Young Players Give Views On Game

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31145, 23 August 1966, Page 10

Young Players Give Views On Game

Why do boys like playing Rugby? An under-sst, nine-year-old Linwood player, asked this question, solemly replied: “Because it takes your mind off your worries!” Sumner players in an under- sst team thought Rugby “best” because it was a “hard game”—an answer given by many players in grades up to under-Bst 71b. Many of the Sumner players questioned, aged eight to 10 years, had played soccer but thought it “sissy, although you can get kicked on the shins, and that hurts!”

AU of scores of boys questioned in the under-weight teams wanted to play Rugby again next season. None of them thought Rugby was too rough. “Rugby looks rough in bigger games, but not in ours,” observed a Linwood 10-year-old. “Definitely not.” replied a Suburbs under Bst 71b team in unison when asked if Rugby was too rough. Invariably, boys questioned wanted to win the competition next season: few of the boys thought their coaches growled too much. The smaller boys thought the coaches were “just the job” “Ours gives us ice cream and is going to give us a party at the end of the season,” was the delighted assurance by one under sst team. Most of the boys liked spectators cheering from the sidelines. “It makes you go harder: it makes the game more exciting,” was the concensus of the Sumner under sst team. “Occasionally when someone screams, it gives you a fright: makes you W'orry for a minute, but otherwise you don’t notice it much,” said an Bst 71b player. More than 80 per cent of the youngsters asked said that they went to Lancaster Park to see the Canterbury and test matches. In the under sst and under 6st teams, all wanted to be All Blacks, but in the under Bst 71b, the boys wanted to be All Blacks “if we are good enough." More than 80 per cent of those questioned thought the best thing about Rugby was running with the ball. Some liked kicking the ball best. Several thought meeting their friends each week at practice and on Saturday mornings in games was the best thing about Rugby. “I feel I am really doing something when playing Rugby,” said a sst player—a view approved by his team mates. “Playing it is the best thing about Rugby,” was a succinct comment by an under Bst 71b player which was greeted with shouts of approval from his fellow players. “Foot-tripping and punching,” is the worst thing in Rugby according to ' the Sumner sst players questioned. “Boys who don’t play fair,” is the opinion of Linwood players in the same grade. “Frosty grounds on Saturday mornings,” was the considered opinion of an eight-year-old. “Bad sports are the worst thing in Rugby,” was a widespread answer to inquiries amongst the 6st, 7st and Bst 71b players. The younger players thought the season was not long enough, but the older ones tended to consider it just right. Century J. McKenzie, a breakaway in the Merivale-Papanui under 6st side, has scored more than 100 points this season. He had 93 points scored in club games before he scored six points in each of two representative matches to take his total to 105. He scored a try, two penalty

goals and a field goal in the representative games. Young Coaches P. Gass, aged 17, and R. Newton, aged 16, who have coached the Lyttelton team in the sst 71b B section have moulded the boys into a strong side. Newton coaches the backs and Gass takes the forwards.' The young coaches have developed some very promising players in the side. Under 7st 71b The Canterbury under 7st 71b representative side had a tough assignment when it played the Ellesmere under Bst 71b side at. Lincoln Domain a week ago. Ellesmere won, 24-3, in a good, clean game. Some of the Ellesmere boys proved too big for the Canterbury boys to handle. The Canterbury side will play the West Coast at Greymouth in its next match. Good Wing I. Stace, left wing in the Shirley E team in the under sst E section, scored three fine tries against Lyttelton. Stace is a strong runner, goes hard for the corner and is not selfish. If he sees a player in a better position than himself he does not hesitate to pass. Even Games W. Burley, second fiveeighths, and G. Partridge, No. 8, scored tries for New Brighton to give the side a 6-0 win over Christchurch in the under sst A section. This was an exciting match, with good passing by both backs and forwards and watched by a considerable number of parents and spectators who enjoyed themselves as much as the boys. Selfish Players Another very close game was fought out between Meri-vale-Papanui and Christchurch in the under sst 7ib A competition. Merivale-Papanui won, 3-0, from a try scored by C. Leney, half-back. But the game developed into a very scrappy affair, mainly because Leney and the Christchurch first five-eighths R. Herron, were too selfish. Both are good players, Herron being an excellent handler and very nimble, and Leney a hard and fast runner. However both boys monopolised the ball, with the result that the backs outside them hardly saw the ball. Herron ran on the blind side time after time so that the other Christchurch backs did not have a chance and the Merivale defence was ready for him- L. Neal, a representative player last season, did not get one pass in the Meri-vale-Papanui backs. Two Merivale-Papanui forwards who impressed with good play were the breakaways, M. and J. Guthrie. They are brothers. Good Team Work The Suburbs under Bst 7 team has had a reasonable season but unfortunately

finished on a low note, suffering its worst defeat on Saturday. Some of the players were very lethargic. The most consistently sound players have been D. Bentley, G. Pearce, G. Humm and G. Browne in the forwards, and D. Burrell C. Hunt and T. Cook in the backs. It is no coincidence that these have also been the most conscientious and regular attendees at practices and games. The most improved player is R. Sword who has turned on some good performances in the last few weeks. The team has scored 274 points including 75 tries. These have been well distributed, being shared by 14 players. Shared Points The Sumner B team in the under sst E grade scored 134 points, with 27 against, in winning the competition. The captain, M. Moody, first-five-eighths, scored 16 tries and is showing great promise. The most improved player, R. Campbell, a forward, is aged only seven. G. Burgess (lock), J. Gallagher (prop) and J. Chitty (half-back) are others who have played well and practised hard, but the enthusiasm of all players and their unselfishness as team members has contributed most to the side’s success. All have thoroughly enjoyed their football.