Canterbury Rugby Men In Best Five Of 1954

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27641, 23 April 1955, Page 8

Canterbury Rugby Men In Best Five Of 1954

The Canterbury players, P. B. Vincent and S. F. Hill, are included in the “Five Players of 1954” selected in the latest issue of “The New Zealand Rugby Almanac.” The others are J. T. Fitzgerald of Wellington. A. R. Reid of Waikato, and P. S. Burke of Taranaki.

Of Hill, the Almanac says: “Proved to be as grand a forward as one could wish to see, combining strength and ruggedness with football intelligence and fine pack' leadership.” The editors’ comments on Vincent were: “In addition to being one of the best half-backs in the country, so admirably fits into the several categories which qualify for selection that no apology need be offered.” The “Almanac” says Burke was a tower of strength to Taranaki and that Reid gave such excellent displays as to earn him the right to be classed as New Zealand’s number one halfback in a season noted for many good contemporaries. The “Almanac” selects the following as its New Zealand team for 1954: D. B. Clarke (Waikato); R. A. Jarden (Wellington), H. C. Marett (Hawke’s Bay), R. M. Smith (Canterbury); j. T. Fitzgerald (Wellington), D. D. Wilson (Canterbury); A. R. Reid (Waikato); N. S. Roberts (Canterbury), P. J. Jones (North Auckland). R. A. White (Poverty Bay), P. S. Burke (Taranaki), S. F. Hill (Canterbury), I. J. Clarke (Waikato), E. H.

Catley (Waikato). K. L. Skinner (Otago). '

The five most promising players selected by the “Almanac” are K. E. Barry, a Thames Valley forward who is a son of the former Wellington player E. F. Barry, W. D. Gillespie, of Otago, a number eight forward. T. R. Lineen. of Auckland, a five* eights, I. N. Mac Ewan, of Wellington, a lock forward, and A. J. Soper of Southland.

The distinction won by Hill and Vincent was thoroughly earned. Vincent was captain and Hill vicecaptain of the Canterbury Ranfurly Shield team which resisted nine Ranfurly Shield challenges last season. Both played at their best when Canterbury was hardest pressed, and neither has played better than in the dramatic second spell of' the match against Otago. The referee. Mr Graham, said in a function after this match that never in his experience had he seen a team so inspired by its captain as Canterbury was by Vincent on that occasion. and in the forwards Hill must have won similar tributes, for when the match reached its prolonged and almost unbearably exciting climax, he was like some raging giant as he led the Canterbury pack. Vincent, who first represented Canterbury in 1945, at the age of 18, has represented the South Island; and Hill, who has had five years’ representative Rugby, played for a South Island second team in 1953.