RUGBY YOUTH

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30528, 25 August 1964, Page 7

RUGBY YOUTH

Surely one of the finest records in any grade this year must be held by the Albion under 7st 71b team, which made no race of its competition by winning each of its 16 games. The team, which is coached by Mr 0. G. Oakley and is the first Albion team to win the competition for three years, scored 349 points—including 91 tries—and conceded only 42. Mr Oakley said that he had only 12 boys at the beginning of the season but now has 20 in his squad and has never had fewer than 17 at training. The team’s fine record is due to attention to the fundamentals, particularly tackling. Four of the boys won places in the Canterbury under 7st 71b team which played the Country under Bst 71b side. They were Peter Le Lievre (half-back), captain both of Albion and the representative team, Peter Wells (full-back), Barry Livermore (prop), and Matenga Williams (first five-eighths).

Ken Knight, a wing having his first season of Rugby, was the fastest boy in the side and scored 69 points. Other heavy scorers were Wells (83), Le Lievre (66), G. Joseph (42) and P. Le Beau (21).

The Christchurch Boys’ High School first fifteen played 18 games this season and won them all—the first time the school's top team has achieved the perfect record since 1940. In these matches, which included competition and inter-school games, the team scored 407 points and conceded only 61. Opposing teams scored only six tries, the school team 79.

It was very much a team effort which brought about this fine record, but for all that, very . much credit belonged to the captain and full-back, B. R. Spear. A big boy—6ft 2in and 14st 101b—he showed remarkable ability at goal-kicking. Last year Spear scored 115 points for the first fifteen. This season, his tally was 183—42 conversions, 26 penalty goals, a field goal, and six tries. He played in 17 of the 18 matches.

The outstanding back in Saturday’s games in the annual quadrangular tournament was undoubtedly the Christ’s College second fiveeighths, N. R. Armstrong. He drop-kicked a lovely goal in the first minutes of the match against Wanganui Collegiate and followed up immediately by cutting through brilliantly and scoring without a hand being laid on him. With the

score 6-all and Christ’s College attacking desperately, he again gathered a loose ball to run around under the posts.

A player to watch in the future will undoubtedly be the big Wellington College lock, S. L. Letica. As well as obtaining a large share of ball from number two in the lineouts, his general all-round play was outstanding. He used his weight to advantage and his barging runs always spelt danger to the opposition. His try on Saturday, the result of one of his typical crashing runs, was a richly deserved effort.