Rugby Youth WEEKLY REVIEW

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31139, 16 August 1966, Page 7

Rugby Youth WEEKLY REVIEW

Sporting Spirit In Junior Grade Games

Partly because of the meeting on rough Rugby and partly because the leaders in most grades and sections have been determined (and the representative teams selected), a noticably more pleasant and sporting atmosphere has prevailed in the under-age and under-weight matches on the last two Saturdays.

Boys being boys, the odd flashes of illtemper will never be excluded. However, there has been noticeably less provocative play, and the teams have been really enjoying their Rugby. Talking Points With the relaxation of tension has been an upsurge of talking among players, particularly in the lower grades. A classical conversation overheard clearly from the sideline came from the middle of a scrum in an under 6st 71b match at South - Hagley on Saturday. Voice (indignantly): “Here, we've got four in the front row.” Second voice (cheerfully): "Never mind, we've hooked It.” Another conversazione in mother 6st 71b match: “What the hell did you kick it out for?—Well, me captain told me to so there!” Clapping And Cheering The British Lions this season have introduced a sporting gesture to New Zealand this season—the clapping of a winning side off the field by the losing side. Senior sides could well emulate their youngers who invariably clap when injured players resume after being attended to on the field. Referees in under-weight grades include such first-aid attention in their duties. All players on both sides clap—and mean it. Also, the giving of three cheers “and one for the referee” after the game, with both sides really meaning the cheers, seems a sporting gesture in the lower grades that is largely lost by the perfunctory cheers of senior and representative sides at the start of matches. Will For Ellesmere The Canterbury under 6st representative team played the Ellesmere under 6st 71b side at Lincoln Domain on Saturday. Ellesmere won, 13-6 after an even game. The Canterbury side did very well, giving away a lot of weight. The match was played at a fast pace and the Ellesmere inside backs won the day. Good Game The under 6st 71b A section game between Christchurch and Hornby was watched by a good crowd of spectators and proved the best underweight matches for several seasons. Both teams played hard, excellent football. It was the third meeting between the two sides this season, Christchurch winning 11-5. Seven Tries The Christchurch B team in the under 6st B section scored 10 tries against New Brighton. B. Pearson, the Christchurch second five-eighths, had a field day, scoring seven of his side's tries. First Defeat The Christchurch team in the under-17 grade suffered its first defeat of the season, going down to MerivalePapanui. The latter side won because its forwards dominated the match. F. Henderson and G. Henare stood out for good driving play, while G. Tawhai, a lock, made some splendid takes in the line-outs. W. Tichbourne was excellent on cover defence, and was sorely needed as the Christchurch backs made several good breaks. The MerivalePapanui full-back A. Wahanui. scored a blind-side try that clinched the game and also converted a try and kicked a penalty goal. Team Spirit Team spirit and determination has carried the Sydenham under sst A team through some hard matches this season. The side has quite often played with only 13 or 14 boys, but has never wilted. The prop. P. O'Brien, has been an inspiration to the other forwards. The five-eighths. R. Ahlfeld and A. Wallace, have combined in some good back moves, while the full-back, R. Hoetjes, has been not only a very sound last line of defence but has also joined in back rushes with good effect. The coach, Mr G. Symes, is

i looking forward to keeping the team together in a higher j section next season. Strong Team The Marist under-20 team, after losing the first three games, has gone from strength to strength, winning the next 12 games in succession. Keenness to train, a willingness to practise the fundamentals of Rugby, and a fine team spirit are reasons for the team’s good showing, according to the coach, Mr J. J. Stewart. The side has some really good players, including A. Dalton, captain, a strongi running second five-eighths who has scored more than 100 I points this season, and G. Cox, an intelligent and plucky halfback. But its real strength has I been the consistently good form shown by all the players. The front row men, N. Blanchfield and A. Baylis, have shown remarkable improvement since the beginning of the season. the season. D. Patterson, lock, M. Dore, breakaway, P. McEvedy, full-back, and T. McMahon, five-eighths, are other players whose progress during the season has been noticeable. The team, in the No. 2 section of its grade, is co-leader with MerivalePapanui. Five Seasons P. Collett and S. Radford, locks for the successful Linwood under 7st team, have been together for five seasons, from the under sst grade.' Others who have been in the team through the grades are J. Smyth, W. Mallard and S. Cowles. These boys, originally coached by Mr E. Collett and now by Mr W. Argus, have been in the team which has won the competition for each year, up the grades, for the last five years. Thrilling Game Belfast A and Sumner A played a thrilling game in the under sst B section. Both sides scored two tries, but Belfast won. 8-6, by a conversion through ' a good drop-kick. Sumner A have scored 233 points this season. The halfback, 1. Smart, has been playing very well and uses his head in feeding his backs or bringing play back into his forwards. The main try-scorer I has been R. Hagenaar. P. Rowland is a small, but improving prop who plays with great determination. A. McLeod is fast and always on the ball, as a breakaway should be. The half-back, J. Price, had a good game for Belfast A. D. Hockey and P. Lorgelly are two good breakaways who fol-low-up well. Lorgelly scored a good try through this. M. Brown, prop, is a tiger in the tight and has his eye on the ball all the time. H. Robinson tackles low, and tackles well. M. Walkingshaw showed good pace and straight running in the backs. Improving The Lyttelton side in the under 6st 71b competition has shown vast improvement during the season, and has won its last three games. R. Anderson, No. 8, is a trier. F. Foreman is a hard-playing lock who scored two tries against Marist A on Saturday. Liveliest forward is I. Tuuta, a representative hooker. H. Register half-back, has played consistently well, and J. McGregor, second five-eighths, is fast off the mark and showing a good deal of promise. The whole team has improved, and if they played as hard as they talked on the field they would be practically unbeatable. Even Game Hornby and Marist-Maire-hau had an even struggle in the under 6st B section. D. Kennedy, the Hornby first five-eighth, was playing for the representative side. He has been the outstanding player in the side, taking his half-back's passes at speed, quick to see an opening, and a determined tackler. K. Hulme, on the wing, is the most improved player in the team. P. Counihan, breakaway, is a keen player, always on the ball, and improving with experience. Tenacious Although not well placed on the competition ladder the Suburbs under-15 side has shown plenty of enthusiasm and a never-say-die spirit even when well behind in points in matches. On one occasion, the team trailed by 18 points at half-time, but came with a rush to win the match 2218. They are a tenacious group of players, considering their ages range from 12 years upwards. They could well prove a formidable team next season if they can keep together. The full-back, A. Direen, and second fiveeighths, B. Thompson, one of the most improved players in the side, both won selection for the representative team IL. Brown, captain, has led the team exceptionally well and looks to have a bright j future in the game.

W. Eagle has played consistently well at lock and has held the forwards together in the tight. R. Bachop, first fiveeighths, is a shrewd tactical kicker. The half-back, J. Burgess, is small, but has never faltered in the face of breakaways. The team has enjoyed its Rugby and it is typical of the spirit of the players that they voted their defeat by the competition leaders. 22-0, as the best game of the season. Too Keen

The coach for the Lyttelton team in the match against Belfast in the under sst 71b B section became so exuberant in his coaching from the sideline that he was asked to control himself by the referee. The Lyttelton team won. 6-0, and gained the lead in the competition, but the Belfast side came out of the game with a greatly enhanced reputation for sportsmanship.