Sportsman's Notebook Players Know It’s Now Up To Them

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30121, 3 May 1963, Page 5

Sportsman's Notebook Players Know It’s Now Up To Them

By naming four teams and nine reserves for the season’s first soccer trials on May 12, the sole Canterbury selector (Mr V. Smith) has revealed, more than he could have done in any other way, the present position of the game in Christchurch. There is neither a wealth of talent nor a poverty of good players at his disposal, and to have narrowed the choice down to two teams would have presented a considerable headache. With the wisdom of a Solomon, Mr Smith has, in the circumstances, taken the easy and more profitable way out. He has given 53 players (for room will be found in the trials for the reserves, either through players dropping out or substitutions during the games) the incentive to strive for a Canterbury place and has indirectly told them that it is now up t# them. From the first trial two teams will be selected (Canterbury v. The Rest) for the second trial on May 26. The rich reward for those finally chosen will be the English Cup matches at Auckland and Wellington over Queen’s Birthday week-end, and a consolation prize, a place in the Canterbury XI to play Nelson in Christchurch that week-end. for 11 others. ¥ ¥ ¥

One Experiment

Mr Smith has allowed himself the privilege of making one far-sighted experiment. In the No. 1 team he has chosen 11 young players (several of whom have won their spurs) without an older, experienced player to guide and prompt them, as J. Frost does for Western and •G. Donaldson for Nomads. Included in this side is probably the youngest player ever to be chosen for a Canterbury trial, 15-year-old F. Madrussen, of Technical Old Boys.

A pupil at Xavier College, one of the few high schools in Christchurch not playing soccer, the Italian-born Madrussen has all the makings of an outstanding footballer. In spite of his youth, he has distinguished himself in the premier div-

Lsion this season for his strength, purpose and the progress he has made in every match. The trial teams include four players new to Christchurch soccer this season—

T. Stacey (New Brighton), R. Strieker, D. Salisbury (Shamrock) and J. Bezant ’Waterside). Stacey is a former senior amateur player in England; Strieker was a Dutch under-20 international last season: Salisbury is a former Auckland player; and Bezant played for the Nelson representative side last year. ¥ ¥ ¥ Talent In Goal In only one of the 11 positions Mr Smith must finally fill does his problems err on the right side—the goalkeeper. He has chosen five —D. Chapman, D. Smith, N. Clarke. K. Flintham and I. Cruikshank—and if there was such a wealth of talent competing for the other 10 positions as this quintuplet provides. Canterbury would have a team second to none in New Zealand. The final choice of a centre-forward—a key position that troubled Canterbury last season—is again likely to be the biggest worry. Five players are on trial, Bezant, Strieker, M. Clements, B. Rumtboid and D. Ennis. Of these, Ennis has been appearing at insideforward, Cements has played only once this season, and Rumbold was at halfback for City last Saturday. Unless one of these players reveals outstanding form in the trials, Mr Smith may be forced to so some more juggling among his insideforwards to find the answer. The 53 players comprise 10 each from Western and Technical, eight from Shamrock, seven each from Nomads and City, four each from New Brighton and Rangers, and one each from University, Waterside and High School 0.8. ¥ ¥ ¥ Squash Rackets Last season the Christchurch squash rackets club held a successful one-day event as a prelude to the season’s tuorn-aments. With another busy programme this year to be climaxed by the New Zealand championships in Christchurch, this Sunday of concentrated squash—on May 26 limited to 24 entries —will again be a valuable aid to leading players in reaching match fitness. September 12 to 17 have been confirmed as the dates for the national titles. Other dates for tournaments . in Christchurch are: Christchurch closed championships, June 17-21; Canterbury open titles, during the week-end beginning July 5. The Timaru club will hold the South Canterbury championships on August 9 to 11, and the South Island titles will "be contested from August 23 to 25. The May newsletter of the Christchurch club, which now has a larger membership than any other in New Zealand, comments that its present three courts have never been so busy. and this season seems certain to be most active and successful. Friday, May 31, has been set as the date for the opening of the club’s new court, and generally improved facilities, which it is evident will prove a considerable asset to the gtone in Christchurch.