Lion Runs Into Post

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31091, 21 June 1966, Page 17

Lion Runs Into Post

There was trouble for both the Lions and the New Zealand Universities’ teams when they held training runs yesterday afternoon.

At Lancaster Park, the Lions centre, C. McFadyean, ran into a while trying to complete a complicated back movement, and at Lincoln College, the Universities’ centre, K. J. Prain, seemed to pull a hamstring and stopped sharply after a brisk run by the University backs. McFadyean, one of the successes of the tour, will have treatment for an injured Teg muscle, but no decision on his fitness will be made until today. Prain’s injury was not quite so decisive, but he also will have treatment today.

There was a sparse crowd at Lancaster Park to watch the Lions.

After the usual warm-up exercises the team divided into backs and forwards with the assistant manager and coach, Mr J. D. Robins, taking the backs and the touring captain and match captain, A. E. I. Pask, looking after the forwards.

After some moments playing touch Rugby, the backs began serious training. It was noticeable that Mr Robins kept exhorting them to get quickly to the ball when it was kicked ahead. There was some surprise at first when C. M. H. Gibson ran at first five-eighths instead of the named player, D. Watkins, but after about 20 minutes Watkins, a late arrival, joined the team. The backs looked quite

sharp, but even in training made many handling errors. As expected, the forwards concentrated on line-out drill. It could not be said that their technique seemed much improved from that shown in training in Southland, but at least there seemed to be more concentration on blocking. At Lincoln College the Universities’ team showed a commendable crispness. The backline, given the initial impetus by the superb passing of C. R. Laidlaw, moved well. Outside him the other backs tried all sorts of fancy moves which, if they can be used with the same efficiency tomorrow, could produce some very bright Rugby. It was refreshing to see the first five-eighths, G. F. Kember, trying to perfect his passing rather than his kicking.