FROM THE SIDE-LINES

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30155, 12 June 1963, Page 13

FROM THE SIDE-LINES

After an indifferent display in the previous match, L. MeCaughan, the Merivaie first five-eighths, played well against Bel-

fast on Saturday. His running was hard and straight, and he was up with play throughout the game. His sharpness on attack was largely responsible for the two tries scored by his team. ★ One of the most important factors in the early success of the> University senior hockey team this season was the dribbling and penetrative ability of A. Read at inside-right. Although his upright style has not been helpful to trapping and passing, Read has shown outstanding control of the ball in his dribbling and his posture has at least increased his speed. Read is at his best when moving forward with the ball, and he requires space for his operations, which means that he is essentially at his best in the inside-right lane. He has proved to be the most decisive and penetrating forward in a reasonably successful team ★ It was unfortunate for B. J. Shir law, the twelfth - ranked Canterbury player, that he had to default his first-round match in the Christchurch squash rackets championships, at present in progress, because of illness. Shirlaw, earlier in the season, could not play for some time because of an injury from which he has now recovered. ★ In the eight rounds played so far in the senior Rugby competition, 164 tries have been scored compared with 171 at the same stage last season. Christchurch, with 28, and University, with 23. have scored most tries. At the bottom of the list is Belfast with five. The leading individual try-scorer is the Christchurch wing, W. Birtwistle, with 10.

One phase of play in which Christchurch was much superior to University in the match last Saturday was la its effective use of the tap penalty to start an attacking movement Christchurch was awarded 13 penalties to five, and it made good use of most of them to move the ball quickly along the back-line, rather than kick for touch and confine play to the forwards. If good backs for some positions have been hard to find in recent years, fullbacks have not been short nationally, provincially or ait dub level. Evidence; of this was given again at Rugby Park when all

four full-backs W. F. McCormick (Linwood), B. Connolly (Marist), A D. Aldersley (Old Boys) and A. C. Harrison (Albion)— gave fine displays of positional play, fielding, line kicking, general defence and sometimes attack. All except Aldersley, who is not his side's kicker, failed with a number of kicks at goal. ★ The fifth goal-kicker tried by the senior Marist Rugby League side this season proved to be quite successful when he was given a chance last Saturday. He was the representative half-back, R. Irvine. Besides being an accurate goal-kicker. Irvine has proved to be a dangerous attacking player, while on defence he cannot be faulted. His low tackling of men much bigger than himself is a lesson to other senior players. If he can tidy up his play around the scrum, Irvine should prove a very reliable halfback for the representative side this season. ★ When Sydenham was desperately needing points in the second half against Suburbs, A. D. Coleman, the Sydenham first fiveeighths, had the misfortune to see both of his dropkick attempts hit a poet and bounce back into play.

The Nomads inolderight, D. Knots was aecotnpanied on to the field by bls year-old son. drees- 1 ed In shirt, shorts and boots, before the match against New Brighton at < English Park. Young i Ennis proved a valuable club mascot: Nomads held out with IS men to draw I 1-1 and win the Burley 1 Shield soccer champion- I ship with two rounds still to play. The youngster kicked a ball almost as big as himself and was then carried to the side- 1 line. But he was not for- 1 gotten. When father Ennis ’ sliced a free-kick yards J wide of the goal, he was told: “Let your son take it next time.*' 1 < ★ ' • Although Christchurch 1 gained little possession from the line-outs in its match against University, it still managed to nullify much of the ball gained by the University forwards by its effective smothering. But the tactic generally used at the end of the lineout by Christchurch—coming round into the University side of the line-out —could prove an expensive gamble if employed w+th a referee who pays more attention to line-out details. ★ The return of J. Young to the Western defence ' after injury gave the team . a mid-field solidity it has been missing in recent matches. Young, whose injured leg cost him the chance of playing for Can- . terbury in the English ' Trophy matches at Auck-

land and Wellington, was a constant nuisance to Shamrock’s forwards, his determined tackling and quick interceptions breaking up numerous dangerous movements. An attacking player cun easily be fooled by Young’s deceptive appearance. He plays within himself until the ball is in his area and then he tackles with a singel minded determination that is not often denied possession.

A player who cun go into retirement for five years and then emerge as her team’s beat forward is something race in women’s hockey. However, that is the achievement erf the Digby’s inside-left, M. Mcfrrta, who, art times this year, has carried the whole at her forward line on her shoulders. ★ C. Cameron < Belfast) and L. Mitebell (Merrvaie) were oppoemg centre three-queriens tn a senior Rugby game on Saturday. Their greatest contribution to the game was in their goal-kicking. They each kicked two goals, and they both kicked with surprising force and distance. ★

bn the grim battle for supremacy between University and Rawhiti. the two leading teams in the senior women's hockey competition, no player stood out more than the University centre-half, S. M. Comer. Mine Comer was as heavily marked as anyone Ln the game—probably more so—but none could ourb her brilliance or prevent her from leading her team out of trouble time after time. ★ An incident in tbs match between Marist and Linwood at Bagby Park drew a shocked and voluble reaction from Marist supporters. Watching a scrum on the far side of the ground, the referee had the backs behind him. The crowd waiched a Linwood back move far over the advantage line when the referee suddenly blew his whistle sharply, his arm signifying a penalty to Linwood for an infringement al ths scrum. When he turned round the Unwood player had moved back on side.