CLUB RUGBY REVIEW

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28314, 27 June 1957, Page 15

CLUB RUGBY REVIEW

Praiseworthy efforts by both Albion and University to keep the ball in play and to play constructive and enterprising Rugby contributed towards making the match at Rugby Park one of the best of the soason. But another contributing factor must also have been the fair, firm and yet broadminded control of the referee, Mr W. Fright. Among enthusiasts for both sides in the stand not a complaint was heard against his rulings—an unusual thing for a match nowadays.

The Merivale forwards gave another useful performance against Marist, and the pack is distinctly better than the backs —so much so that the team might do well to concentrate on trying to keep the ball as close to the forwards as possible. From the side-line, however, the Merivale pack has one particular weakness. At times the forwards were receiving instructions from more than one of their number at a time.

** Last Saturday’s match between Linwood and New —L— Brighton was a good example of how a game can be won by the team whose forwards are first to the rucks. Throughout the play, the Linwood pack was first to the ball after a back passing rush had broken down, and this was the main factor in that team’s victory. In other aspects of the play, New Brighton’s forwards were fully the equals of the Linwood forwards. | . One of the most impresLJ sive features of University’s display against Albion was the fine handling, of the backs, who seldom dropped a pass. A test of a good handler can be his ability to take the difficult passes which are mixed with the good. Twice on Saturday the wing three-quarters, J. Tapsell, took passes one-handed close to the ground, and the movements brought tries when they could have broken down.

A. Oliver, a SunnysideSpreydon five-eighths is JL. a son of Billy Oliver—a very Competent player for Sunnyside a few years ago and later a referee and a nephew of Charles Oliver, a brilliant Merivale and All Black centre of the 1935 period. Although a very sound player, especially on defence, A. Oliver may rise to the heights attained by his relatives when he plays in a team which shows considerably more initiative than Sunnyside-Sprey-don has at present.

I . More speed off the mark L ! seems to be an attribute ■ the Belfast senior team should try to achieve. In recent matches, the back-line has seldom functioned efficiently, mainly because the -defence is upon players before they receive the ball. However, what they lack on attack, the Belfast backs make up for to a large degree in solid tackling. ©Technical had reason to be thankful that it had T. Jackson at full-back in its match against Belfast last Saturday. Jackson, who is third highest scorer in the senior competition so far this season, gave a brilliant display reminiscent of the play which made him a Canterbury representative 10 years ago. •

* Seldom today are wing three-quarters successful with long throws to their backs when on defence. The long throw was tried several times during the Christchurch-Syden-ham game but only once was it judged straight. This once brought Christchurch a wonderful try from almost its own goal-line. The long throw-in is a very useful move when on defence, but because of the throw-in rule it seldom succeeds. Whether thrown in to the forwards or out to the backs the ball must land on a line between the opposing forwards and even the slightest deviation one way or the. other is sufficient to have the throw ruled not straight

I , The best of the Linwood LJ pack, in the match against New Brighton, was the breakaway, B. Caldwell. In addition to gaining nearly all the ball in the line-outs, Caldwell showed great fire in his loose play, and his tackling is also very sound. Caldwell plays a very robust game, and is still to the forefront at the end.

tg Dick Cochrane, Old Boys forward, is far from the veteran stage but he must have felt like one in the Old Boys pack against SunnysideSpreydon on Saturday for his experienced captain, N. S. Roberts was on the side-line and he was left in charge of a very young pack of forwards. Cochrane, a fine physical specimen, played up to his responsibility and in his rugged line-out play, of which he took the lion’s share, he set a fine example to his team. He was mainly responsible for the grand recovery made by a well-beaten pack of forwards. Cochrane is not only a good lock; there are few better in the line-outs.

m A young New Brighton forward who should make a name for himself in Canterbury Rugby in a few years is M. Harris. A tall youth, Harris uses his height to good advantage in the line-outs and, considering his size, his speed in the loose play is remarkable. He follows the ball well and is perhaps the best, apart from the captain H. C. Burry, of the rapidly-improving New Brighton pack.

The Linwood inside-back combination must be one of the most promising in the province. N. Main at halfback is very nippy, and the young F. McCormick is showing steady improvement at first five-eighths. The second five-eighths, C. Ellis, is always looking for a chance to do something enterprising, and is very dangerous in loose play. Ellis has a good eye for an opening, and is hard to stop, with hl* dodging run*.