Waikato Will Provide Stiff Opposition

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30763, 29 May 1965, Page 11

Waikato Will Provide Stiff Opposition

A FEW years ago it would have been considered ludicrous for Canterbury to have doubts about gaining victory over Waikato in an inter - provincial Rugby League match. Even two years ago, in poor conditions, Canterbury scored five tries to none in a 15-0 victory at Huntly.

When Waikato came to Christchurch last season without its captain, the 1961 Kiwi scrum-half, G. S. Farrar, it was expected that Canterbury would have little trouble in winning. But it struggled to draw 16-16, through a last minute converted try. Waikato was unlucky not to win. Since then Waikato supporters have been waiting in anticipation for the return game at Huntly tomorrow. A litle glamour has been taken from the match by the undistinguished records of the provinces this season.

Canterbury has gained one win from three matches before this afternoon’s match against Auckland, while Waikato, had a win and a loss during the quadrangular tournament at Huntly last week. It lost to Wellington, the winner, 18-10, and beat a vastly improved Northland XIII, 19-11. Waikato will not be easy to beat, particularly as Canterbury will be tired after its match today. Under the coaching of Messrs W. L. O’Callaghan and the former Kiwi, A. Berryman, the code has made great strides in the Waikato.

Canterbury is expected to play its reserves, W. E. Butterfield, P. V. Smith, R. Naish and W. P. Noonan, but this will not weaken the team for all were close to selection for the Auckland match. Much interest will be taken in the 18-year-old Noonan’s hooking duel with D. Parkinson, who is being spoken of as a contender for the tour of Britain.

W. Deacon, the outstanding player in last year’s match against Canterbury and a former schoolboy Kiwi, is expected to have a great tussle with another former schoolboy Kiwi, J. L. White. These two promising young players are expected to advance serious claims for the tour;

Another tussle the national selectors will take particular interest in is that between Farrar and R. S. J. Irvine, the scrum-halves. They met two years ago in an interisland match at Auckland. On that occasion Irvine out-

played the former Kiwi. However, Farrar's three tries against Northland recently could be an ominous sign.

Four other Waikato players have made an impact this season—the Northern XIII centre, W. Whyte, the North Island inside back, E. Burke, the North Island second row forward or prop, J. Puke, and the stand-off half, J. Nicholson who, with Parkinson, shares the goalkicking duties. They, and the other international candidates, will be using the match to help them gain selection for the trials at Auckland next Saturday.

If Waikato beats Canterbury tomorrow then it will have come of age and will be in a position to demand a Northern Union Cup match against Auckland, providing, of course, that Canterbury does not remove the cup today. If that should occur then tomorrow’s game will automatically become a challenge match.