RUGBY PRACTICES

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 947, 14 April 1930, Page 7

RUGBY PRACTICES

ALL CLUBS VERY ACTIVE PLAYERS KEENLY INTERESTED ' With the commencement of the i - mor grade competitions only a fortnight hence, keen interest was displayed in the practices held on SaturUnder the critical eyes of a fair crowd at the Sacred Heart College ground, Ponsonby, last season’s champions, entered into the practice against Marist Boys in the spirit of solid training. A heavy, fast pack. Ponies showed superiority in the scrums and quickness in breaking in the loose and developing passing rushes, though the hacks’ handling was erratic. The old hack line. Freddie Lucas, Cammick, Jamison, L. Hook, were all out, while Pope, a junior five-eighths last year, was given a trial on the Ming in place of It. Hook, who has retired with an injured knee. In the forwards, Webb, a Training College player last year, and Hardie, a good junior, were new faces. Apparently much lighter in the forwards than last season, Alarist had recruited many of its juniors to the pack, which with the leadership of older heads like the Hadleys and ATolloy, should develop with sound coaching and training. Clarke showed good form. In tho backs Stuart and Johnson were the pick, while Loonib, last season’s junior fullback, showed to advantage as custodian. * * * Turning out in large numbers at Onehunga. Manukau Rovers underwent solid training under direction of the new coach, W. Housham. A number of promising junior forwards were tried out, and the pack has plenty of weight besides being fast. The West Coasters will be strongest in the backs, having secured last year’s ATaori rep. winger, W. Jones, of Te Kuiti, in addition to W. Ueazlewood. the Wellington rep. fullback of last season. Both the new recruit's showed promising form in the practice. * * * City mustered a. largo number of players in all grades on the outer Domain, where practice games were held against Marathon. The pack is formidable both in weight and speed. Bert Fletcher and Sorenson appeared, in company with Angus Finlayson, formerly of Grafton, while Ruru, the ex-Magpie wing, also had a good tryout. Arnold Berridge was back in Jiis old place in the inside backs. At the Showground College Rifles fielded a solid forward pack and the nucleus of a good back division in a practice against Grafton. Practically nil last season’s forwards are back and they will be assisted by their old rover. Warren, who has returned from the North, and Greensmith. a former Wellington club player. The backs will be strengthened by Pickering, a Wellington rep. of two years ago, who will play centre. * * * Prominent among the Grafton forwards were Kearv and Hargreaves, while Paewai and D. Stevenson should greatly assist the team in the backs. * * * Grammar Old Boys promise to field one of the strongest fifteens in the ’senior grade, judging by the muster at the school ground. In Batty and Knight brothers and Greville, a fine strapping forward, who formerly was in the team before he went to India, Grammar has the nucleus of a fast, heavy pack. Bell, Menzies and Corner are all out again, and the inside backs will be strengthened by Weir, formerly of Training College. Matheson is also available. CHRISTCHURCH MATCHES FRIENDLY GAMES PLAYED rrcss Association CHRISTCHURCH, Sunday. Friendly games of football were played yesterday, and resulted: Christchurch, 13, v. Albion, 8; Old Boys, 12, v. Varsity, 8; Merrivale, 22, v. Sydenham, 14; Linwood, 16, v. Techni- ■ cal, 13. RUGBY IN COUNTRY OPOTIKI UNION MEETS From Our Own Correspondent OPOTIKI, Today. Mr. P. Burton (president) occupied • tho chair at the annual meeting of the Opotiki Rugby Union, held on Satur- [ day evening. The following officers were elected:—Patron, Mr. J. H. Reid; president, Mr. G. S. Aloody; hon. surgeons, Drs. Candy and Budd; auditor, Mr. Charles Fleming; secretary and > treasurer, Mr. C. Simmonds. April 26 ; was fixed as the official opening day. i The president’s annual report showed ? that tho union had had a most suc- | cessful season. * The balance sheet ’ showed a credit balnce of £64. Permission was granted an Opotiki Maori. • team to play the Manutuke Maori • touring team from Gisborne on Saturt clay next. At a subsequent meeting ■ of the Management Committee it was 1 decided to forward a challenge to the \ Bay of Plenty Rugby Union for the | llurinui-Apanui Memorial Shield. Air. . G. S. Aloody offered a cup for junior [ competition. Aledals for competition i were presented by New Zealand Brewery, Ltd., and Air. W. Burrett. MORRINSVILLE SENIOR OPENS From Our Own Correspondent AIORRINSVILLE, Today. ; Tho Alorrinsville Rugby Union officially opened its season on Saturday F with an open seven-a-side senior and junior tourney. The teams competing were:—Terriers, United, Tataunui, Kereone and Walton. Both tourneys j were won by Kereone. BOWLER SHIELD From Our Own Correspoxxdexit MATAMATA, Today. 1 In the challenge for the Bowler • Shield, Gordon, the holder, defended successfully on Saturday on its own ground against Matamata. Gordon batted first and made 98, Clarke 19 not out, Brown 12, Brady and D. 10 each, being the double-figure men. Alatamata’s innings produced only 68, Somers, who batted right through the innings for 34 not out, and Mehrtens 12, being the only batsmen to shape at all confidently. S. Brookes, Gordon, 5-11. Griffiths, Alatamata, 5-39, got the best bowling figures. CAMBRIDGE PREPARING From Our Own Coi'respondent CAMBRIDGE, Today. I Although the Cambridge Rugby ’ Union’s club competitions do not commence until April 26, clubs and play-

ers are now preparing for the season. Practice matches were played on Saturday on various grounds in the union’s territory. At Leamington, Cambridge United seniors defeated Hamilton Alarist Old Boys by 9 (two tries and a penalty goal) to 6 (two tries). At Alatangi ground United juniors, 6. drew with Alatangi 6. At Kaipaki lost to Kaipaki thirds by 3 to nil.

TE AWAMUTU MATCH From Our Own Correspoxxdent TE AWAMUTU, Today. The Rovers Club, last year’s senior champion, played its first match of the season on Saturday against Old Boys (Hamilton). The latter team proved Tho better side, and very soon showed its superiority. The backs combined well, and were not afraid to throw the ball about. At half-time the score was 18 to 3 in Hamilton's favour. The second half was more even, the home team playing with more confidence, especially among the forwards, who were more than holding their own toward the close of the game. Old Boys scored another six points, while Rovers added 9 to their total, the game ending in favour of the visitors by 24 points to 12.