Sportsman’s Notebook FINAL TRIALS FOR ALL BLACK TEAM

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30214, 20 August 1963, Page 19

Sportsman’s Notebook FINAL TRIALS FOR ALL BLACK TEAM

The 70 players to take part in the final Rugby trials for the All Black team to tour the British Isles will be named on September 7. This was announced by the convener of the New Zealand selection panel (Mr N. J. McPhail) yesterday. Messrs McPhail, J. L. Finlay. and R. G. Bush will watch the Auckand-Waikato Ranfurly Shield match at Auckland on September 7, and they will choose the trial players after the game. Mr McPhail said that the selectors expected to be some time choosing the trial playefs. “When we get down to the final 70 players we have to divide them into four teams and emergencies.” The final All Black trials will be held at Wellington on September 18 and 21. It is expected that the All Black side will be announced at the function after the trials on September 21. ¥ ¥ ¥ Squash Winners In the Christchurch squash rackets lower grade competitions final championship points are:— B grade: Wigram 14, Christchurch A 11, Christchurch B 10, Officers’ Club 9, University A 5, Christ’s College 4, University B 3, Lincoln College 2. C grade: Christchurch A and Christchurch B 12, Junior Chamber 10, University A and Officers’ Club 8, Lincoln College 4, University B 2, Burnham 0. Results in the final rounds were:— B grade: Wigram beat Lincoln College, 4-0; Officers’ Club drew with Christchurch B, eight games ail; Christ's College beat University B. seven games to six; Christchurch A beat University A, 3-1. C grade: Junior Chamber beat Burnham, by default; Christchurch B beat University A, 3-1; Officers' Club beat University B, eight games to six; Christchurch A beat Lincoln College, 4-0. In a play-off for the C grade title Christchurch A and Christchurch B drew with two matches and eight

games each, and these teams share the 1963 championship. ¥ ¥ ¥ Relegation Threat The Sydenham Rugby team, which faces the possibility of a promotion-relegation match with Lincoln College, has kept up an intensive training programrne since the end of the senior competition on August 3. It has played matches against Belfast and Marist and entered two teams in the seven-a-side competition. Also it has enlisted the help of Mr J. G. Rankin, a former Canterbury coach, and a very successful one, to help with the team’s training. ¥ ¥ ¥ Fit Official So much is said about how fit sportsmen or athletes should be that the officials tend to be forgotten. But an example of the condition that referees should be in comes from the second Rugby test between the Springboks and the Wallabies. According to a Reuter message that appeared in British newspapers, the referee (Captain P. A Myburgh) carried a pedometer in his pocket and, during the 80 minutes of Rugby, 11 miles was recorded on the instrument. ¥ ¥ ¥ Veterans’ Club Jogging is not the only sport for all ages used as a method of keeping fit and relaxing. The Canterbury Badminton Association has a president's grade inter-club competition. There are seven teams in the grade and only doubles are played. Timaru has formed a veterans’ club, and has a keen membership of more than 40 In some instances younger members of the family have been the guiding influence Others have taken to the sport for relaxation and exercise. The qualifying age for entrance to the club is 35. Members come from a large cross-section of the community, including doctors, farmers and lawyers. '