MATCH AGAINST BULLER

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27151, 22 September 1953, Page 10

MATCH AGAINST BULLER

RUGBY FOOTBALL

RANFURLY SHIELD FIXTURE CANTERBURY ALL BLACKS “KEEN TO PLAY” Canterbury’s match with Buller on Saturday will be a Ranfurly Shield fixture. Buller’s challenge was accepted and confirmed at last evening’s meeting of the Canterbury Rugby Union’s management committee. Otago’s match with Canterbury tomorrow, however, will not be a shield

The team to be fielded against Otago tomorrow bears little resemblance to that which won at Athletic Park on Saturday. It comprises mainly members of Canterburv’s fairly successful B team, with the five emergencies from last Saturday’s game—B. J. McCormick, E. Heenan, P. J. Creedy, N. Teague, and A. Couling. The president of the union (Mr W. C. Dailey), commenting on the teams against Otago and Buller last evening, said he had been in touch with several of Canterbury’s six All Blacks who had played such a prominent part in Canterbury s win on Saturday. R. C. Stuart, the captain. had a bad knee but was very keen to play, and G. N. Dalzell. D. D Wilson, and M. Dixon had also expressed their willingness to play. He did not know the position with A. E. G. Elsom, who, he had heard, had been inoculated that day. F. S. Hill, who was suffering from an injury, was another who might be doubt-

ful. The team to meet Otago tomorrow was approved as follows: M. Gold; J. Osborne, B. J. McCormick, K. Davidson; E. Heenan, J. Waine; P. J. Creedy; D. McCormick, N. Roberts. L. T. Davies, R. Cochrane, N. Teague, A. Couling. K. Fincham (Ellesmere), C. Rhodes. Reserves: K. Allsop. L. Johnsen, R. Bowick; S. Mitchell, A. Bellamore. D. McMillan (Ellesmere), R. Holland. The following players have been chosen to train for the Ranfurly Shield match against Buller on Saturday:— K. C. Stuart, K. Davidson. R. Smith, M. Dixon, A. E. G. Elsom, A. W. McPherson, D. D. Wilson. J. Hotop, B. McCormick. E. Heenan, P. J. Creedy, P. B. Vincent; D. Young, K. Fincham, R. Holland. P. Eastgate, E. Hern, A. Couling, N. Teague, S. F. Hill, R. H. Duff. G. N. Dalzell. C. Rhodes. J. J. Small. K. F. Meates, L. T. Davies, R. C. Stuart. Players for the Ctago match will practice at 5 p.m. today on the lighted training ground. Any player not available should advise the secretary of the Canterbury Rugby Union immediately. Players for the Buller match will train at the lighted training ground at 5 p.m. on Thursday. BULLER TEAM SELECTED

(From Our Own Reporter) WESTPORT, September 21. Now that Canterbury has accepted a challenge from Buller to play for the Ranfurly Shield on Saturday many followers of Buller, the Seddon Shield holder, are making plans to visit Christchurch for the match. The Buller union is endeavouring to arrange a special train to leave Westport on Friday night, returning on Saturday night. Transport firms have already had heavy bookings for buses, and it is expected that the Buller “invasion” will assume large proportions. It is generally considered in Westport that Buller has no chance of lifting the trophy unless the ground is heavy, but many remember the surprisingly good showing against Otago in 1949, when Buller drew the game. Two of the All Black trialists, G. Anderson. the captain, and J. Hunt, fiveeighths, have been on the injured list for the last fortnight, but are expected to be available on Saturday. There are two changes from the team which won the Seddon Shield from West Coast, M. White replacing N. Luff as left wing, and J Shaw taking the place of W. Cunniffe in the front row. Cunniffe is unavailable. The team is as follows: P. Mumm; White, H. Halliday, J. McArthur; J. Hunt, T. Hawes; B. Tyler (vicecaptain); W. Mumm, P. Powley. J. Shaw; G. Crackett, A. Hawes, J. Cockfield. M. Ryan; G. Anderson (captain). Emergencies:—Backs: Oram. N. Luff, D. Mathews Forwards: W. Craddock, W. Hennessy. R. Diskin. DRAW FOR WEDNESDAY Canterbury v. Otago, L.P. Oval, 3.15 p.m. Under Bst.—Primary Schools: Christchurch A v. Christchurch B, L.P. Oval, 1.30 p.m. DRAW FOR SATURDAY Ranfurly Shield.—Canterbury v. Buller, L.P. Oval. 3 p.m. Canterbury B v. Ellesmere, L.P. Oval, 1.30 p.m. Under 6st 71b.—Canterbury v. Ellesmere, L.P. Oval, 12.30 p.m. Advt. HURUNUI SUB-UNION In the final game in the Hurunui Rugby Sub-Union’s junior competition played on Saturday Cheviot A beat Kaikoura by 12 points to 3. Cheviot A won the competition with a three-point lead from United.

CANTERBURY ALL BLACKS FAREWELL FUNCTION ORGANISED A farewell gathering to the six Canterbury members of the All Blacks wih b* held in Christchurch on October 5 from 6 p.m. to 7.30 p.m. The farewell is being organised by the Canterbury Rugby U At”a meeting of the union’s management committee last evening Mr A. K. Johnson reported that arrangements for the gathering were well in hand. Invitations would be issued to the father and brother or brothers of the men, representatives from the clubs to which they belonged and also torn other elubi from sub-unions and other organisations. The Mayor (Mr B. M. Mactarlane, M.P.) and the Town Clerk (Mr H S. Feast) mH also be present, and it was hoped that the Prime Minister (Mr Holland) would also be able to attend. The presentation of a suitcase to each player would be telegrams on Canterburv’s success on winning the Ranfurly Shield were received from several South Island unions, as well as from individuals in both islands. A letter was received from tne Hawke’s Bay union asking the Canterbury union to convey its congratulations to R. C. Stuart on his appointment as captain of the All Blacks. Mr Johnson was appointed manager of the Canterbury team to meet Otego at Lancaster Park tomorrow and Messrs W. C. Dailey and W. H. Mikkelson were.appointed managers of the Ranfurly Shield team to play Buller on Saturday. --._ h It was decided to congratulate High School Old Boys on winning the Payne Trophy.

FRIENDLY GAME AT HOKITIKA The Christchurch Marist junior grade team beat a St. Mary’s (Hokitika) Junjoj team, 15 to 3. in a friendly 'game in Cass square. Hokitika, on Saturday. The St. Mary’s team was strengthened by some of the club’s lighter senior players. Marist got almost complete possession of the ball from the scrums because of an unbalanced St. Mary’s pack. The teams were 3-all at half-time, but in the second half the better combination of tne Marist team told heavily.

RUGBY ANNUAL MARIST TOURNEY TO BE IN CHRISTCHURCH The Marist Club will conduct the annual New Zealand Marist Rugby League- tournament in Christchurch during the Easter week-end. 1954. This was approved at last evening’s meeting of tne Canterbury Rugby League board of control. DRAW FOR SATURDAY The following is the draw for Saturday, Otahuhu v. Sydenham, Show Grounds Oval. 2.45 p.m. Senior Reserves.—Otahuhu v. Sydenham. Show Grounds Oval, 1.15 p.m. Soccer referees v. League referees. English Park, 1.30 p.m. Timekeeper. G. Williams. —Advt.