LEAGUE SIDE CRITICISED BUT MEMBERS RETAINED

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31986, 13 May 1969, Page 19

LEAGUE SIDE CRITICISED BUT MEMBERS RETAINED

(By Our Rugby League Reporter)

Mr E. Butts, the convener of the Canterbury Rugby league selection panel, last evening accused the provincial representatives of failing to adhere to pre-match instructions against West Coast on Saturday.

A few minutes later all members of the team that lost the Rugby League Cup, 19-23, were included in the squad of 21 players announced by Mr Butts to prepare for the game against Otago at the Show Grounds on Sunday, May 25.

Mr Butts said the players “did not do as they were told” until the last few minutes of Saturday’s game, when Canterbury scored two late tries.

Other board of control members took the unusual step of criticising the team’s performance, even though the squad was approved unanimously. The chairman (Mr D. C. Wilson) said board members should seriously consider whether the Canterbury team should travel to Auckland in July. He said its play on Saturday indicated it was not

good enough to match Auckland.

Describing the performance as “very disappointing,” Mr A. J. Atkinson, a former international loose forward, said: “It would cost a lot to go to Auckland and we’d get nothing for it.” “Someone has to- get them to do as they are told. Drop them if they do not,” said Mr M. R. Clinton. “Some were not even interested.” The selection of D. Men-

zies (Marist-Western Suburbs) and M. J. Morgan (Linwood) in the squad were the major surprises. Morgan, a three-quarter, had one half at full-back and the other at stand-off half in the trial match on Saturday and scored two tries but his club form has been disappointing.

While trial form undoubtedly led to the selection of Morgan, Menzies and the Christchurch-Eastern Suburbs hooker, G. C. Gass, it failed to assist B. Williams (Christ-church-Eastern Suburbs) and W. D. Beri (Marist-Western Suburbs), two of the most penetrative backs in the match.

On Saturday Beri kicked seven goals from nine attempts: the Canterbury fullback, T. Williams (Hornby), succeeded twice from eight opportunities—a major factor in Canterbury’s defeat. B. Williams made several fine breaks in his first official match after undergoing the four-match transfer suspension. He would have had two more club games to assist him reach match-fitness before the Otago game. The most disappointing member of the Canterbury team on Saturday was the second-row forward, A. F. McNaughtan (Addington), the son of the selector.

McNaughtan completely abandoned any pretence of forward play and spent nearly all the game wandering behind, in front of, and between, his three-quarters. His continued selection may prove embarrassing to Mr McNaughtan unless a radical, and immediate, improvement becomes evident in his play. The squad is:—

Backs: Williams, S. Wilks (Addington), R. S. Kirk (Addington), B. W. Langton (Hornby), R. L. Lanauze (Addington), B. Jager (Hornby), Menzies, J. G. Clarke (Papanui), G. R. Cooksley (Christchurch-Eastern Suburbs), Morgan, Endacott.

Forwards: J. H. Fisher (Addington). J. A. Flanagan (Linwood). W. P. Noonan (Linwood), A. W. Thompson (Papanui), McNaughton. Gass, K. M. Neiman (Hornby), R. S. Walker (Papanui), J. L. W’hite (Addington), B. F. Gillman (Addington). Training Show Grounds, Wednesday, May 14, 5.30 p.m. Any player not available ring Mr Butts, phone 516-716. —Advt