ALL BLACKS MEET AT OAMARU

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28016, 10 July 1956, Page 14

ALL BLACKS MEET AT OAMARU

Training Plans Before Test TWO MORNING RUNS TO BE HELD (New Zealand Press Association) DUNEDIN, July 9. Steady drizzle was falling when the All Blacks and officials assembled in Oamaru tonight for two days’ training before the first test against South Africa at Dunedin on Saturday. They arrived from the north and south by rail-car, and were met by members of the North Otago Rugby Union’s management committee. The convener of the New Zealand selection committee (Mr T. C. Morrison) said there would be two training runs—one tomorrow morning and the other on Wednesday morning. Tomorrow’s practice would probably be held at St. Kevin’s College, and Wednesday’s run at the Waitaki Boys High School. The afternoons would be free, and the players had been invited to play golf, squash, or badminton. It was intended to keep the players together at night, but no curfew was being imposed, said Mr Morrison. The behaviour of the players engaged in the various trials had been excellent, and the same high standard of conduct could be expected of the All Blacks during their stay in Oamaru. One night would be devoted to the screening of films of the 1953 All Blacks’ tour of the British Isles by one of the selectors. Mr A. E. Marslin. The team’s most extensive run would be held tomorrow. Mr Morrison said. Wednesday’s practice would not be so strenuous. The team would leave for Dunedin at 9 a.m. on Thursday and have a light run in the afternoon. There might be no training at all on Friday, he added

CONGRATULATIONS FOR VINCENT ASSEMBLY AT HIGH SCHOOL The new All Black captain, P. B. Vincent, lived up to his reputation for dry wit yesterday, when he was responding to the cheers given him by pupils at the Christchurch Boys’ High School, where he is a master. Vincent has been playing representative Rugby since 1945. Yesterday he referred to the fact that R. H. Duff, also a member of the first test team, was in the first fifteen with him at school. “That was in 1943,” Vincent said. Then, after a beautifully judged and effective pause, he said: “I must have been just 13.” The headmaster, Mr J. Leggat, said he thought it was the first time the captain and vice-captain of an All Black team had come from the same school. The school had produced several New Zealand cricket captains, but Vincent was, he believed, the first All Black captain from former pupils. ‘‘We are proud, pleased, and relieved.” Mr Leggat said, “for the strain has been terrible.”

But after the cheers at assembly, it was all business, for the school’s midyear examinations began yesterday. Yet even in so trying a time, a good many of the pupils must have felt it was worth while to be sitting examinations—for an All Black captain. Vincent left school with his examination papers and a tremendous heap of congratulatory telegrams, and departed for Oamaru. early last evening. Today he begins filial preparations for his own examination.

20th SUCCESSIVE / TEST R. A. WHITE’S RECORD (New Zealand Press Association) GISBORNE, July 9. When he takes the field at Dunedin in the first test, R. A. White will extend a national Rugby record, as he will be playing his twentieth successive test match for New Zealand Kevin Skinner runs closest, with 18 successive games. Since 1949 White has played 122 first-class games, of which 51 have been for All Black teams. Only Maurice Brownlie, with 61, and Skinner, with 57, have played more games for New Zealand. Both Brownlie and Skinner had two major overseas tours, to South Africa and the British Isles, and White has had one, to the British Isles. With his 51 games White ranks with Mark Nicholls and F. Roberts, but he is well ahead of both in test matches, in which Nicholls played 10 and Roberts 12 times.

HANAN SHIELD DISTRICTS’ TEAM CHOSEN (From Our Own Reporter) TIMARU, July 9. The selectors, Messrs B. T. Mulcah\ (South Canterbury), W. A. Edwards (MidCanterbury), and W. R. Laney (North Otago), have chosen the following Rubby team to represent the combined Hanan Shield districts against the--touring South Africans, at Timaru on Wednesday, July A, G alla gh« r (M.C.); H. Cullen (M.C.), J. M. Cole (S.C.), M. D. Watson (S.C.); E. A. Sawers (N. 0. captain). G. Taylor (S.C.); K. Cullen (S.C.); I. Gallagher (M.C.), D. Kennedy (S.C.), T. D. Coughlan (S.C.), A. A. McLeod (M.C.), M. Kerr (S.C.), B. Collet (N. 0. J. A Senior (S.C.), M. F. Casey (S.C.). Emergencies: back, D. A. Grant (S.C.); forward, T. Winstanley (NO.). Bookings for the match at Fraser Park had reached over 2200 shortly after midday today. The secretary for the South Canterbury Rugby Union, Mr P. S Entmg, reported that all grandstand and permanent stadium seating had been sold and there was a steady inquiry for temporary stadium seating. A small queue formed about 5 a.m. today to get grandstand accommodation.

Fraser Park has never closed its gates to a Rugby crowd yet,” said Mr Enting and there will be plenty of room available for all who wish to attend.”

UNIVERSITIES MEET TODAY CANTERBURY AND OTAGO The annual match between Canterbury University College and Otago University to £e Played at Rugby Park todav, will probably be a provisional Payne Trophy match. Otago is in an excellent position to win the Otago championship, and Canterbury College would have to be beaten in at least two of the i three remaining games to have its hold on the championship affected. There, has been some difficulty in arranging a suitable year f ° r the Payne Tr °P h V npatch this The teams for the match are exceptionally strong ones. The Canterburv fifteen is probably the strongest it can field It contains four Canterbury representatives—S. G. Bremner, B. J Molloy, H. C. Burry, and J. D. Stewart. The teams are:— Otago University.—A. Clarke; J Lang T. Hamilton-Gibbs. A Smith: E. S Diack K. Bathgate: B. Hamilton: B Burkhart R Parkes. J. Rouse. N Jones. G Nicol - son (captain). A Wilson, A. Campbell. M Nathan. Canterbury College —B. M. J. Dineen: J Tapsell. C. H Keenan. R. B. Land: B Wood. S G Bremner: B. J. Mollov: H C Burrv or J. L. Williams. A M. Chirnside R Hockley, R. 0. Morrison, R Wells. G Loveridge, J. N. Creighton, J. D. Stewart) (captain).