Dave Reid it has two top-notch three-quarters and Ruru also plays in this position, but it may be that a place will be found for him in an inside berth. He would probably go well at second five-eighth or centre. Solomon, the dashing rover, who played in the Maori trials last year, ought to be in great form this season. He will be hard to beat for a place in the Auckland reps., and the same applies to Clarke, another young sixfooter from across the harbour. TAURANGA RUGBY WET SEASON EXPERIENCED (From Our Oxen Correspondent.) TAURANGA, To-day. The annual meeting' of the Tauranga Rugby Union was held on Saturday evening. A large number of representatives was present, with Mr. J. S. McKenzie* in the chair. The report stated that unfavourable weather conditions interfered with the season’s play, especially on the occasion of the Hamilton representative team’s visit. In the junior cup competitions the Oliver Cup was won by th*e Mount Club and the Green Cup went to the Cadet junior team. Great praise was due to the High School teams for their fine display of the game , and their representatives’ line performance in winning six out of eight games. Opotiki was congratulated on being the permanent holders of the Kusabs Cup. The balance-sheet showed a credit of £ 11.

Officers were elected as follows: Patron; Mr. C. McMillan, M.P.; president, Mr. N. Day; secretary, Mr. C. T. Clinkard; management committee, Messrs. J. Tanner, J. Guiness, .T. Smith, C. Clienford, H. Lowe and H. Kennedy.

NORTHERN RUGBY SEASON OPENED MATCH AT WHANGAREI (From Our Own Correspondent.) WHANGAREI, To-day. The first Rugby match of the season was played on Saturday when Whangarei High School Old Bovs beat Pukehuia Seniors by 16 points to 3. The game was played on the Public Works grounds in fine weather, and in the presence of a good crowd. MAORI TOUR OF FRANCE LOSS OF £725 By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright PARIS, Saturday. The recent tour of the Maori Rugby footballers in France resulted in a loss to the French Federation of £725. — A. and N.Z. NEW SOUTH WALES GAMES By Cable.—Press Association. — Copyright. SYDNEY, Sunday. The New South Wales Rugby Union season opened yesterday. A strong Metropolitan side defeated the battle-cruiser Renown’s team by 12 points to 9 in a gruelling game.— A. and N - 7’. - _____