Football.

Once again the football reason approaches and once again the football enthusiasts of the College ask the old questions: "Any new players ? What are the chances of getting back into the 1st Division this season?" "Smad " has attended the Club's practices held on the last two Saturdays and has come to the conclusion that there Are some new players and that the 1st Division might be reached this year. Notable absentees in the ranks were: Ekdah), who has gone to Auckland 'Varsity. Wilson, Jackson and Thurston. Ekdahi is a winger who will be hard to replace, while the pack will miss Wilson and the versatile Thurston. Teams have been entered in the Senior A and Senior B grades and coach Parker has had great difficulty in selecting the Senior A team as there has been very little difference between many of the players. Next Saturday "Smad " understands the A backs will be Hoy, Randerson, Wild. Kissell, Reid. Larkin, Buddie, with Steele emergency. Randerson is a new-comer from Rotorua and has a fair turn of speed, while Kissell, from last year's Junior B's is another peed merchant with any amount of football ability. There seemed very little between the full backs, Edgley and Hoy, but the latter gave a slightly more polished display. Larkin. a fourth grade player last season, showed great promise as a first five-eight. He and Reid should make a good combination as the season progresses and with a speedy three-quarter line outside them, tries will not be wanting. Buddie, the half, plays sound football without being brilliant. The forwards were the hardest to "thin out," but the following have caught the eye for the first Saturday: Gardiner, Burke, Redwood, Eade, Talbot. Blacker. Rasmussen, Meades, Desborough, Eustace, the last two being emergencies. The four new players to the Club all come from Canterbury and they seem to have the speed and weight necessary for a good pack. Burke is hooking as well as ever and the backs may expect a feast of the ball again this season. The Senior B team will be Edgley, Mules, O'Regan, Hudson, Betts, Black, Missen, Gorden, Mason, Rose, Russell, McGill, Craig, Parker, Bullock, with Clendon, Broad, and Stewart emergencies. Parker is playing well and should develop into a good forward, while Bullock, from last year's fourths, is a player who deserves his promotion. Betts comes from Napier High School and will be an asset to the team. These selections are, of course, by no means final and the teams will be greatly changed for the first two or three games. Mr. Jim Parker made it very clear that he had had considerable difficulty in picking the team after having seen only two practice games and he thought that many of the B team would find their way into the A team before many Saturdays. He is also watching the Junior teams and thinks he might see some material there.

The other teams entered in the Competitions are two Junior B, one Third I., and one Third II. As the age limit for Fourth grade has been altered from under 19 to under 18, it is impossible to enter a team in that grade, but the Third grade team should be quite strong. The majority of last year's Junior A team are playing Senior this year and as it was considered that the Junior B team was not strong enough to go up a grade, two teams have been entered in the grade this year, one team being the social team.

On the whole, the Club seems to be strong in all grades and players should have an enjoyable season. The annual games against Massey, Auckland, Canterbury and Te Aute will be played during the next two or three months and no doubt all players will be training hard to partake of the spoils.

"Smad" would like to take this opportunity of wishing the Club every success for the coming season and trusts that the Senior A team will soon regain its former status in local rugby.