TOURISTS FAVOURED

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31071, 28 May 1966, Page 19

TOURISTS FAVOURED

(By Our Ruyby League Reporter.)

Although its chances of victory are considered slim, the Canterbury Rugby League team can be expected to give a creditable performance against the New South Wales Country side at the Show Grounds tomorrow.

The pack has been strengthened after the disappointing performance against West Coast at Greymouth last month. One of the country’s strongest running forwards, M. H. Mohi, and his able supporting partner, W. A. Flavell, have been included to provide more attack.

Each forward has been selected to do a particular job. Mohi and Flavell are expected to be able to burst through the opposing defence; J. L. White, in addition to his fine running, will have much work on cover defence; W. P. Noonan will need to win at least half of the scrums: and W. E. Butterfield and J. H. Fisher are the tight forwards.

The Canterbury back-line probably would work around the captain, P. M. V. White. However, the tourists have strong centres and any defensive lapses by White or B. W. Langton would be fatal. Reports of the Northland match indicate that the Country side has once more been plagued by penalties in the scrums.

Northland’s three goalkickers missed seven attempts and White will need the same accuracy he showed at Greymouth. In the corresponding match last year Canterbury’s 10 points came from penalties.

One of the personality players is expected to be the former State wing, R. Horne,

who scored two tries against Northland. He is both fast and strong. If G. Moran plays against Canterbury at stand-off half the combined ages of the opposing stand-offs will be 37. Moran is 18, one year younger than R. Raistrick, and played elusively in the first match. One of the lightest of international forwards, T. J. Pannowitz, the Country and Australian loose forward, weighs only 12st. Only 21, Pannowitz can tear a defence to pieces and is fast enough to cover his wings from the scrum.

The second Kangaroo, A. F. Buman, may again find interpretations of the hooking laws vary between the two countries.

His Newcastle team-mate, R. Johnson, proved the most penetrative forward against Northland and, with his goalkicking second-row partner, N. Nott, caused panic in the Northland defence.

New South Wales Country will play Auckland this afternoon, but the harshness of the itinerary should not worry the players. They travel hundreds of miles to matches in country districts of New South Wales and will find two matches in as many days nothing new. Canterbury will need to win sufficient ball in the scrums, strengthen its defence from set play and use the goal-kicking of White to hold the tourists.

Canterbury has an attractive back-line; New South Wales Country has, as always, brilliant young players. The game promises to be similar to that of last year which overshadowed the international match against Australia.