FROM THE SIDE-LINES

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30191, 24 July 1963, Page 13

FROM THE SIDE-LINES

By his display against Christchurch on Saturday, D. Johnston, the Old Boys* first five-eighths, showed himself to be a young back with a bright future in Rugby. He lost nothing in comparison with the All Black, B. A. Watt; he handled the heavy ball splendidly, his passes were swift and accurate and his tackling hard and low. Hjs play still suffers, however, from his penchant for attempting to break through a solid defence from set moves: a commendable aspiration but one which could be more profitably pursued in broken play.

Christchurch City premier soccer XI last Saturday was the right-half, T. Ward. Already the effect of the coaching and example set by his centrehalf, G. Evans, were evident in Ward’s play as he played a major part in his team’s 5-1 victory over New Brighton. * ¥ ¥ Although awarded a good many penalties against Linwood on Saturday, New Brighton scored no points from them. This was not because the goal-kicker was off form—it was because New Brighton was never near enough to the goal posts to even attempt to score from the penalties.

have been scored by the Christchurch senior Rugby League team so far this season the side’s front-row forward and goal-kicker, E. Bennett, has scored 43. This total is even more outstanding when it is considered that he did not take over the goal-kick-ing until the final game in the first round of the championship. Since Bennett took over the kicking —lO games ago—in only one match has he failed to register any points. Bennett is also a very promising forward and has been nominated by Canterbury to take part in the South Island coaching school to be held here next month. * * ¥ The Linwood wing threequarters, R. Havill and G. McConchie both played excellent games against New Brighton on Saturday. Although neither player scored, both made some excellent runs on a difficult surface. They were kept busy with well-placed kicks by their inside backs and by their full-back, F. McCormick. ¥ ¥ ¥ The value of I. Drayton’s goal-kicking to Hornby has never been better illustrated than on Saturday when, for most of the game, he was absent with injury. Before leaving the field Drayton landed a difficult penalty. In his absence several kickers attempted at least 10 shots at goal, most from easy positions, but all missed. So far this season, Drayton has scored 81 points, from 33 goals and five tries. Only P. White (Linwood) has scored more points, with 105. * ¥ ¥ The Rawhiti left-half in the senior women’s hockey competition, A. Rouse, has been her team’s most consistent player this year. On Saturday, against Harewood, she played what was probably her best game this year, and in the afternoon, turned on another excellent performance for the Canterbury B team in its match against Malvern. She is unlucky that the Carlton player, J. Witte, is in such fine form this year and that alone is preventing her from making the Canterbury A team.

L. W. Deady who re- } placed L. Mitchell at full- } back for Merivale after J Mitchell was injured, J played a flawless game J against Suburbs. His clean } handling and long kicking » put Merivale on attack in J the second half but much } of his good work was j wasted by the reluctance of j the Merivale backs to run j and pass when they were j in attacking positions. ; ¥ ¥ ¥ ... •

» The Marist centre, D. ; Bell, looked an accom- ! plished player against Uni- I versity. He did not have $ many chances on attack but } what ball came his way was { used well and he made one } good break from which the } wing nearly scored. The { score in the match may } have been much closer if * Marist had placed more » faith in its outside backs. ; ¥ ¥ ¥ A fine performance was 5 given on Saturday by the ! Harewood women's hockey i team’s captain and centre- J half, L. Watson. In earlier { games this year, she has J shown a tendency to J

wander out of position and « crowd her wing-halves, J but now seems to have » cured this fault. Against ; Rawhiti she exerted a » tight control on the mid- i field and was the out- ! standing player on the « field.