FROM THE SIDE-LINES

Press, Volume C, Issue 29557, 5 July 1961, Page 13

FROM THE SIDE-LINES

According to report* from Auckland, June Maria <nee Waititi), captain of the New Zealand basketball team in Australia last year, will not be available for Auckland this season, although she is reported to be playing for her club. The vicecaptain of the team that went to Australia, Betty Steffenen, i* not playing at all this season, and will not be available for her province, Manawatu. .★ Without W. Godfrey’s fine tackling, the score against Linwood could have been much bigger in the Rugby League game against Sydenham last Saturday. Although not very big, Godfrey, the Sydenham half - back makes up for hi* lack of weight with gameness. Throughout the season his fine tackling has been a feature of hi* play. ★ The hesvy state of the grounds last Saturday enabled many Rugby League players to turn on their best displays of the season. This was especially noticeable in the play of the

Sydenham forward R. Lewis. Increasing weight slowed Lewis down during the early games this season, but with the conditions bringing others down to his speed on Saturday, he was always to the fore, with easily his best game of the season.

DLF

A Rugby League player who revelled in last Saturday’s heavy conditions was the Marist and Canterbury forward, M. Mehl. Always up with the play, Mohi made many slashing runs which turned defence into attack for his side. Although few goals were kicked on the day. Moni earned the cheers of the crowd with a fine effort from near the side-line, to give his side an extra two points. ★ Ann Stewart, goal defence for the Canterbury basketball team last season. notified the selector last Saturday that she would not be available for the provincial team this season. ★ The young High School Old Boys soccer centreforward C. Hicks had his best match on Saturday against Nomads. Marked by a South Island repre. sentative player, Hicks scored two goals and was always in the play. He represented Canterbury in the first of this year’s Ruddiman Cup matches against Otago. ★ J. Wain, the University senior reserve A wing, has scored 16 tries in nine games. Very fast, Wain also has the ability to beat a defender with a sidestep or swerve. His best tally of tries in one game was four against Merlvale. His number of tries is all the more meritorious when it is remembered that the greatest number of tries by a senior wing is eight.

The Rangers soccer goalkeeper, R. Coates, is an enigma. Coming to New Zealand this season from the English Second Division side Scunthorpe, Coates at times appeared to be a player of unusual polish. At other times he dropped the ball or gave a weak clear. Perhaps more hard practice will bring him back to the top class. ★ The value of having had experience in the back line was fully illustrated in the play of Papanui’s second row forward in the Rugby League game against Hornby last Saturday. Handling like a back > on a dry surface. G. Neiman set his side up on attack repeatedly with his strong bursts and well directed passes. ★ One who stands out in the comparatively weak Wanderers soccer side is the versatile P. Saunderson. A former inter-

national, ana noiaer ot a Chatham Cup medal from the days when he played with Western, Saunderson always does his best to in. ject some life into the Wanderers’ forward line. He was recalled to the Canterbury team for the match against England, and had an excellent match. ★ Marina Fisher, captain of the South Island basketball team last season and a Canterbury representative, is not available for Canterbury this year because of illness. Her absence will be hard felt as she is one of the most versatile players Canterbury has had. She has played at goal, wing at-1 tack, and centre for the province. ★ Christchurch City’s new centre-forward, B. Rumbold, has made a name for himself after only two matches in his club’s first division side. Against Rangers on Saturday, as against Technical in the previous week. Rumbold gave a good all-round display and showed a good positional sense. He has been added to the Canterbury training squad.