Addington, Not Marist, Warranted Promotion

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30499, 22 July 1964, Page 19

Addington, Not Marist, Warranted Promotion

IBy Our Rugby League Correspondent] The Addington Rugby League club must be wondering just what it had to do to gain selection for the top section, to playoff for the Masetti Cup and the championship.

On Monday evening the Canterbury Rugby League board of control decided to promote Marist to the higher section although Addington has twice beaten Marist this season.

In addition, Addington has a much better record to unpredictable Marist’s which became Kaiapoi’s first victim last Saturday. Yet the board has promoted Marist and given no reason for doing so. The records speak for themselves. Addington has scored 101 points and conceded 105: Marist has the miserable total of 57 points from seven matches and conceded 73.

In the two matches they have met, Addington has scored four tries and 18 points and Marist one try in its 11 points. In the Tavendale Cup round Addington finished ahead of Marist. A full Marist team could probably acquit itself reasonably well against Papanui, Christchurch and Hornby (the other three promoted teams) but the side that will take the field against these combinations will be far from impressive.

Marist’s tactics centre around its representatives, R. S. J. Irvine, J. D. M. Walshe and M. Mohi. But Irvine will not play for another three or four weeks because of broken ribs: Walshe will transfer to Dunedin in the near future

and Mohi has a knee injury. A former representative, J. B. Kennedy, may not play again this season because of an injured shoulder. Marist has not always played the type of football that is expected of a club with such a talented back line. Admittedly, injuries have not been a help but this could be offered as another argument in Addington’s favour. The fact that it can field practically the same team each week has helped Addington to play better football and has developed a better combination.

the most promising team of the two and it is unfortunate that young players such as D. McCosh, M. Wyn and M. J. Worters will not receive the constant hard opposition that would develop their play. Marist has stubbornly kept to its senior squad throughout the season, even to the extent of playing forwards in positions that should be filled by backs drawn from its reserve team.

This is the primary reason for a reserve grade and unless it does use these players in their correct positions it will be completely outclassed in the top division.

Addington Is undoubtedly