Balance Of Power Stable In Rugby

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30094, 30 March 1963, Page 9

Balance Of Power Stable In Rugby

TVJE balance of power in * senior club Rugby has not been stated much by the eottata and goings of players, judging from reports of. the present strength of the 12 senior clubs. Christchurch, University and Linwood—which have been the leading teams for the last few years—promise to field strong teams again and dubs which have languished in the middle or the bottom of the senior competition have not made great gains, although Marist, through trie acquisition of some experienced players, could recapture some of its former prowess. Linwood’s biggest problem will be how to fill adequately the lode position

left vacant by last season’s captain, R. S. Abd, wfho has transferred to Napier. The (half-back, G. H. Nicholson, who is in Southland, is the only other loss from the 1962 team.

W. F. McCormick and D. R. Stephen, the Canterbury players, will give strength to the backs. R. Tabb, A. G. Mansfield, A. M. Holland, D. Couch and I. Foubister all likely to gain places in the scrum and N. Karauria and H. Stuart are others with prospects. Changes of personnel in the Mari* side have been many. Last season’s captain and hooker, K. J. O’Shannessey, has transferred to Auckland, J. Guerin is in Australia, and the representative prop, B. R. Mann

is not available. The fiveeighths, J. G. McCort. has followed has fellow back, 3. Hutchinson, into retirement.

T. N. McAra, the West Coast and South Island flveeighths, T. N. Curias, the Counties wing or infield back, and P. C. Angland, the South Canterbury back row forward, E. Ward, a prop from Dunedin, and B. Connolly, a full-back from Ashburton are new players.

Christchurch will field a team capable of playing its usual attractive Rugby. C. Devine and W. R. McCallum have retired and R. M. Smith is unlikely to play this year. C. L. Mitchell a former Manawatu and New Zealand Universities player, will fill one of the positions on the wing vacated by Devine and Smith and, of course, the potentially brilliant combination of B, A Watt and D Arnold will provide the thrust in the inside backs. The Christchurch pack will not be a heavy one, but ft will be mobile. M. J. Murtagh and D. EMnson, both Canterbury representatives wiH be on the ride of the scrum. University will again field a very strong senior side but its lower grades may not have the strength of recent years. B. P. J.

B. P. J. MOLLOY

Molloy will coach the senior team and he will have a wealth of talent to call on. The only players missing from last year's championship team are P. G. Bark

and A. T. Calder, toe half back, although D. J. Davison may play bis Rugby in MidCanterbury this season. Newcomers to the club include C. Maguire, an Otago sprint champion, and A. Coleman a former Canterbury and New Zealand Universities five-eights. P. A. Hutchison, also a former Canterbury and Universities player, may turn out again.

High School Old Boys probably have the greate* number of changes of any senior team. P. J. Morrissey, G. H. Bradley, A Bradbury. S. Mitchell and G. Kirkland

are not available. M. O. O’Malley, a very promising back and S. K. Henderson—turning out again—will be toe nucleus of toe back line and R. Young, an experienced player, probably will be half-back. The forwards, led by D. J. Graham, will be light, but I. H. Plummer will return to toe front row where he will be a major assett. However, Old Boys will field strong lower grades this season and the club's policy of allowing its young players to mature should pay off by toe end of toe season.

The Belfast senior side has not lost any players or gained any. However, club officials expect an improved Showing from the team. Last year eight of toe team came from toe under 20 grade and after a year's experience in toe senior grade toe team should be able to test most club sides.

The Suburbs captain, E. Hern, has retired, and he will be a big loss, for he capably led the young senior team la* year. The Suburbs senior ride will again be youthful but it is expected to improve its record of last year when it looked one of toe most promising teams in the senior grade.. Albion, a team that always endeavoured to play open Rugby last season, will fallow the same policy this year. It has loot R. W. Parkes and B. Clarke from its pack but will field almost toe same back line which played such attractive Rugby last year. R. Fleming, a former Canterbury B representative will coach toe team. Albion also expec’s to be stronger in the open grades than last year and will field an experienced senior reserve side. Merivale has gained two players—J. Sampson, a senior back from Wellington and J. Maguire a forward from Duntroon Military College. The senior side should again be fairly strong but may lack big and experienced forwards. The backs though, with L. McCaughan at first fiveeigtih, should be a good attacking force. H. C. Burry may not play for New Brighton—a serious

loss to a' team which hopes to improve on its fourth placing. The club has not gained any prominent players but wiM again field a fit determined side. Sydenham will not have many changes from the aide which only had a moderate season last year. J. Whitehead. a threequarter. and University sprint champion will be playing again which will strengthen toe back line. But in common with many other senior sides. Sydenham lacks heavy forwards. The experienced D. Young will captain the Shirley team which has not been altered much from la* year. Always a sound side. Shirley expects to introduce some of its promising young players to senior Rugby and hopes for a successful season.