Balance of power may change in Rugby

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31659, 20 April 1968, Page 11

Balance of power may change in Rugby

CINCE 1956 only three clubs Christchurch, Linwood and University—have won the senior championship, but there may be a slight change in the balance of power in the competition this season. Shirley, a side which played doggedly to finish in the top four teams for the Harewood Trophy, must be one of the strongest contenders for the championship this season. If the All Black halfback, C. R. Laidlaw, who has joined the club, is chosen for New Zealand this season, Shirley may not gain a great deal of material benefit from him, but his presence in early-season matches should ensure that Shirley starts the competition in a confident manner. I. Griffiths, a talented 18-year-old first five-eighths from Marlborough College, probably will play outside Laidlaw or his competent understudy, R. M. Gearry. He will replace R. Hicks, who has transferred to Wellington. Another of last year’s backs, B. Gardiner, second five-eighths, has moved to Nelson. The Shirley pack last season gave some very fine displays and should be one of the major factors in the side being among the leading teams. It will be strengthened by W. D. Cottrell, an Otago representative prop, and C. Johnstone, a lock, who played for Mid-Canter-bury last season. Linwood, which deservedly won the championship last season, has lost one of its best forwards. A.

Ma'nsfield, who has been one of the outstanding loose forwards in Christchurch club Rugby during the last nine years, has retired. One of the major reasons for Linwood’s success last season was the aggressive play of W. F. McCormick from the full-back position. This season McCormick appears certain to miss many club games because of representative commitments and Linwood will need to make a special effort if it is to repeat its win. However, except for Mansfield, the pack remains intact and the backs who include C. R. Tasker, N. J. Stokes, K. J. Gimblett, P. Jellyman, R. Cocks and R. Woolhouse, should be one of the most effective backlines in the competition. Christchurch, as usual, will field an attacking backline which includes the Canterbury representatives, D. A. Arnold, B. A. Watt, R. Morris and G. Waterreus. Another representative back, P. Eyles, who represented Counties on the wing last season, has joined the club and G. Walkinshaw, a most promising young back two seasons ago, may be playing again. The forwards will be led by R. Wainohu and will include R. Tuhuru and C. F. Cochrane, who played an occasional game for Canterbury A. University A has lost D. C. Leary to Albion. Leary, is probably the most prolific points scorer to have played in club Rugby and, although his full-back play was perhaps not quite of the standard of previous years, still was a most potent member of the University team last season and again scored more than 100 points. His replacement may be M. Papps, the B team full-back last season. Players who have left the club include R. Field, a useful lock, N. Keenan, centre for the A team, and I. Owens, one of the B team fiveeighths. Gains for the club include D. Merito and R. Douglass, backs who played for Otago University last season. University A should field a sound side but it will find it difficult to replace Leary and R. C. Moreton, who is now in Wellington: and in common with most senior sides it will lack big men in the forwards. An interesting performer in pre-season matches has been H. J. Joseph who played for Christchurch Boys’ High School last sea-

son, and was selected for the South Island secondary schools’ team. A very mature youth, Joseph may replace Moreton as second fiveeighths. The B team, which will mainly comprise young players from lower grades, is expected to be much the same as in previous years; capable of playing attractive Rugby and occasionally upsetting a stronger team but not experienced enough to return consistent performances. Albion has played enterprising Rugby in recent years and no doubt will continue in that fashion this season for it will have a good back-line. W. J. Flewellyn, the reserve Canterbury half-back is in Australia, but J. R. Adams, G. T. Barrett, and J. Newlove are tried players and Leary will be a more than adequate replacement for A. C. Harrison, who has retired. K. Baker, who has been a spirited pack leader for Albion, has retired but it has gained G. Mcßea, a MidCanterbury representative who plays at lock. Old Boys disappointed last season. They had a great deal of talent in their back line but only rarely did the efforts of the forwards and the skill of the backs complement each other. This year the forwards should be a stronger unit. If they can gain parity in

most of their games, Old Boys may be one of the leadteams. A back-line which indudes' A. G. Steel, P. K. Hatchwell, T. L. Mehrtens, M. Brown, R. Colombus, and L. G. Legge, should be capable of producing some brilliant Rugby. However, if the backs are to function properly some firm decision will have to be reached about the relative merits of the two half-backs, R. Stanbury and E. March, who shared the position last season. Lincoln College fielded a very young team last season and this year’s side will only average about 21 years. A. McLellan, one of the best club props in 1967, will be a robust leader of the forwards, who may include the newcomers, J. Ryan, a Country Colt, and L. Karatau, from Hawke’s Bay. G. Brown, who played for South Canterbury as a fiveeighths has joined the club and probably will pair with A. M. Goddard, who also has represented South Canterbury. R. Inwood, who has been mainstay of Belfast during the last three seasons with his vigorous forward play and accurate kicking, will not be playing this year because of studies. The presence of two new players. M. Cruickshanks, a North Can-

terbury prop and J. Thompson, a tall lock, will be some recompense for Inwood’s absence. K. Price, a centre, has returned to the club from Suburbs but the back-line will be inexperienced and it seems unlikely that Belfast will be able to improve its position to any great extent this season. Sydenham, which has been in the doldrums in recent years, will field much the same team as last year. A. Howard, a loose forward who scored 92 points in 1967, is again expected to play a major role in the points-scoring. Another team which has not been affected by many changes is Merivale-Papanui. Last season it turned in some creditable performances and may be a side which will have considerable nuisance value to stronger clubs. The strength of New Brighton in the lower grades has been reflected in the many young players the club has been able to introduce to senior Rugby with satisfactory results. L. Dickson, perhaps did not quite fulfil his undoubted promise as a half-back, but this 18-year-old player should be the regular half-back this season. G. Stanley, who has given New Brighton great service, may find his position prejudiced because he played in a friendly Rugby League game. It is probable that he will have to’ be reinstated if he wishes to continue playing Rugby. The New Brighton pack should be as tough and rugged as ever, with I. H. Penrose, K. J. Tanner and G. Bacon a solid nucleus in the forwards. Marist should be a stronger side than last season, although it is unlikely that it will extend the more powerful club sides. B. Ramsay, who showed good form as a lock two seasons ago, has returned from Napier and N. Scott, a centre from Suburbs, has joined the club. Suburbs has lost its best line-out forward, E. Mulaley, and once again the side may have to contend with a minor share of possession from line-outs. The possibility that W. D. Cottrell will play regularly at second five-eighths in club Rugby has led to a search for another first five-eighths and D. Moore, a former Lincoln College player, may be placed there. A newcomer in the backs is D. Breeze, who played at full-back for Dunedin Pirates.