ALL BLACK TOUR

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27307, 25 March 1954, Page 5

ALL BLACK TOUR

SUCCESS OF YOUNG PLAYERS

POTENTIAL TALENT TO MEET SPRINGBOKS [By the special N.Z.P.A. representative who toured with. the All Blacks] AUCKLAND, March 24. , One of the most heartening features of the All Black tour was the success of young players, backs and forwards. Perhaps no tour in New Zealand’s Rugby history will compare in importance with that to be made by the South Africans in 1956, and the young players of the British Isles tour may become the great players of 1956. New Zealand- has never fielded a better young forward than R. C. Hemi. He will not be" 21 until May, but he has already proved himself the equal of the best hookers in the British Isles. Only Beckingham, of Cardiff, who, by winning two scrums in the goalmouth on Hemi’s loose head, saved a try, got the better of Hemi in a vital situation. Toward the end of the tour Hemi was showing remarkable speed in the loose, especially off the front of the line-out, and Dalzell’s try against England was a sequel to Hemi’s most intelligent swoop upon R. A. White’s slight break through a line-out.

K. P. Bayley proved both his own worth and the judgment of the selection committee. He was a great team man, a fine line-out player, and a most dogged follower of the ball. W. H. Clark became the best wing forward in the team by combining exceptional pace with a most alert and imaginative football sense. The number of kicks he charged down was exceptional. P. Jones likewise became a most valuable player. He was inclined to be too individualistic in hanging off from the loose scrum and did not compare with Clark in technique, but with the ball in hand he was formidable. He now weighs 16st 91b, yet he turned 22 only yesterday. I. J. Clarke, at prop, and D. Oliver, at loose forward, were two other young players of great promise. It may count against Clarke that he is rather short for the front of the line-out, but against this his pace in the loose is exceptional. Oliver will play in Wellington this season. for University. His particular ability is keenness in pursuit of the ball, but as he proved with his play at wing threequarters against Ireland, he has plenty of football intelligence. Davis’s Reverse Passing K. Davis began the tour rather nervously, and for a time it seemed that he could not shake off his unfortunate form of the final trial. His change into the No. 1 half-back was dramatically sudden. Playing against South of Scotland at Galashiels he became very aggressive, and much sharper in his passing. Thereafter, with only occasional variations,, he played very finely. His best display was against the Barbarians.' He still tends to pick the ball up before passing, but in other respects, especially in running, he is a worthy All Black half-back. He is progressing well with the reverse pass, which some British halfbacks develop to a remarkable state of speed and accuracy, and if he shows the value °, f this to New Zealand half-backs the technique may become general. R. G. Bowers, given his head, could turn a somewhat prosaic All Black backline into one of some brilliance. Few players in his position have been gifted with such hands both for catching and passing, and because he always moves into his passes at top speed, there is always the chance of the wing three-quarters receiving the ball yards distant from his marker. But Bowers has a weakness when the ball is being taken through on the ground for attacking forwards. All the same, he could be New Zealand’s Tony Harns of 1956.

C. J. Loader was selected as a second five-eighths, but played only three times in the position, though it is his favourite. The rest of the time he played at centre, usually with distinction. No back was a surer tackler, and his coolness was remarkable. He tended to kick too much, ana lacked a side-step. To compensate, ha , s s P eed . a swerve, and soundness, ahd placed at second five-eighths between Botyers and Fitzgerald, he may be extack* 3 tO show consider able skill on at-

CANTERBURY UNION

ANNUAL MEETING OF DELEGATES

SUCCESSFUL YEAR REVIEWED

"Last year was one of the most successful for a long time in Rugby football in Canterbury, for not only was the standard of play in club matches very high, but our team won the Ranfurly Shield and held it against the only challenge,” said Mr W. C. Dailey, president, in his address to the annual meeting of delegates to the Canterbury Rugby Union last evening. The province had also been well represented in the 1954 All Blacks with six members, all of whom had returned fit and well and looking forward to taking a further part in the game. Mr Dailey said. He congratulated the Marist Club on winning the Redpath and Evans shields. High School Old Boys holders of the Harewood and Payne trophies, and Technical College Old Boys on winning the D.C.L. shield. All had played bright open football in the spirit in which the game of Rugby should be played. He trusted that teams would continue to open up the game and that coaches would give players every encouragement to throw the ball about. “If you have good forwards also remember that you have backs who are looking for chances to show what they can do with the ball,” said Mr Dailey. The accounts, which disclosed a surplus of £2lOB 9s 4d for the year, could be considered as very satisfactory as only a few representative games had been plaved m Christchurch. Club match receipts showed a good increase of more than £7OO compared with the previous year, which showed that the public were prepared to follow good, interesting football. The Rugby Park revenue account showed a loss of £441 7s 7d, which was £196 greater than the previous year, but as gate receipts dropped £229, the loss was understandable. In anv case the value of Rugby Park could not be measured pounds, shillings, and pence, as it was a great benefit as a second charge ground for Rugby in the city. Opening day for the senior competition was fixed for April 24. with a preliminary round of games in lower grades on that day. Representative Selectors It was decided to adhere to the practice adopted in recent years of having two selectors for the representative team, one for the backs and one for the forwards. Mr R. W Blaze Y said submissions would be made to the management committee to play a full round of 11 first grade matches, to be completed by August 8, this to be followed by another five games in each division in the second round. Competition games would be gone on with whether representative or Town and Country matches were played or not Mr H. C. Blazey moved that it be a recommendation to the committee that an under 20 years grade be substituted for the third grade C, as plaved in recent years. At present the competition was contested by secondary schools teams with one or two outside clubs, and school holidays often upset the smooth running of the competition. The proposed arrangement would encourage more clubs to nominate teams of young and promising players. In supporting the motion members said there had been a gap in the competition and an age limit grade would make for keener competition and would result in fewer Injuries. An under 20 grade would be an advantage even if it meant the

deletion of the fifth grade. The recommendation was approved. Mr B. Penrose said something should be done to provide more shelter for lower grade players on Hagley Park. The young players did not mind plaving in the mud and slush, but their parents objected to the boys "coming home and barking for the rest of the week,” he said.

Mr Dailey said the matter had been discussed with the Christchurch City Council but the cost of the type of building demanded was beyond all reason. The following officers were elected:— president, Mr W. C. Dailey: vice-presi-dents, Messrs R. W. Blazey, H. C. Blazey, and J. O. Hattersley; treasurer, Mr W. S. Mikkelson; committee, Messrs A. K. Johnson (Christchurch), C. W. McKeegan (Hurunui), W. Lodge (Merivale), J. Storey (Linwood), C. H. McPhail (Old Boys), R. A. Calder (Albion), L. G. Loveridge (University), and the Rev. Dr. G. Harrison (Marist).