Club Rugby Review

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29273, 3 August 1960, Page 11

Club Rugby Review

-j The Christchurch No. 8 forward, D. Ellison, has played many good games this season, but he

has not excelled his form against Linwood in both games this year. He was outstanding in the first game, and on Saturday there was not another forward on the field to play so well. He was often used in the line-outs; he was

tenacious on cover defence and hisattacking play was both forceful and intelligent. * _ When the last round of senior matches is played . on Saturday, University have the opportunity of securing its first win over Linwood in four games. Last year University , lost both games to Linwood and the result was the same in the first match this year. In 1958, University won both games, but by very narrow margins—one point in the first game and two in the second.

tg One of the best forwards in the Sunnyside-Spreydon pack is A. J. Heatley. Heatley has always impressed with his enthusiasm when in possession of the ball, and his crashing runs have gained much ground for his side this season. With long hair poking through his head-gear Heatley takes on the appearance of an unruly . golliwog, and his fearsome scowl as he pounds down the side-line in possession does little to encourage prospective tacklers.

In his four matches for MW New Brighton this season. A. Louis, of Nelson, has displayed great attacking ability—from the fiill-back position. Last Saturday, he ran from near his own twenty-five to beat eight Marist players. He was held up in a tackle two yards short of the Marist; line, then went over but was penalised for rabbiting. New Brighton might well play Louis at second five-eighths next Saturday in place of R. Bowick, who could be depended on to play well at full-back or any other position behind the scrum.

One of the strangest sights in the Christchurch-Linwood match on Saturday was the No. 8 line-

out position adopted by J. BaviU. For much of the first half he positioned himself practically opposite the Christchurch centre, C. Mullaney. Later —after he had been penalised for oS-side play —he moved in closer and was Sydenham has a fine pair of loose forwards, M. Lome and D. Bryson. Against University Lome showed out the most. He went into the tight when it was necessary, be was very hard to stop when he broke away and he was. adept at linking up with the backs.

more effective.

One of the best displays by any centre three-quarters in the senior championship this year was given by

C, Mullaney for Christy hurch against . Linwood. He played a major role hi each of the three tries which the referee disallowed for a previous breach and his own try was beautifully engineered. With R. M. Smith out-

side him Mullaney angled slightly for the corner flag. It was obvious his intention was to draw W, F. McCormick before he sent Smith away, and he succeeded beyond his expectations. As he straightened up with a mere swing of his hips, McCormick interpreted this 'as a . pass, and went for Smith. Mullaney swerved slightly and scored ..in a handy position. Back behind the University scrum for a day, the coach, B. P. J. Molloy, not perhaps as quick as in the past, threw some long, well-directed passes to R. D. Hoskin. It was not Molloy’s faigt that the back line seldom functioned smoothly. Not many coaches are in the position, after having selected a team having 58 reserves to place. This is the unenviable task of the coach of the University third grade D team, which has 73 players on whom to call. This team consists of law students. I . Playing in a keenly conLJ tested grade the Marist -‘ * under 20 team is unbeaten with two rounds remaining. Consisting mainly of former members of the St. Bede’s and Xavier College first fifteens, Marist has met and beaten four schools— Boys* High School, Christ’s College, St Bede’s College and Xavier College. With a lead of 1J points from Boys’ High School, Marist must win one of its two remaining matches to be assured of the competition. The Albion captain, K. Kidd, has always given a fine example to the many young players in his

team. Albion has ■ the material to I build into a good ■ team in a few ■ seasons, and ■ Kidd’s influence ■ in the forwards ■ has been an in--1 spiration throughjg out the season. | He is always on ■ the ball, locks the ■ scrum well and " is often effective

B orten enective in the line-outs.