Johnsen Withdraws From League Side

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31654, 15 April 1968, Page 12

Johnsen Withdraws From League Side

The surprise withdrawal of the West Coast centre, W. K. Johnsen, forced the Southern Zone Rugby league selectors (Messrs D. L. Blanchard, M. W. Church and W. F. Mountford) to alter the team to play Northern Zone at Huntly on April 28.

Johnsen, who scored four tries in the two trial matches at Christchurch during the week-end, had been included in the centres with B. L. Williams (Canterbury) when he announced that he would not be available because of injured fingers.

He said that he had again injured the fingers, which had previously been dislocated on the West Coast, during the Southern Zone Xlll’s 42-6 win over The Rest yesterday. The selectors decided to bring in the West Coast standoff half, B. Sweetman, and move the 1961-64 Kiwi standoff half, J. A. Bond (Canterbury), to the centres. J. C. Hawthorne (Canterbury) replaced Sweetman as the reserve back. Sweetman who made his provincial debut in 1964 as a scrum-half, is one of three players who will be making their debut for Southern Zone. The others are Williams and the Canterbury wing. M. R. Napier. During the second trial yesterday. Napier (torn shoulder muscles) and G. M. Smith, of Wellington (badly bruised ankle tendon), were forced to leave the field but both reported that they would be available. The team will be: B. J. Maun (West Coast); M. P. BreretoiW (West Coast), Williams. Bond (captain), Napier; Sweetman, G. H. Clarke (Canterbury); J. L. White (Canter-

bury); J. K. Dixon (West Coast), M. H. Mohi (Canterbury); Smith, C. E. O’Neill (Wellington), N. P. Beri (Wellington). The reserves are Hawthorne and R. Farrell (Wellington). The only changes from the team that so convincingly beat The Rest are the replacement of Johnsen and G. Sctlly (West Coast) by Sweetman and Brereton. Brereton had not been available for the trials. The Southern Zone forwards, particularly Mohi, O’Neill, White, and Beri, provided the incentive for victory yesterday. Mohi had an outstanding first half when he breached the first line of defence on many occasions before sending the ball out to his supports. Although more inclined to be tackled in possession, the burly Beri proved difficult to pull down and he and J. H. Fisher (Canterbury), who replaced Smith, each scored two tries from barging runs close to the try-line OUT-HOOKED O’Neill out-hooked W. P. Noonan (Canterbury), 18-12, in the scrums to repeat his 16-8 success of the first trial. His ball distribution was efficient and his backing up assisted Southern Zone to move on to attack. Possibly the most surprising selection after Saturday’s trial

was that of White ahead of Farrell, but the Canterbury player vindicated the selectors’ decision with good covering and backing-up to retain his position in spite of another fine performance by Farrell. Dixon was disappointing and neither her nor Smith demonstrated the strong running that won them international selection. The nippy Bond figured in a large percentage of the tries and had a great tussle with the bouncing Sweetman. Clarke was tidy around the scrums and switched play well for the strong-running centres, Williams and Johnsen. Mann came into the back-line a little too much and occasionally crowded his three-quarters, but his handling was good in the windy conditions. The bullocking Wellington prop, R. Paul, made several crashing runs before he was replaced at half-time. J. L. Weir carried out a tremendous amount of work and Farrell ran and tackled extremely well in The Rest pack. Apart from Sweetman, Hawthorne was The Rest’s most impressive back, although he missed the occasional tackle and his positional play left quite a lot to be desired. T. Toleafui displayed a sharp side-step but lost contact with his wings on most occasions. Beri (two). Fisher (two). Dixon, Bond, Williams, Johnsen. Smith and White scored tries for Southern Zone and Mann kicked six goals from nine attempts. For The Rest, Paul and Farrell scored tries. THREE TRIES Johnsen had assured himself of an inter-zone match when he scored three fine tries in the first trial, won by the Red team, 39-22, on Saturday. He received good service from his halves, Clarke and Sweetman. and used his deceptive running to good effect against tackling that was not always solid. Although the game was marred by wild passing and bunching on occasions, O’Neil, Far-

g on occasions, O’Neil, Farrell, Beri and Clarke took the opportunity to return individual performances of some merit. O’Neil’s try, after Farrell had reversed play <5 yards out, was similar to the one that he scored against Newcastle to become the first try-scorer of the 1967 Kiwi tour of Australia. Farrell also scored a thrilling try when he beat Hawthorne during a 55-yard run.

F° r the Red team, Johnsen (three). Sweetman, O’Neil, Napier, Williams, Farrell, Dixon. Clarke, and Beri scored triesMann kicked three goals from 10 attempts. Bond, B. F. Dobbs (Canterbury), Weir, and N. Kiely (West Coast) scored tries for the Blue team and Hawthorne kicked five goals from six attempts The referee on Saturday was Mr P. Yaxley (Canterbury) and on Sunday Mr E. Gutberlet (West Coast).