Few Important Gains For Christchurch Rugby Clubs

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31028, 6 April 1966, Page 15

Few Important Gains For Christchurch Rugby Clubs

TT has been a barren year x for Christchurch Rugby clubs as far as gaining players is concerned. Only two relatively well-known players, the Barber brothers from North Otago, have moved to Christchurch and their presence is off-set by the loss of M. R. Dunne and D. J. Graham and quite a large number of senior players. On paper Christchurch with its near-representative back-line and useful forwards will probably start as favourite for the senior championship with University A, Lincoln College and Linwood as the most likely challengers. The addition of the Barber brothers, the North Otago representative forwards, to the Christchurch pack will help solve one problem that has plagued Christchurch in recent years—lack of forwards able to ensure a reasonable amount of possession for the speedy backline.

A back-line which includes G. Waterreus, W. M. Birtwistle, D. A. Arnold, and B. A. Watt would grace any provincial team and should be one of the major attrac-

tions of the club season. K. King, who played for Air Force last season and was included in the Town squad, has joined the club and he probably will be the senior half-back in place of E. R. Conder. K. Olsen, a former Wairarapa representative who showed good form as a flanker in early season matches last year but missed most of the season because of a broken ankle, is playing again, but the side has lost A. J. Leslie. Sydenham will have the advantage of starting the season match-fit after its tour of Australia. This young team which produced quite good Rugby last season will have much the same side. Its forwards, led by A. Jolley, J. King. J. Tucker and A. Massie, will be light but very determined and vigorous. University A will certainly not be fielding the juggernaut pack of previous seasons. Dunne, its most powerful and experienced forward, has gone to Australia and it seems likely that the locks will be R. Field and W. Garlick, who played in the under-19 grade last season. R. Mahan, L. B. O’Reilly and D. Wilson will probably be the loose forwards with

B. R. Smither, now out of retirement, playing in the B side.

The durable prop, G. G. Loveridge, has retired but there is some compensation in the return to Christchurch of another prop, A. W. Davies, who captained the B side in 1964.

The probable A team backline will be a formidable one with R. C. Moreton, L. S. Taiaroa, D. C. Leary and R. J. Vivian the best known of the players. P. D. Carter, an accomplished three-quar-ter, has suffered an illness but has begun training again. Either B. McLean or B.R. Prestidge should be first fiveeighths wth the odds slightly in favour of McLean because of his ability to feed his outside backs more quickly. The former All Black, Mr J. T. Fitzgerald, will coach the A team again and C. R. Hockley wil act as playercoach for the B side.

Old Boys, last year one of the most attractive sides in the senior grade, has suffered a high number of losses. Six of its forward pack will not be available this season. D. Dailey, D. Hill, I. M. Telfer, C. Turpin, D. J. Graham and D. Mather will be missing from the pack and M. O’Malley from the backs. Graham’s decision to retire has been a blow to the club, particularly with so many others leaving. The promising T. Mehrtens, who played for the Junior All Blacks last season, may, unfortunately, not have a chance to show his undoubted abilities because he will be playing behind a relatively weak forward pack; and the same will apply to A. G. Steel on the wing. Messrs R. G. Cochrane and P. Davies will be the jointcoaches. Lincoln College has lost D. C. Elvidge, its captain last season, but has retained

the representative players F. Eggleton and W. J. Thompson. Once again Lincoln will field a strong pack but will have the same problem as last season of a lack of penetration in mid-field. Shirley will field much the same side as last season with its sound pack and young backs. W. Flavell, the burly Maori No. 8, has changed to Rugby league and although it was rumoured that J. Toki also was turning to league he was at the club’s opening day. R. Grenfell, last year’s captain has retired and J. Rudd, a hard-running wing will be playing for Teachers’ College. Belfast, a team which showed great improvement last year not only in results but in- the standard of its Rugby will again have the advantage of the former All Black, Mr J. Hotop, as coach.

K. Simpkins, W. Richardson and W. Kitson, who had come to the club from Dunedin, have all left for teaching positions in other centres. However. Belfast has gained R. Hickey, a promising centre from Union, Dunedin, R. Edy, a lock who played senior in Nelson and P. Rangi, a three-quarter who played for Te Aute College. R. Holt and C. Cassidy, former senior players who spent a year in the junior grade last season have returned to the senior ranks. Suburbs has gained two Dunedin senior players, D. Moultrie, a forward, and W. Mason, a back. R. Barrell who played several games for Linwood on the wing has joined also. M. Moran, a senior forward two years ago has returned from Massey College. Once again Suburbs main strength will be in its backs which inelude the Canterbury pair, L. J. Davis and W. D. Cottrell, L. Cottrell, P. Carlsen and P. Gerrard.

Marist will field a heavy pack and sound backs but it has lost its best scoring player, B. M. Teen, who is now in Timaru. J. F. Burns, an outstanding line-out player, will be a force in the pack which will be led by O. J. Stopforth, last year’s captain. T. L. Hannan, a most consistent five-eighths will have the added responsibility of having some young players in the back-line. R. Mains and W. Rewai, two of the backs which helped Albion give some sprightly performances last season have left the club, but the back-line still should be a formidable one with W. Flewellyn, J. R. Adams, R. J. Phelan and A. C. Harrison.

However, the forwards may not complement the ability of the backs. The loss of last year’s captain, M. Grant, is a serious one and the pack will again be rather light. A. Mansfield, consistently one of the best loose forwards in Christchurch Rugby has retired and he will be a loss for Linwood for he has generated much of the fire that has been the characteristic of the Linwood pack in recent years. Otherwise Linwood has not changed much, as usual it will have a lively pack and quick-thinking backs who will have behind them W. F. McCormick. New Brighton has had few changes. The durable halfback, G. A. Stanley, will again be a key man in the back-line and much this year is expected from the robust second five-eighths, D. Beardsley. The Canterbury No. 8, I. H. Penrose, will lead the forwards which again will be a vigorous eight including D. Dalton, B. Bowick. R. Claxton, Duke and D Commons. Losses are the becks, M. Dick, T. Bodger, and in the forwards, the flanker, E. Leask.

A valuable gain for Meri-vale-Papanui is the former Merivale senior back, T. Toomey, who has returned from the West Coast. R. Pirie, a brother of the Canterbury hooker, D. Pirie, will be the full-back, while contenders for places in the backs are P. Consedine, B. Leadbetter, from Otago, and D. McLaughlan. J. M. Taylor, a second five-eights, has joined Teachers’ College.