Presentations To Two Forwards

Press, Volume C, Issue 29633, 2 October 1961, Page 14

Presentations To Two Forwards

I New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, October 1. Two outstanding Rugby forwards who were born within three years and 30 miles of each other in North Auckland, received presentations before a crowd of several thousands after the Ranfurly Shield match at Eden Park on Saturday. For one of them, Peter Jones, the celebrated All Black, it was a sad moment for this was his last game of first-class Rugby. It was sadder too as the team of which be was captain bad just lost its Ranfurly Shield challenge by 11 points to 26 For the second player, H L. White, the moment was less sad. He had just completed his two hundred and first major match and his one hundred and sixty-third

game for Auckland—including 18 successive shield matches Jone* was presented with a rug and White with a tea service by the president of the Auckland Rugby Union (Mr M. N. Corner). Jones, whose career as an AU Black stretched from 1953 to 1960, bad some blunt advice for Rugby youngsters before the start of the Auckland - North Auckland match ‘To get to the top tn Rugby takes a lot of hard work,” he said “You’ve got to be prepared to knuckle down and get stuck into it “Some get it lucky, but not many For most of us there is no easy road to the top—

just solid training and concentration.” Jones will go on playing for his club, Awanui. for whom he has turned out for 20 years and he may appear for the Barbarians or Vikings, but his retirement is definite as far as representative activity is concerned. “I mean it," he said, adding, “and so does my wife.' Jones, married in 1956. has three daughters. Now 29. Jone* began his Rugby at nine. He said he liked playing side-row, but he played lock in South Africa because he had to. He said the barging try in the fourth test at Auckland against the Springboks “just happened " “I happened to be there New Zealand needed that one. I suppose, but anyone else could have got it” Jones said he would not attempt to pick out the best of many dozens of great Ail Blacks; provincial representatives. and club players he has known. J. Clazsen (South African lock) was the best visiting player he eould think of, Cliff Morgan (Wales) was good also Bev Risman (Engand). but Jackie Kyle (Ireland) “was the best fiveeighths I ever came across " Hedge Fire.—A hedge fire on the property occupied by Donald Peacock at 8 NestcoU street. Burwood, was attended by units from the Central - nd St Albans fire stations at 12.20 pm. on Saturday.