Rugby MANAGER RECOMMENDS FOUR-MATCH TOURS

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28367, 28 August 1957, Page 18

Rugby MANAGER RECOMMENDS FOUR-MATCH TOURS

“After travelling round much of the North Island and discussing matters with many officials, it seems certain that most major unions are becoming involved in too many commitments. We should endeavour to restrict future tours to not more than four matches and use improved methods of travel,’.’ said Mr H. C. Blazey, one of the managers of the Canterbury Rugby team which recently toured the North Island, when he presented his report on the tour to a meeting of the union’s management committee last evening. Several factors contributed to the team’s comparative lack of success, said Mr Blazey. There were too many changes in the personnel and too many matches were played in the period from August 10 to 17—four games in eight days. “At the same period, we had a 10-hour bus journey to Ruatoria on the Sunday, a fivehour trip on the Tuesday and a 9i hour journey on the Thursday—and we played matches in between.

“There is no doubt that bus travel is very tiring for the players. Air travel is easily first, but either railcars or trains are preferable to the bus, we believe,’’ said Mr Blazey. Injuries and sickness were mentioned briefly in the report when Mr Blazey praised the players for playing when several were far from fit. “In general, it can be said that the team gave of its best under the conditions. The forwards always played hard but possibly lost a little of their vigour as the tour progressed. The backs at times seemed uncertain but possibly suffered more from sickness and injury,” he said. Connexions In North Canterbury had now honoured all its North Island commitments, said Mr Blazey. “Since we must retain our connexion with the major unions, such as Auckland, Waikato and Wellington, and our old friends such as Manawatu, Hawke's Bay and others in order to ensure return visits to Canterbury, it seems obvious that we cannot include fresh commitments in future itineraries,’* he said. “In this tour, it was found that a number of players could not spare the time to undertake a full tour, so that shorter tours should be our aim in the future,” he said.

Reporting on Canterbury’s future commitments, Mr Blazey said he was advised in Hamilton that Waikato would visit Christchurch next year. Both Manawatu and Hawke’s Bay would also be very glad to have Canterbury visit them again next year. Mr N. A. McKenzie (Hawke’s Bay) had said his union would be prepared to help with the expenses of the trip if Canterbury wished this.

Mr Blazey said he had also advised the East Coast union that Canterj bury was unlikely to visit the disI trict again for some years at least and the same advice was given to Poverty Bay. East Coast was also advised that 1959 would probably be suitable for its team to visit Canterbury, he said.

Mr Blazey recommended that the union experiment with white plastic balls of the type used in the East

