League Tour Hangs Fire

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 624, 28 March 1929, Page 7

League Tour Hangs Fire

WHAT IS AUSTRALIA DOING ?

Auckland Clubs Report Bright Prospects

AS the premier League stronghold of the Dominion, Auck--1 land is anxiously awaiting news of the proposed visit to Australia this season of a New Zealand team. So lar, no official word is to hand. Apart from this, city and suburban clubs are engaged in a brisk overhaul ot their forces in anticipation of a boom year in club football.

Undoubtedly the most discussed feature of the forthcoming League Rugby season ia the proposed tour of Australia of a New Zealand representative side. But a mild hitch has arisen which may yet prove to place a damper on_this visit to the Commonwealth. Last season two delegates of the Council of the New Zealand | League, Messrs. C. Snedden and D. McLean, met the Australian Board of Control, and it was arranged that a Maoriland team should tour Australia every other year. Atlhough it was taken for granted that a side should tour this year, no official invitation has been received from the Australian League. But there has been nothing to the contrary to say that an invitation is not coming. It appears, however, that the delay can well be explained; for an Australian team is to tour England this year and it seems hardly probable that the Australian League would be prepared to take the risk of their representative side being defeated by a team from here before it leaves on its visit to England. At present, therefore, there is nothing definite, but it does appear that, if a New Zealand side goes to Australia, it will have to be contented with playing State games only, although it has been suggested in Sydney that . those left behind could furnish a strong international team to meet the Maorilanders. Considerable interest is being centred on the likelihood of the amalgamating of the Grafton Athletic and Kingsland Clubs. The move is certainly in the air and should it take place these two clubs which featured two of the most prominent senior B grade teams in the competition last ! year will undoubtedly be able to field I ;i team well up to the standard of the senior grade. But this will set up a I new problem for League,

which allows only a certain number of teams in its senior grade. FJlerslie was last on the senior ladder last year, but in that hard tussle against Athletic at the end of the 1928 season, it justified its place among the seniors and therefore must continue in tnat rank again. Furthermore, from club-room gossip which in this case seems quite reliable, Ellerslie hopes to be considerably strengthened this year by the invincible Dufty, a Newtonian who has made football history. Dufty, however, is at present a member of the Newton Club and before he can make a move it will be necessary for him to obtain his transfer. After the lesson taught it in the early stages of season Newton has full intentions of training hard from the start this year. At its annual meeting the members managed to get quite a deal of new "bloods” on to the committee which will, no doubt, have an advantageous effect. The brilliant young winger, "Shaver” Hardgrave, will be seen out again for Newton, while that handy quartette from Papakura in Little, Clarke, Hall and Wilson are full of enthusiasm and will no doubt be as prominent as ever. A few “converts” are also sighted from Papakura. McLeod, who turned out during the early part of last year, intends to don the red and white jersey again, while perhaps one of the most elusive and clever half-backs Newton ever had, in Mclntyre, is likely to be again seen in action. Mclntyre returned last year to Sydney, where he became a prominent Leaguer, playing with remarkable consistency. He is at Present ma*king arrangements to come bacx to Auckland. Although Richmond is hopeful of making a good showing, it is bound to be handicapped a deal by the fact that Prentice will be unable to turn out. Prentice has recently recovered from an operation, and it appears an impossibility that he will be able to kick off at the beginning of the season, although it is expected that he will be ready to take the field later in the season. However, with 20 players well capable of entering the senior ranks, Richmond should have little trouble in placing a very handy thirteen on the field. Richmond is bringing up three promising players from its junior ranks, Agnew who will play half, and a five-eighth and centre in Mincham and Dunn. Hyland, who captained Richmond a few years ago, and who was also seen in action during last season, intends to play again. PONSONBY PROSPECTS As far as the Ponsonby officials can see at present they have no new "blood” on hand and the Ponies will field very much the same thirteen as they did last season with possibly the inclusion of some of their promising juniors who have done so well in the past. Shore is in a similar position to Ponsonby, and its team should be last season’s over again with Al~ Scott, Len Scott, Ruby and Co. all back, except that a place will have to be made for one buxom and hard-grafting forward who intends to play League for the first time this year. City has nothing definite regarding its players for this season, although it is expected that there will be one or two new members among the seniors. ! As far as can be gathered at present. Marists will show more new members in its senior thirteen than any other | club. White, a well-known sprinter, j who played for the Tykes in 1926 ! when the New Zealand team went i Home, is coming back into the fold to play on the wing. Du Waine, who i was a prominent forward for the East I Suburbs Club in Sydney, is now in • Auckland and has been signed up with i Marists. Then there is a trio of ! promising young players recently left j college in Warmsley, Bean and Francis who will also be seen in the green jersey. ; Marists. and many of Auckland's j League fans, will certainly miss that j hard-slogging forward. Noble, who has been transferred to Dunedin. Jim j O’Brien, who proved himself a bit of I a nightmare to the Englishmen, ex- ! pects to be out again, while the versa- | tile centre, Brisbane, should again to | the fore and the mainstay of the Tykes’ 1 back line.