LEADERS NOT IN DANGER

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31077, 4 June 1966, Page 19

LEADERS NOT IN DANGER

Christchurch and Linwood should have little difficulty maintaining their joint leadership of the senior Rugby competition today, in spite of losing players to the Town v. Country match.

Old Boys poor record in recent weeks is unlikely to be improved at the expense of Linwood as Old Boys have contributed most players to the Town team. Without M. J. Millar, the forwards are unlikely to hold the Linwood pack.

Christchurch will also be depleted but should carry too many guns for Belfast. The match between Sydenham and University A should

be a close one, and on recent form Sydenham must start as slight favourites, although the loss of A. Jolley will reduce the performance of its pack. University B’s forwards should be enough to ensure victory against Suburbs but this, too, may be a close result.

Shirley would have been favoured to defeat MerivalePapanui if the two sides had met earlier in the season but Merivale’s greatly improved form during the last two weeks, if it continues, will confound Shirley, which has not been particularly consistent.

Albion should be too strong, fore and aft, for a Marist team with J. F. Burns on the side-line, while the New Brighton pack looks more likely than Lincoln College’s. However, the Lincoln backs have yet to realise their full potential and this could be an excellent match.