h Coast match at Ruatoria for wet . weather football. Even in the torrgntial rain the ball was not sodden s, and the backs handled it extremely >r well, he said. n Mr W. H. Lodge, co-manager on the tpur, commented on the amount e of travelling the team had to do, and it he praised the hospitality given the n team. d •s SATURDAY’S DRAW D Unless otherwise stated all games h from senior to under 18 commence i s at 12.30 p.m. and under 16A and B sections commence at 10.30 a.m. s Postponements will be announced i- over 3YA at approximately 8.10 a.m., 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. o Fiji v. Canterbury, L.P. oval, 3 . p.m. 1 Under 20.—Mid-Cant v. Cant, LP e oval, 1.15 p.m. e Under sst.—Primary School v. , s Cant., L.P. oval, 12 noon. Under sst 101b.—Primary Schools n v. Cant, LP oval, 11 a.m. n Senior 2nd Division.—Banks Pen I v. Cant, LP South, 1.15 p.m. v Under 6st 71b—Nth Cantby v. Cant, y LP South, 12 noon. Touch judges: LP oval, 1.15 p.m., a M. B. Roberts, K. Noonan; LP South, j_ 1.15 pjn., R. C. Findlay, R. J. Turner. II Senior Knock-out.—S/Sprey v. Belf, Waltham Pk 1; Lin v. Syd, it Waltham Pk 2; Tech OB v. Alb e (friendly), Beckenham Park. l Senior 2nd Division. —Chch v. Lin, Bromley Pk 1; HSOB v. Var B, NP e 7; RNZAF v. Tech 08, NP 8; Var 'Av. Mar, NP 9; Teach Coll v. Syd, Sydenham win by default. Junior A Section.—Tech OB B (B section) v. Kai (A section), play off n Athletic Pk 2; Lin v. Mar A, Athl r Pk 1; Alb v. Mar A, NP 10; HSOB v. r Tech OB A, NP 11; Chch A v. Meri, NP 12. B section: Lytt v. Chch e Maoris, Ensors rd; Mar B v. Sumn, S Woolston Pk; Var B v New Bri, e Burwood Pk 1; S/Sprey v. Bel, NP I 13. ‘ Third Grade.—A section: Syd (B r sec) v. Lin (A sec), play off, NP 3; [. Chch v. Alb, NP 4; Var A v. New _ Bri (friendly), Burwood Pk 2; RNZAF v. New Bri, New Bri win by default. e B section: HSOB v. Pap HSOB, NP e 2; Hornby v. Mar, NP 1. Fourth Grade.—HSOß v. Lytt, SP 20; Mar v. Syd, Sydenham Pk; Tech , OB v. Lin, SP 22; Kai v. Meri, Mal- ! vern Park; S/Sprey win by default; v. Zingari (Timaru), Sydenham Dom, J! 10.30 a.m. ? Under 18. —New Bri v. Alb ASP s 14; Lytt v. Chch Maoris, SP 18; Chch 1 A v. Syd. SP 19; HSOB v. Lin. t SP 17: Tech OB v. S/Snrey, SP 23. s Under 16.—A Section: Mar A v. . HSOB A, NP 2; Bel v. Syd, SP 17; 2 Alb v. Meri A, SP 18; Pap HSOB i v. S/Sprey„ NP 10; Lin A v. Chch A, tNP 11. B Section: HSOB v. Alb, 1 NP 8: New Bri B v. Tech 08, NP 9; j Rang HS v. Mar B, NP 3; Lin B v. Lin C, Bromley Pk 1; New Bri A win » by default. 5 Representative Matches 5 Under 17.—Possibles v. Probables, • NP 7, 10 a.m. (K. E. Timms). ' Under 7st 71b.—Canterbury v. Ellesj mere, Prebbleton, 10.30 a.m. (Bus t leaves Midland bus depot at 9.15 a.m. s Saturday morning.) 5 Friendly Matches 1 Chch Seniors v Zingari, Rugby P, Il a.m.; Tech OB v. Albion I Seniors, Beckenham Park, 12.30 (W. . . Robson); Chch sst 101 b, A Section, v. . Chch, sst 101 b, B Section, NP 4, 10 a.m. Wright, Stephenson, Chch. , branch, v. Ashburton branch, Rugby < , Park, 9.30 a.m. RSt 71b, Chch A v. : ■ Chch B. NP 6, 10.30 (own referee). ■ sst C, Syd v. Albion, Syd Pk. 10.30 1 (R. K. Rose). < Draw for Wednesday, August 28 Under 7st 71b.—Canterburv v. West i Coast, LP Oval, 3 p.m. (J. S. Cros- 1 bie). ; Under 6st 71b.—Canterbury v. West Coast, LP Oval, 1.30 (J. W. Baug- . han). Please watch “The Press,” Satur- 1 day, for any alterations or correc- ’ tions to this draw. —Advt.

