Town-Country Match Has Added Importance

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30769, 5 June 1965, Page 11

Town-Country Match Has Added Importance

TN some years the annual Town-Country match has been rather a formal affair acting as a gentle introduction to Canterbury’s representative Rugby season. But this year there will be a strongly competitive atmosphere about the game. For the last few years Country has given Town some close tussles and this year there will be the added incentive that the match will serve as an important trial for the Canterbury team and also will be watched by the South Island Rugby selectors. Usually the match has resolved into a contest between the tough Country forwards and the polished Town backs and Monday’s match will be no exception. Last year Country provided five regular players for the Canterbury pack but no backs. But in recent seasons the Country backs have been showing a greater sophistication in their back play and the disparity between them and the Town backs is not so marked now. Country will field a fine pack. It has three excellent

loose forwards, F. Meyer, N. G. Cornelius and A. Wyllie; a powerful lock in A. J. Hopkinson and a sound front row which includes J. M. Le Lievre. Le Lievre this season has shown some of the fire that

gained him All Black selection in 1963 and with him leading the pack, Country can be expected to show its typical driving play and rugged foot rushes. The Town forwards will find it hard to match Country in the tight but with R. M. Wainohu, D. E. Snow and D. J. Graham in the loose it is just as formidable as Country. The Town Backs have two new players, the three-quar-ters, R. J. Vivian and A. G. Steel, but they are by no means tyros and the rest of the back-line is very experienced. If they can be given sufficient quick and clean possession the Town backs could be the vital factor in Town winning. Vivian, W. M. Birtwistle and Steel are a speedy three-quarter line

and in D. A. Arnold, Town has a potent attacking weapon. If L. J. Davis and B. A. Watt can combine to give these players attacking opportunities some excellent Rugby should be seen.

But irrespective of the result, this match will be very important for Canterbury Rugby this season. Good individual displays will be needed if Canterbury is going to face the coming representative season with confidence. After the Town-Country match Canterbury will play only two matches before it meets the Springboks on July 24. Players who do not play well on Monday might find themselves left out in spite of reputations to the contrary.