PEOPLE IN THE PLAY

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29803, 21 April 1962, Page 9

PEOPLE IN THE PLAY

* The West Coast prop, N. 4 T. Tiller, and the Auck--4 land hooker, J. G. Patter--4 son, both members of the J New Zealand Rugby ! League team which toured | England and France last 4 year, have recently an--4 nounced their retirements J from football. The 24-year- ! old Tiller, who played ! only three games on tour, has retired on medical 4 advice.

J I. M. Miller, the former ! Southland and South k Island lock, has retired k from first-class Rugby. A k typical Southland forward, k Miller revelled in the tight J forward play and was an k important member of the ! strong Southland packs in | the last four years. k ¥ ¥ ¥ k A player to watch in J Christchurch soccer this J season is the 18-year-old ! right-half, J. Young, of I Western. This Scottishk born youth, who came to k New Zealand five years k ago. could win Canterbury * selection soon and possibly J a place in the New ZeaJ land team as well. He has J made rapid progress, and k his tackling against City k on Saturday was as feark less and devastating as k that which characterised J the play of the former 3 England captain, W. { Wright. k ¥ ¥ ¥ k G. H. Nicholson made ! an exceedingly good im- ! pression at half-back in his I first appearance with the k Linwood senior Rugby k team on Saturday. He used k the up-and-under kick k effectively, passed swiftly J and ran judiciously. A J fast runner, he scored two 3 fine tries and shirked k nothing on defence Nichk olson was an outstanding k schoolboy centre threek quarters and later played k creditably closer to the J scrum for the Ellesmere J sub-union.

K. Nelson, a junior All Black lock in 1959, who impressed as potential All Black material two years ago, is again playing for Otago University. He did not play last season because of a severe attack of hepatitis. If he finds his form, Nelson could be a strong claimant for a place in the South Island team this year, notwithstanding the presence of Canterbury’s two locks. A. J. Stewart and R. Abel. ¥ ¥ ¥ The Christchurch Rugby League team's new halfback, G. Clarke, was in splendid form against Linwood last Saturday and outplayed last season's Canterbury representative, W. Godfrey. Clarke played centre last year but with R O. Bercim's return to Australia, Clarke was brought up to half-back. He is no stranger to the position, however, for he is a former Kiwi schoolboy half-back. ¥ ¥ ¥ The New Zealand Rugby League representative, M. L. Cooke, showed he was fit for the coming season when he helped Homby to beat Sydenham last Saturday. He was always with the ball and his play must have been a great example to the other members of the side. Cooke should have a very successful season.

In a University first division soccer team which of necessity shows many changes each season, J. Roborgh has been a tower of strength for many years. In the full-back position Roborgh has given good service in club and inter-university football, and was chosen as captain of the New Zealand Universities’ side last season. His tackling is robust and his clearing is powerful.