A Notebook OF Sport

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22429, 16 June 1938, Page 18

A Notebook OF Sport

Changes of Doubtful Wisdom Just how much High School Old Boys have lost through the playing of J. G. Rankin on the wing this year is hard to say, but it was very noticeable that when he returned to his old position of loose forward against Albion on Saturday the pack gained in effectiveness in the loose to a remarkable degree. Rankin, of course, would have been lost to the team for a tune, in any case, for he missed three matches on account of injury. It is to be hoped that the experiment of playing Rankin in the wing-three-quarters position will not be persisted with; he is far too good a footballer to waste in a position where he not only sees little of the ball, but is not at home. Many Rugby enthusiasts, too, are perturbed at the possibility of Rankin being lost to the representative side. He is worth points to any Canterbury team. Another Old Boys player whose chances of representative honours have been prejudiced by a change of position is W. A. Hearn, a young forward who has already hooked for the province, but who is being played on the side of the scrum this season. Hearn is a completely equipped player—a'hard worker in both tight and loose, very strong in the line-out, and an excellent hooker. A Cool. Full-back Making, a welcome reappearance in senior League, M. Standeven, at fullback for Hornby on Saturday, gave a fine exhibition. Standeven was never bustled and was always ready to initiate back movements from return kicks. He often took high kicks very cleanly in the face of the Sydenham forwards, and altogether played a game worthy of him at his best. Linwood’s Solid Defence The Linwood Rugby League team’s attack may not be the best' in the competition, but its defence certainly is. Sblo efforts and an unwillingness to pass often detract from what are promising passing chains, but when defence is called for every man is in his place and goes low. The forwards are set an example by A. Stuart, who has few equals at flinging himself at a breakaway’s feet. The right wing, R. Whitley, has been recognised for some seasons now as the hardest man in the code to get past. , , A Naval Cricketer R. A. Sinfleld. the Gloucestershire professional, who played in his first test match for Englapd this week, is a former naval man. . He learnt his cricket on the Hampshire playing fields of »the naval training ship Mercury, of which C. B, Pry, one of England’s greatest .batsmen of former years, was commander. Sinfleld served on the King George V during the Great War. Subsequently he secured an engagement with Hertfordshire, a second-class county, and qualified for Gloucestershire in 1926. He has been a regular member of the team since, and has twice scored 1000 runs and taken 100 Wickets in one season.