RUGBY No Certainty About Otago Team To Play Canterbury

Press, Volume C, Issue 29625, 22 September 1961, Page 5

RUGBY No Certainty About Otago Team To Play Canterbury

"The Press'’ Special Service

DUNEDIN. Sept. 21

Hard hit because of injuries to key players, notably W. A. Davies, and because of others not being available, the Otago representative Rugby team to play Canterbury at Christchurch in its final match of the season will be well below full strength. Even now the composition of the team is not certain for the selectors have named alternative players in two positions, one in the forwards and the other in the backs.

Davies injured a shoulder on Wednesday in the game against Counties and the second strong full-back, P. J. McDonald, is not available. The berth has gone to E. W. Kirton, who has had little experience at playing anywhere other than as a fiveeighths Also missing from the backs are G. H. Smith, the South Island emergency half-back this year, and I S. T. Smith, the most promising Otago three-quarters. Neither is available.

In the forwards, the top string hooker, B. P. Duncan, is not available. C. F. Clark, a flanker who proved Otago’s best on the North Island tour, and W. R. Parkes, the other side-row man. are both out through illness. Added to the series of mishaps is doubt whether D. W. Clark, the South Island representative who is injured, will be fit to play. If he is not Otago will be faced with having one of the two hookers

nominated for the team on the side of the scrum.

Whatever pack is selected

much will depend on the leadership of W. D. Gillespie, who has been playing at peak form, if Canterbury is to be held up front. The forwards are capable but have not been playing up to their canabilities. The inside-back combination of O. Collotv (halfback) and L. M. Stevenson proved sound in the match against Counties. No decision has been made about a second five-eighths. V. E. Uoyd, a sound tackler and speedy attacker, may replace the regular player, E. T. Jopson, whose form has been below oar recently. I. D. Smith, the South Island representative, is the centre and there is I pace on the wings with A. G.! Merrilees and K. H. Eglinton.; The provisional team is: E. W. Kirton: K. H. Eglinton, I. i D. Smith, A. G. Merrilees: E. T. Jopson or V. E. Lloyd, L. M. Stevenson: O. Colloty; J. G. Flannery: D. W. Clark. E. J. McLennan, M. C. Meikle, W. D. Gillespie: J C. Lindsay, B. S. Cooke or D. Graham, G. T. McLennan. Emergencies: D. Holden. M. Ellis and the two players to be omitted from the team.