REPRESENTATIVE TEAMS 6st 71b A TEAM The Canterbury 6st 71b A team to play the West Coast on August 28 is as follows: R. Cooper (Chch); K. Cassidy (Belfast), J. Archer (Mar.), R. Thomas (Lin.); J. Hanning (Syd), J. Barrie (Shir.); A. Ford (Syd.), B. Chatterton (Syd.), A. Grant (Sun./ Sprey.), R. Thorpe (Lytt.), R. Graham (Syd.), S. Hughes (Syd.), G. Sanders (Shir.), R. Taylor (Lin.), D Cassidy (Bel.). Reserves: N. Bonner (Chch.), R. Carmichael (S/Sprey), M. Kerr (N. 8. B. Smith (Mer), M. Bayliss (Alb.), K. Morris (Mar.). Training, etc.: The team to assemble outside Lancaster Park main gate at 1 p.m. sharp Wednesday, Aug _t 28. and 11.30 a.m., Saturday, August 31. —Advt.

UNDER sst A The Canterbury under sst A team to play Primary Schools on August 31 is as follows: N. Hobson (Alb.), M. Hadlee (Chch.), F Overend (Lin.), K. Hayes (Syd.), O. Anning (Mar.), P. Robinson, capt. (Mar.), B. McFadden (Bel.), B. Fisher (Bel.), R. Thin, vice-capt. (Syd.), R. Kelly (New Bri.), C. Wilson (S.S.), K. Andrews (Lin.), J. Barr (Meri.), H. Goulding (New Bri.), G. Bailey (Mar.). Reserves: L. Legg (Meri.), A. Clay (Chch.), R. Weatherhead (SJS.), P. Machirus (Alb.). Training: Hagley North No. 4, 3 p.m. Wednesday, \ugust 28. If wet, ring 61-925. 7st 71b TEAM The Canterbury 7st 71b team to play the West Coast on. August 27 is as follows: J. Bruton (Lin.), J. Sinclair (Syd.), F. Langton (Chch.), C. Wilson (Mer.), T. Snelling (Chch.), F. Gage (Chch.), T. Geary (Mar.), N. Park (Mar.), O’Connell (Mar.), T. Clark (Chch.), Williams (Syd.), Harland (P.H.5.0.8.), Clement (Mer.), Reeves (Alb.), Lambic (Syd.). Reserves: Hastie (5.8.H.5.), Rogers (Alb.), Drury (Mer.). Training: Team meets Lancaster Park gate on Wednesday, August 28, at 1.45 p.m. Bring towels, boots and shorts. —Advt. Levein May Not Play

Again This Season (New Zealand Press Association) WANGANUI, August 27. H. J Levein will not play again for Otago on its present northern tour. An elbow injury which he suffered on the recent All Black tour of Australia was aggravated by a hard bump in the match against Wellington on Saturday. He has been advised to rest from Rugby for the rest of the season. Levein will not accompany his team-mates to Auckland tomorrow night after the game against Wanganui, but will travel to his home town, Taumarunui, where he will remain for a week before returning to Dunedin. In tomorrow’s match the 1952 and 1955 All Black, J. Hotop, will play at second five-eighths. Services’ Team Against Poverty Bay (Neio Zealand Press Association) GISBORNE, August 27. The New Zealand Combined Services’ Rugby team to play Poverty Bay at Gisborne on Saturday, is: L. Hadfield (R.N.Z.A.F.); D. McDonald (Army), M. B. Farrington (R.N.Z.A.F.), N. Anderson (R.N.Z.A.F.); T. Nepia (Army), A. H. Gledhill (R.N.Z.A.F.); W. Rangihuna (R.N.Z.A.F.); B. Sadd (Navy). . H. K. Emery (Navy), W. Harrison (Navy), S. F. Hill (Army). I. Rasmussen (Army), R. Skerrett (R.N.Z.A.F.), R. Binnie (Navy). V. Hata (Navy). Reserves—Backs: L. Veiqaravai (Army). C. C. Carr (R.N.Z.A.F.). J. Karauria (R.N.Z.A.F.); forwards, C. Church (Army), B. R. Caldwell (R.N.Z.A.F.). M. Kama (Navy). N. Scott (R.N.Z.A.F.). Hill may be an absentee as he is in the Canterbury side to play Fiji.