BRITAIN VERSUS CANTERBURY

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26129, 3 June 1950, Page 9

BRITAIN VERSUS CANTERBURY

RUGBY FOOTBALL

GAME AT LANCASTER PARK TODAY

FORM OF PLAYERS REVIEWED

The British Isles team which will play Canterbury at Lancaster Park to-day is one of the strongest that can be put in Ji®. eld > if the Welsh captain, Bleddyn Williams, has fully recovered from a pulled muscle that has caused trouble since the team arrived in New Zealand, it is not likely that Williams, a great player when in top form, will be at his best. His inclusion, however, gives the British Isles selectors a good chance to rest the other Welsh centre. J. Matthews, who has had more than his share of footcall in the last few weeks. The half-back, G. Rimmer (England), will be making his second appearance, the first having been in the opening game °L . e , tour at Nelson - when the standon half wvas J. Preece, the English captain. To-day the mercurial J. W. Kyle will partner Rimmer, and the combination should prove one of the best vet seen. Rimmer created a good impression m the opening game. His passes are fast and long, and Kyle, who makes any halfback look good, will have no difficulty in taking the ball.

Kyle's reputation for fast, electrifying movements has preceded him, and the Canterbury inside five-eighths, P. V. Kearney, will have a full day’s work in looking after the Irish fly-half.

N. J. Henderson (Ireland), who weighs 13st 21b, is a hard runner with a deceptive swerve. He retired at Grevmouth with a knee injury, but in each game since then has shown the form that leads to a place in the second test team.

R. Macdonald (Scotland) did not please in his early games as a centre. Injuries to other members of the team have given him a chance as a wing three-quarters, a position that suits him admirably. Macdonald is a strong runner with a deceptive cut-in, and although he showed a tendency to hang on to the ball at Timaru, tins fault will probably be. remedied to-day

K. J. Jones, the Welsh flyer, at wing three-quarters, is possibly the best really last sprinter seen in New Zealand. He is more than a sprinter of Olympic Games class. He is a good handler, a sound tackler, and has a keen eye for a chance, whether it be presented by a pass or a well-placed kick. W. B. Cleaver (Wales) is the utility back of the side, and because of an injury to the ace full-back, G. Norton, he has had more than a fair share of work to do. Cleaver’s work is that oi' a tradesman rather than a Ncpia, and solidity, in handling, kicking, and tackling is the -feature of Kis play. In everything Cleaver, like Jones and Kyle, will please by the manner of his work. Good Line-out Forwards P. W. Kininmonth, who will play No. 8 forward in the scrums but iii the middle of the line-out, is last year's Scottish captain. He goes high in the air to get the ball. Kininmonth is a good forward in all phases. The front row will be comprised of J. D. Robins (Wales), K. D. Mullen, the Irish captain, and T. Clifford (Ireland), weighing 13st 41b, 12st 91b, and 14st 71b. Mullen, the most popular captain to tour New Zealand with an overseas team, is a born leader. He is quick to take marks from short kicks, and is a fine all-round forward. Clifford and Robins are really honest forwards whose grand work in loose scrums is often overlooked. Robins is also a long-range goal-kick. At Westport he just missed the posts with a shot from 10 yards outside half-way. Against Otago he silenced many who thought him over-ambitious when, from half-way, he kicked a goal with yards to spare. J. S. McCarthy is a fiery Irish forward who shoots off the side of the scrum with a speed that will lead many to believe that he is offside. He is tireless and is always on hand to join up With backs in the race for the line. McCarthy's play is always colourful. E. R. John (Wales) is 6ft 2in high and in the line outs makes a good partner for Kininmonth. A clever handler, he can kick goals. Hayward, like Robins and Clifford, is a hard-ruck-ing forward and uses every ounce of his lost. He has represented Wales five times. If the ground is heavy the British Isles team may not be able to play the carefree football that has been a fe .tu-e of its games. Even so, it will still throw the ball about in an endeavour to give the fast wings a chance. The Canterbury Team Canterbury has a very good record against overseas teams, and although the selection of the side has not given universal satisfaction, there is the material to make a splendid game if the going is treacherous and the ball not easy to handle. The team will be at a disadvantage in not having played together, and players from different clubs may not have a thorough understanding of each other's play.

The full-back, K. C. Stuart (Marist), was the logical choice for that position, for throughout the season he has pioved himself by his sare handling and by his determined tackling. As a tackler he is probably much more reliable than either R. W. Scott or J. W. Goddard.

