RUGBY YOUTH

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30154, 11 June 1963, Page 19

RUGBY YOUTH

Lewis Alexander, a prop forward for Belfast in the sst B grade, set his fellow forwards a fine example with his non-stop performance on Saturday. Christopher Allen, a lock in the New Brighton Marist's under sst 71b B team, has shown considerable improvement since the start of the season. Kevin Barry, a wing in the same team, is learning to make good use of his pace. This side has won four of its five games so far. Although his side suffered its first defeat, the Christchurch under 6st A captain, John Morris, gave his forwards a notable lead against Burnside. He was quick to the ball, and was able on mor? than one occasion to turn defence into attack.

A half-back of promise is Bevan -Philiipson, in the Merivale uder 6st 71b B team. On Saturday he gave a good service, and he kicked effectively. T. Cobum was always one of the first to the ball in the Sumner-Hornby game in the under 6st 71b B grade. A flank forward for Summer,

Coburn's persistent pursuit of the ball gave him a fine try. Christchurch was beaten for the first time in the under 6st A grade on Saturday, largely through the efforts of a fine Burnside pack. All the Burnside forwards played with spirit, with R. Moir, one of the flankers, perhaps a little better than the rest. Sharing the lead with the Christchurch A team in the under-18 Rugby competition this year is the Linwood A team. This Linwood team has a competent back-line which has functioned very well in ail of its games this year. An interesting game • should result when these two teams meet again. Their first clash resulted

in a non-scoring draw. Malcolm Neilson, a flanker in the Sydenham under sst 71b B team, -is an honest trier who gave a good display against New Brighton Marist. Another flanker of promise is Timothy Davis in the Cathedral Grammar School’s under sst B team. A diligent hunter of the ball, he never let up when his side lost to Belfast on Saturday. The school centre, Malcolm Stewart, tackled well and ran with determination.

Although he was on the losing side. John Stapleton, of the Cathedral Grammar School team was probably the hardest trier on the field in his team's match with New

Brighton in the under sst 71b B grade Stapleton, at first five-eighths, tackled well and was one of the few to handle i wet ball confidently. One of the best tries in the Marist-Sydenham match in the under sst. 71b competition was scored by Keith Hart. After some very determined runs for Marist, Hart was rewarded with a try after he had run half the length of the field. In 1943, Mr T. Dixon began coaching lowergrade Rugby for the Christchurch club. He is now in his twentieth year as a coach and in the intervening years he has coached all grades, from sst 71b upwards. This year he has the Christchurch A under-18 team in his

care. He is assisted in the task by Mr D. M. Jones, a Canterbury representative five-eighths in 1943, 1947, 1948, and, 1949. In the Junior B competition this year, Suburbs has been to the fore. Two players of considerable promise are the first five-eighths, J. Douglas, and the centre threequarter, D. Reeves. In his first two games this year Reeves scored 32 points. Another player in the same team who has played competently this season is the full-back, K. Glennie. The Christchurch A under--18 team has a smart-looking back line. Its win over Linwood B on Saturday was crisp and business-like. The first five-eighths, D. Jones, is a very sound pivot in a good back-line and kicks well both tactically and at goal. Bruce Wright, hooker for the Suburbs 6st 71b A team, has showin marked improvement throughout this season and continued to show it on Saturday. Ritchie Pottinger, full-back for Hornby under 6st 71b B, showed efficient defence on Saturday and continues to improve with creditable length in his kicking. A team with an inter-

esting background of continuity in its playing

strength is the Suburbs * under 6st 71b A side. Most of its members have played together since they

were at kindergarten and have been closely associated in Rugby throughout the last four years. They won the under sst 71b grade last year and were the runners-up the year before. The side has also been beaten once only in competition games during the last three years.

A player showing promise is Steven Syme, who scored a well-deserved try on the wing for the Burnside under 6st A team against Christchurch.

Chris Greenaway, full-back for Christchurch under 6st 71b A, played creditably behind the losing side and coped well against an aggressive pack of Burnside forwards on Saturday.

Five members of the Suburbs under sst 71b team which won their grade seven-a-side tournament at Kaiapoi on Queen's Birthday. were also in the under sst team which won the shield at the same tournament last vear They were: I. Sheridan. G. Pearce, D Palmer. K. Leigh, and K. Griffiths. The final match this year was very close. Suburbs winning 3-0 against Shirley, after playing extra time. The team is also doing well in club competitions.