RUGBY YOUTH

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29800, 17 April 1962, Page 8

RUGBY YOUTH

The ability to play competently in almost any position—back or forwardmakes A. Hinton a valuable member of the Papanui under 6st 71b grade side. Last season he was nominated for the representatives as a utility player and on Saturday started as full-back and was later switched to lock. Hinton is a nephew of Mr V. L. George, a 193 d AU Black and now a South Island selector.

Two Burnside boys, G. Moodie, aged 10, and L. York, aged 11, are comparative youngsters in the under 6st 71b grade but made light of this handicap and enjoyed satisfactory debuts for their team on Saturday. Both are forwards Who have been promoted several grades.

Keeping a well-known Canterbury Rugby name to the fore is Phillip Hern, younger brother of the Old Boys and Canterbury players. Ewan, Douglas and Max, Like hjs brothers, Phillip plays in the forwards. He has had experience in several positions and on Saturday was at back row for the Merivale under 6st 71b A team. He has just completed a most successful season in boys’ cricket.

The New Brighton under 6st 7lb A team should be well served at half-back this season by G. Lay. a Chinese boy who did well in lower grade football last year.

The Papanui 6st team has a useful backline and one of the most promising is the wing three-quarters, M. Hobson. He has pace, a swerve and good hands. Canterbury University’s Rochester Hall has entered a 'team in the fourth grade. Rochester Hall has fewer than 40 students, but if keenness means anything the team should do well.

W. Dunn (Papanui), who was left wing three-quarters in the under 6st representatives last season, was in a predicament at Hagley Park on Saturday when he discovered his kit contained two right-footed boots. He played in a borrowed pair for the first half, then borrowed yet another pair for the second half.

The Belfast under 18 side has a vigorous pack and a very good rearguard. It scored an easy victory over Albion last Saturday by 25 points to 0 and showed considerable ability. The Christchurch Boys’ High School first fifteen promises to be a strong side this year. The team scored an unusually big win, 55-0. against New Brighton on Saturday. Such large scores were quite common in the schools’ grade some years ago, but in recent seasons the clubs have been fielding very strong sides

While R. W. H. Seott gained room dlottaetiea through hte ability to kick goals in bare feet, it is doubtful if he played a full game without boots. A Papanui bey, K. O'Connell, did this on Saturday, however, after nobly lending his boots to a fellow player. O’Connell’s performance was all the more notable for the fact that he was occupying the full-back position, although he is usually a lock forward. O’Connell, an under Cat 7lb player, made light of his handicaps tend played a steady game. John Fleming is a promising back in the Suburbs 6st team. Fast, and with a good' change of pace, he scored two, excellent tries against Papa-! nui in a trial game on Swtur-I day. The centre. Phillip Vaughan, adso showed up well, scoring a try. . The University under 20 A team, always strong in this grade, was extended to beat Christ's College. 20-19, on Saturday. A member of the ; University team who will bear watching is P. J. Hogg, a big lock from Nelson College last year. Hogg is a son of Mr C. S. Hogg, who recently resigned after being chairman of the New Zealand Rugby Council for a number of years. A boy who proved a capable full-back and centre for Christchurch in Saturday morning football last season is T. Guthrie. This year he is playing for the club’s under 6st 71b A grade team and is developing into a dependable last line of defence. Although his playing career of two years is only half that of most of his teammates, G. Shearer (Merivale) is as likely a side row forward as any in the under 6st 71b A grade. He has im-1 proved out of sight and up-J pears to have good prospects, n the came