R. M. Smith (Christehu. cii; and J. P. Kennedy (Old Boys) have had experience of representative football. Smith played in 13 games last year and Kennedy appeared in four. Kennedy had to leave the field last Saturday with an injury to a wrist, but apparently he has been judged fit. In all his games Kennedy has shown gameness and determination.

The failure of the selectors to appreciate the merit of the Marist hack, T. Lynch, who has played centre three-quar-ters for his club this year and represented Otago at centre and second fi\e-eighths last year, has weakened the Cantei bury team in derence and attack. The preference for u. E. Reeves at centre, j. Houghton (Christchurch) and D. G. Reid (University) cannot be easily understood. At either centre or outside five-eightns Lynch is the best player in Canterbury lootball. Reeves, however, is a straight runner with plenty of weight. In a match with the British centres, Henderson and Williams, he may not be allowed to go as far as usual. . P. V. Kearney (Marist) played brilliant lootball last season when playing with P. B. Vincent against Australia, and although he has had little experience with the All Black, L. Savage, as half-back, the pair should work out a combination. He will have a worthy opponent in Kyle. Savage played well in the - All Black trials, and the benefit of his experience in South Africa should be shown to-day. He is most formidable when he tries a solo run from the scrum. The late inclusion of D. A. Herman in the Canterbury team will give confidence to a pack more noted for solid.tv than brilliance. Herman is still the best forward in Canterbury and judging on form in the first test is unlucky not to have been awarded his All Black jersey. C. Hardie is one of the fast, dashing types of forwards and links up well with his backs. As a side-row forward he is in his element. G. Bond (Albion) and A. Cc-uling (Technical), front-rankers, have ooth been well in the running for All Black honours. D. Young, hooker, is from the strong Technical pack, and the logical choice for the position. N : Dalzell (Hurunui) and N. Teague (Technical) have plenty of weight, which they use. as locks, and R. C. Stuart (University), who played more big football than any man in New Zealand last year when at tllG to P of his form. The teams will be:— British Isles - Full-back.—W. B. Cleaver (Wales), 13st. Three-quarters.—K. J. Jones (Wales), 12st 31b; B. L. Williams (Wales), 13st 71b; N. J. Henderson (Ireland), 13st 21b- R Macdonald (Scotland), 12st 71b. Half-backs.—J. W. Kyle (Ireland), 12st; G. Rimmer (England), list 41b. Forwards.—R. D. Robins (Wales), 13st 41b; K. D. Mullen (Ireland), 12st 91b; T Clifford (Ireland), 14st 71b; J. S. McCarthy (Ireland), 12st 51b; E. R. John (Wales), 13st 101 b; D. Hayward (Wales), R T Evans (Wales), 13st 71b; P. W. Kininmonth (Scotland), 13st 71b. Canterbury Full-back.—K. Stuart (Marist), 12st 111 b. Three-quarters.—R. Smith (Christchurch), list 41b; D. Reeves (University). 13st 41b; J. Kennedy (High School Old Boys), 13st 51b. Five-eighths.—D. G. Reid (University), 12st 111 b; P. V. Kearney (Marist), list 21b. Half-back.—L. T. Savage (University), Wst 71b. Forwards.—G. J. Bond (Albion), 14st 111 b, D. Young (Technical), 13st 2lb, A. Couling (Technical), 13st Ulb: N. Teague (Technical), 14st 111 b, D. H. Herman (Technical). 15st 21b. G. N. Dalzell (Hurunui), 15st 81b, C. Hardie (Sydenham), 13st 101 b; R. C. Stuart (University), 14st 41b.

Colts v. Banks Peninsula The following players have been selected to play for the Canterbury colts against Banks Peninsula on Saturday, June 10. 1950:

Backs: T. Jackson (Tech. O.B.), C. McAuley (Linwood), H. L. Johnson (Old Boys), M. D. Hurley (Training College), D. D. Wilson (Old Boys), B. Hensley (Albion), M. Logan (Tech. O.B.). Forwards: K. F. Meates (Marist), E. Hern (Old Bpys), McDowall (Christchurch), R. Carr (Albion), R. F. Moginie (Collegians', R. J. Dawson (Training College), T. Davies (Albion), B. Stewart (Linwood). Reserves: backs, B. Wildham (Christchurch ) r G. Turner (Albion). Forwards: R. Hockley (New Brighton), R. W. Marris (’Varsity). Training at lighted ground 8 p.m. on Wedensday, June 7, 1950. Advt.