FROM THE SIDE-LINES

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29871, 11 July 1962, Page 11

FROM THE SIDE-LINES

S. Caughey played an excellent all-round game on the side of the scrum for Christchurch against New Brighton on Saturday. He is fleet of foot and this enabled him to cover the mid-field with effect. He was also prominent in line-oute.

M. G. Lester, playing at full-back for Christ’s College against Xavier College on Saturday, had numerous opportunities to prove himself. The ball came at him In awkward ways—at the feet of forwards, in the hands of backs, and often from high kicks Not once did he falter, and the game was nearly over before he made a mistake—a prolonged exchange along the left-hand touch-line exposed his lack of a right-foot kick.

D. Harvey looked a most competent second five-eighths for Shirley against University. He handled well and ran strongly, but his chances on attack were limited, as Shirley never gained sufficient possession to play an attacking game in the backs.

An outstanding performance was turned in by the Culverden High backs in the recent match against Hanmer Springs High School. The Culverden rearguard was given plenty of the ball, and their handling was faultless. They ran straight and with determination. The touch line was ignored.

The Sydenham left wing three-quarters, G. D. Wade, worked up good speed in spite of heavy underfoot conditions at Waltham Park on Saturday. He scored two tries against Belfast, the second a spectacular runaway effort of 75 yards.

In winning the Malvern Sub-union’s senior competition this season, Darfieid set up an impressive record. The team won all of its 10 matches, scoring 207 points and conceding only 19. Most of the tries were scored by the backs, a hint of the attractive football Darfieid has played. The team was ably led by a former Canterbury forward, S. Mitchell, and the players must have been inspired by the extremely fine full-back play of J. Hotop, the former All Black fiveeighths. Darfieid benefited, too, from a very fine team spirit, and because it always had a full complement of regular players. The Christchurch Bays’ High School fullback, W. Barbarel, is a sports all-rounder. He was a Canterbury representative at Rugby as a primary schoolboy, he has been in the school’s first cricket eleven for the last two seasons, and was captain last season, and he represented the school at hockey last season and the previous season Returning to Rugby this winter, he showed against St. Andrew’s College on Saturday the coolness required in the face of attacks, and he has a long line-kick.

The New-Brlghton-Christ-church game played at Jelllcoe Park on Saturday was marred for many spectators by the constant surging on to the field of other spectators. If a few onlookers do this, the effect becomes cumulative because those behind them are then forced to move further on to the field. A simple barrier could help considerably.

After being played at fullback and at wing with varying success, the Papanui player, R. N. Meaclem. has found his true position at second five-eighths. A strong and determined runner. Meaclem scored the winning try against Sydenham last Saturday.

Playing in the unusual position of left wing for Rangers, K. Olley was a constant danger to the City

defence on Saturday. He has been out of the game for several weeks because of injury, and on Saturday he was favouring a leg for most of the match, but he did not hesitate* to chase the ball for the full 90 minutes.

B. R. Smither and P. G. Bark were a formidable pair of loose forwards for University against Shirley. Their speed and vigour upset the Shirley inside backs. A try came to University when they both caught the first five-eighths. S. Quirk, behind his goalline, They made him drop the ball, for Bark to fall on it for a simple try.

A noteworthy aspect of the recent Culverden Hlgh-Han-mer Springs High School Rugby match was the excellent behaviour of both teams. The coaches of these two teams are to be congratulated on the manner in which their boys played the game. Both teams looked tidy and scarcely a word was spoken throughout the match. The sportsmanship of these lads set a proper standard.

The University prop, G. G. Loveridge, gave an outstanddisplay against Shirley. Time and again he led the University forwards in crashing, surging rushes which kept University on attack for most of the game. Unfortunately, Loveridge received a bad cut on an eye towards the end of the game, but by that time his efforts had ensured that University would win easily.

The dashing display

of inside forward play given at English Park in Saturday’s Rothmans semi-final soccer match by D. McVey did much to atone for his poor showing in the test in Christchurch earlier in the season. McVey’s lacklustre play in the match between New Zealand and New Caledonia did nothing to enhance his reputation, but on Saturday he was always looking for the ball, and scored a good goal when he followed in an earlier shot.

The four senior res-

erve players University brought up for its game against Shirley gave the team good value. A. Beattie and D. P. Gafflkin jumped well in the line-outs; I. Withell hooked swiftly and played well in the loose, and M. 8. R. Smith did some good covering work. Beattie and Withell played some senior games last year, but have not been available for serious Rugby this year because of their studies.

Although he has appeared mainly as a wing three-quarters or a full-back, W. R. James, at first five-eighths for Albion on Saturday, gave the impression that he had occupied the position all season. He contributed to the .smooth operating of the Albion backs, and his leftrfooted cross-kicks were splendidly placed. From one such kick, J. R. Adams scored Albion’s only try.