Canterbury's Good In Freyberg Rosebowl

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29189, 27 April 1960, Page 15

Canterbury's Good In Freyberg Rosebowl

TT is unfortunate that CanterA bury will not meet Auckland in this year’s Freyberg Rosebowl tournament; but the fact that these two leading teams have drawn precisely the same list of opponents means that it will be a true test.

Not that Canterbury and Auckland will dominate the tournament. Last year at Rotorua, Auckland, Hawke’s Bay and Wellington finished with five wins each, Auckland retaining the trophy because it had 26 individual wins to the others teams’ 24. Canterbury, with 4J matches and 23 wins, was a very close fourth. Opponents Five of the teams Canterbury met last year will be played again. The sixth opponent will be Taranaki instead of Southland, which makes Canterbury’s programme a little harder. But the fact that C. W. Caldwell is available for Canterbury this season makes the team stronger. Canterbury had a bad first day at Rotorua, halving its match with Wellington in the morning and losing, 2J-3J, to Hawke’s Bay in the afternoon. Hawke’s Bay this year may be without S. G. Jones because of injury. Last year R. J. Charles’s only loss was to Jones.

Charles may be expected to do just as well as he did last year. His main matches were against Jones, against J. Durry, D. L. Woon and A. R. Timms. He beat Durry 3 and 2, Woon 4 and 3. Timms 3 and 2. Charles is in superb form at present and it would not be surprising if he won all six of his games. R. C. Murray has an exceptionally good Freyberg Rosebowl record. In his first appearance for Canterbury last year, he halved with F. T. Gordon, of Hawke’s Bay, but won all the rest of his matches. Among

those he beat were K. Carter, of Wellington, then on plus two, and B. A. Colquhoun, then of Otago. Good Record K. D. Foxton also had a good tournament, with four wins. His losses were to R. H. Glading, whose absence overseas will weaken Wellington this year, and to D. M. Robertson, of Otago. A. W. Robinson beat three good golfers last year—S. A. McDonald, of Wellington, and a former New Zealand representative; D. G. Bullick, of Waikato, and B. A. Whitburn, of Otago. All four of Canterbury’s top men have good records in these tournaments. For Canterbury,

Charles has scored nine points in a possible 12, Caldwell 14 in 24, Foxton 14J in 24, Murray 5J in 6. This year the first day may not be so disappointing, for the team will reach Auckland in time for two or three days’ practice at Middlemore. Formidable Opponent The only newcomer in the Canterbury team is E. H. Richards, whose tremendous length off the tees and with his irons and fairway woods will make him a formidable opponent for the sixth players in the other teams. There must be at least a prospect of both Auckland and Canterbury going through unbeaten, and the decision may again be won and lost on individual match tallies, so much will depend on the Canterbury tail. Performances Canterbury has a fair record in this tournament—regarded by spectators as well as players as the most enjoyable in the golfing calendar. In 1951 at Shirley, with only six teams competing, Canterbury tied with Wellington but lost on a count-back. In the last five years there has been only one bad performance. Canterbury was fifth in 1955. fourth equal in 1956. first in 1957 but then at Nelson in 1958 slumped to eighth equal. Fourth equal last year could well have been first, but for the unexpected loss to Hawke’s Bay. Inevitably, there are some players distinctly unlucky not to be chosen. R. E. Clements, who has been a member of the Can-

An almost tottering Pirie by some superhuman means managed to keep his legs in motion

terbury team for the last six years, is one. So is G. P. Vesty, again a reserve. A. Browne of Ashburton has not come on quite as well as expected, but he has plenty of time yet. Colquhoun, who only last year beat both Charles and Murray to win the Easter tournament, must also have been given serious consideration.

These players may be unlucky, but with so many candidates for places in the team, Canterbury's teams should be strong for some years to come. There are others, too, who have excellent prospects —J. Broadhurst, of Russley, and the youngsters in the Harewood team are among them.