RUGBY SOME STRONG CLUB TEAMS THIS SEASON

Press, Volume C, Issue 29478, 3 April 1961, Page 14

RUGBY SOME STRONG CLUB TEAMS THIS SEASON

'Two or three of the senior Rugby fifteens have lost several of their top players, but teams in the main will be almost the same as those of last season.

University, with 20 representatives ava liable, appears a most formidable side, but Linwood and Christchurch, co-winners of the 1960 competition, if a little less imposing on paper, will certianly field good teams. Merivale, Marist and Tech-nical-Shirley have all gained players and lost a few as well. Belfast and NewBrighton have an abundance of players to call on, and Old Boys. Sydenham, and Albion, without any serious losses, should have little difficulty in finding team combination. Linwood Judging by its display on Saturday, Linwood will be just as strong as last season. The final composition of the side has yet to be determined but the coach, Mr L. P. Foster, has a strong squad at his command. It seems likely that the n_ucleus of the team will be a- number of well-tried players who have already proved their w’orth for Linwood. Inside backs, B. Dailey and C. Kerrigan, are the only defections from the 1960 side and to balance their loss the club has gained T. Rutene, a five-eighths who had limited service with Christchurch last year, N. Stokes, also a five-eighths, who played in the New’ Zealand Police team, and F. Jackson, formerly a member of the Wellington clubs senior pack.

Linwood has some other likely looking men who could go close to senior selection for the jubilee year. Christchurch

Christchurch has lost its two locks of last season, S. F. Hill, who is in the North Island, and H. Cooper, who has gone to Australia. But two gains are K. Pirie, of University, and R. Wainahu, a loose forward from the North Island. Wainahu played for Christchurch a few seasons ago as a back, but he has put on weight and has developed into a very good flanker.

T. Rutene, a five-eighths, has gone to Linwood, but B Kilworth. formerly of Sunny-side-Spreydon, will be available for the three-quarters. The coach, Mr R. Dobson, a former Kiwi, said that Christchurch had not received as many new players as usual, but the team was still a strong one. R. Smith, B. Watt, C. Arnold, C. Devine. and G. Waterreus, some of the best backs in the competition last season, will be playing again. Old Beys

High School Old Boys, which last season fielded a young team, have lost none of last year's team and have the 1960 All Black. D. J. Graham, back. The backs will be strong and will include the Canterbury representatives, S. K. Henderson and P. J. Morrissey, and the promising players. R. Dalton and B. Butcher. G. Kirkland, a half-back, is a new player for the senior squad. The forwards will be led by Graham and will be heavier than last year, but the side lacks big locks. N B. Ullrich, a breakaway from the University senior reserve, who scored 18 tries last season, has joined the club. E. Hern will play again. R. Thompson, a former Canterbury representative, will coach the senior team. Marist Marist will field a very strong back-line and the forwards, although without three of last year’s pack, should be a competent unit, if a little light. J Le Lievre, G. Gordon and T. Taylor, front row. lock and flanker, respectively, will be missing from the pack. B. Reilly, last year's full-back, has retired. Additions to the backs will be R. James, a West Coast representative three-quarters, M. Keenan, the South Canterbury centre last year, J. G. McCort, a first five-eighths who has returned to the club after a year in the North Island, and J. Hutchinson, who has come out of retirement. B. Coulter. J. Collier. G. Laing. E. Noonan. L. Geange and M. Doyle are some of last year's players w*ho will be the nucleus of a good back-line. New forwards are D Lyons, of Grevmouth Marist. and J. Le Fevre, of St. Mary’s Hokitika. The coach will be Mr K. F. Meates. Technical-Shir ley Two of Technical-Shirley’s best backs, D. Taylor and M. Tyrel. have retired, but there are several promising players who could fill their positions. One is K. Bush, a wing three-quarters from Oxford. There are two valuable additions to the forwards. They are W. Flavell, who played Rugby League last season and O. Gray, a senior lock from Hamilton. The team's coach, Mr I. Morris, has hones for Tech-nical-Shirley this season. In the few practice matches so far the side has settled down well. University On paper University will fields its strongest side for many years, as at present there are 20 representative players available for the senior side. Only two of last year's team. R. S Wells and K C Pirie. will not be available Additions to last year’s team are the All Blacks. M W Irwin and S G Bremner. who were in South Africa last season. A F Orme, who did not plav last year because of a leg iniurv. A. J Stewart, a South Canterbury reoresentative lock, and R. Colledge, an Australian Uni-

versities blue, who plays at centre. As veil as the number of senior players available there also are many promising players in the lower grades where University again expects to do very well. The senior team will be coached by the 1957 All Black. Mr B. P. J. Molloy, and Mr R. C. Stuart will assist him. Belfast Belfast will have 30 players from which to choose its senior side this year. Belfast has gained six members of last year's Kaiapoi senior reserve team, which has been withdrawn from the Canterbury union's competition. In addition three senior players, all forwards, from other centres will be available. They are T. Nicholls, a flanker, D. Harliwich, a lock and P. Law, a former Belfast lock, who has returned from Wellington. Belfast has not lost any of last year's side. Mr E. Brown will be the coach.

Sunny side-Spreydon Sunnyside - Spreydon’s coach. Mr D. Donald, expects his side to be “reasonably strong.’’ The team will be much the same as last year although the Templeton brothers will be missing. B. Redmond, No. 8. has transferred to League. Members of. the club's lower grades will be trying for positions in the senior side and Mr Donald thinks that several have a good chance of being promoted. V. Sykes, who was played in a variety of positions last year, will be available again. New Brighton New Brighton will be without some valuable forwards, including M. Harris, R. Connelly and H. C. Burry, but the coach, Mr G. T. Nolan, a former Canterbury fullback, said that promising junior and under-20 players of last year will be keen to fill the positions. A new player is T. Allan, an inside back from Wellington. R. Bowick will turn out again as will A. Bishop and F. Bishop. Merivale Only five of last year's Merivale senior side will be available this season. Some of the more serious losses are E. Edwards (five-eighths), M. Drury (prop), E. West (hooker), M. Heinemann (half back) and P. Nankevell (lock). D. Frampton, who played a game for Southland last season at half back has joined the club, as has R. Tether, a senior three-quarters from Wellington. The forwards will be fairly light and mobile and the oack is expected to do better than last year's, according to the coach. Mr L Gallagher. The senior squad will probably include several promoted juniors and under-20 players. Sydenham The only definite loss in the Sydenham side so far is the forward. W. A. White, who has retired. The team is expected to differ only slightly from that of last season and the coach will again be M. Dixon, the former All Black. M. F. Whitta, who played for The Rest at half back last year, will be available. Albion Albion will field much the same team as last season. All members of the 1960 team are available with the exception of K. Richardson, a prop, who has returned to Ashburton after five years with the club. The front row forward. M. Robinson, has turned out again after a three-year reretirement. Albion has also gained J. Gardner, a country wing three-quarters. Last year's senior captain. K. C. Kidd, is in Timaru at present, but it is hoped that he will be back in Christchurch for the start of the competition.

Mr C. W. Tew is coaching the team for the second season and Mr A. McKerrow is assisting in the training of the backs.