Three Changes In League 13

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30736, 28 April 1965, Page 19

Three Changes In League 13

(By our Rugby League reporter.)

Canterbury has made three changes in its Rugby League team to play the West Coast at the Addington Show Grounds on Saturday.

B. W. Langton. J. L. White and I. T. Drayton—all of ; whom were unavailable for the match against the Southern XIII on Easter Monday—have replaced J. Hawthorne. T. L. Bisman and B. T. Barron. The team is: P. J. Tongue (Hornby). R. O. Moffat (Hornby), B. W. Langton (Hornby). P. V. Smith (Marist). C. C. Preece (Sydenham): J. A. Bond (Papanui. captain), R. S. J. Irvine (Marist): J. L. White (Addington): J. A. Flanagan (Linwood). 1. T. Drayton (Hornby): M. H. Mohi (Papanui), J. H. Fisher (Addington), E. J. Tavendale (Papanui).

The return of Langton should give the back-line

more penetration. He has been running strongly for Hornby this season and should combine well with his dependable centre partner. Smith.

White will be expected to play the open game that he displayed for the Southern XIII. His experience as a back will stand him in good i stead and he has the build

and the speed to go further in the code. He will be a valuable man on the Auckland-Waikato tour next month becai se of his versatility. With Canterbury’s present scarcity of strong centres there is no reason why White could not be given a trial in the backs. At present Drayton is a question mark in New Zea-

land Rugby League. Having made his test debut last year he must shake off his injuryproneness and concentrate on retaining his place against Australia and consolidating his prospects of selection for the British tour. He has power, speed and a 50-yard place-kick. Fisher passed a fitness test last evening and will take over the hooking berth from the injured Barron. Fisher hooked quite well for the Kiwis in Australia and. with New Zealand's need of a good second-string hooker for the British tour, he could bring himself back into line for national honours. On the whole the Canterbury pack looks stronger than that which proved so ineffective against the Southern XIII. In addition. G. H. Turner is likely to be fit for the match against New South Wales Country on May 15 and has been training with the team.

The other injured player. J. M. Bray, is at present resting his thigh. It is hoped that he will be fit for the remaining fixtures. i