RUGBY FOOTBALL

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26078, 3 April 1950, Page 3

RUGBY FOOTBALL

CLUBS OPEN SEASON GOOD MUSTERS AND NEW PLAYERS On grounds that were badly in need of rain, sand-shoes were preferred to studded boots when/most of the football clubs affiliated to the Canterbury Rugby Union opened the season on Saturday. A fair amount of early training had been done by members of teams with Easter commitments, and the form suggested a bright season of football. Seldom have clubs had such large musters of all grades on the opening day. Some of the grounds were overcrowded and it was necessary to play several different grades from 1.30 p.m. to 4.30 p.m.

Although no serious play was attempted on the hard grounds, the practices gave the selectors a chance to view the material available. Few clubs report any notable importations, and the main work will fall on players who gained valuable senior grade experience last year, and promising juniors, of whom there appear to be any number.

Last year’s winner. Technical, will again field a strong pack of forwards, although it is doubtful whether the All Black trial player, D. A. Herman, will be seen in action. Last year Herman was reported to have given up the idea of playing big football, but his club-mates think he will be unable to resist the temptation of bffering himself as a Canj:erbry candidate against the touring British team. The star back, J. R. Roach, has retired, and it may be hard for Technical to find a suitable substitute. However, Technical has good material left in T. Jackson, full-back, M. Logan, halfback, and I. and G. Bolton, three-quar-ters. D. Spencer, of the Linwood Club, is a Technical recruit.

Marist, runner-up last year, will field a set of fast backs who should be improved by their experience. F. Scully, half-back, has retired, and his place will be taken by P. Hodgins. P... Kearney, B. McCormick, K. Davidson,*and B. Simpson will again play, and additions to the club list are T. Lynch, who played for Otago last year, and D. Hickey, a very useful full-back from Auckland, who will find it hgrd to displace K. Stuart. The forwards available include all last year’s Slayers, besides promising juniors in K. leates and R. Smith. Albion has trained many fine young players in past years, and may have to call on juniors to fill the places of E. Jackson and the full-back, L. Edgington, who have retired. A very useful recruit, however, is the West Coast and South Canterbury representative, J. G. Fraser, who should help to stiffen the back line. J.-Hawkins (Hastings), will add weight to what promises to be a formidable pack. Linwood will be Under the charge of F. G. Hobbs this season, and the forwards will have the benefit of his varied experience. W. G. Argus, New Zealand wing three-quarter, will I>e on the side-line. His place wiU be taken by G. Roy fee, who showed considerable promise when playing for Training College and Canterbury Colts last year. I. Mitchell, a Canterbury -representative, P. Eastgate, and D. Findlav, a useful trio, will receive added support in the forwards from J. Curtain, who played in Greymouth last year. K. Hitchcock and P. Foster are two useful half-backs available. Other good J 5 ®o*® 0 *® will ‘be R. Ai-gus, D. Fulford, and M. Munnerley.

A Formidable Pack Christchurch will have most of last year’s forwards to make up a s °lid serum. Coached by P. K. Rhind, it should hold an? pSk in Christchurch. T G. Evans who has played lor Trarning College and University, may be preferred to last year’s half-baek G Edgier and outs.de him will be plenty of speed in B. Jegger, J Malcolm, and H. Smith, Newcomers include W. McNab (Dunedin). C. G. Kay rnond (Southland), G Heslop (Marlborough); S. Cavaye (St. Andrew s Col lege), and J. Houghton (Nelson coi lC | e, R Carleton All Black in 1928, who has’been coaching lower grades in the last few years, will have charge of the Old Boys’ first fifteen, which, as usual, will benight- and fast. Behind the scrum will tie PVBI Vincent, the most improved halfback in Canterbury last year, and a Prospect for higher honours. Of & W. Doreen, G. S. Kitchingham, and D.. Reeves. The fast, and heavy forwa rds will include R. Stuart, Z. Dalzell, W. Hargreaves, arid R. McDowell. University promises to field a good team. The strength of Sydenham will the forwards, who will include .C. Hardie, J. Crofts, and C. Rhodes, .three of toe best club forwards in Christchurch last year. With M. Dixon, R. Bowick, and R. Brown as the mainstay of the backs, the team should give a good account of itself. A familiar figure. E. Barabithe, will not be available this year. The Sydenham Club has always looked after its junior players, several of whom may be called on this year for the senior side. Merivale Loses D. Doak D. Doak. the highest scorift- for the Merivale team last year, has transferred to the North Island. His solid tackling and accurate goal-kicking will be missed by Merivale, which will have to call on a fill his position. A promising youth, W. Newitt, of the Lyttelton,, junior team, hits joined Merivale, and may "be the first- grade half-back. W. Guilford? a member of last year’s team, and WFlavell,<‘iwho played with "the New Zea- - land Services’ team in England, may be played Iri the three-quarters line. Sunnyside-Spreydon has hopes of improving-; its record of last year with the help of iflayers from outside clubs. These include A. Jemmett, a Sydenham senior reserve player, of last year, M. B. Dennis, who Ashburton, and T. O’Connor (Rakaia). The bulk of the work in the .backs, however, will probably fall on- the shoulders of the veteran L. Moran. N. Milliken and B. Chandler will again be the mainstay of the forwards.

New Brighton, last in the championship last year, will again nominate a senior 4eam, which will be deprived of the services otf ,two of its best forwards, J. Hume and F. Mitchell, who have retired. The club, however, hopes to build a team from its junior ranks, with C. Paskell, from Southland, L. Bell. (University senior reserve), and R. Barn (Albion) to assist.

CANTERBURY SUB-UNIONS’ OFFICERS

Officers appointed for the 1950 season by the Canterbury Rugby Sub-Unions were: chairman, Mr C. W. McKeegan; vice-chairman, Mr T. M. Wheeler; honorary treasurer, Mr S. Maxwell; honorary auditors, Messrs Laurenson and Green.