Rare achievement in offing for Leary

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32053, 30 July 1969, Page 15

Rare achievement in offing for Leary

ONE of the most proficient w goal-kickers in Christchurch Rugby, D. C. Leary, might well achieve the rare feat of scoring 1000 points in senior competition games before this season is out Now in his tenth season in Christchurch, Leary has . scored <036 points to date; he has five more matches in the Challenge Cup competition in which to boost his tally. The sharp-featured, wiry full-back has an admirable goal-kicking technique. The timing of bis kick and the manner in which boot meets ball squarely has made him a figure to be feared by opposing teams.

Hailing from Timaru, Leary played for the University club in Dunedin from 1956 to 1959, representing Otago in the last three years. He had few pportunities to kick goals, for the club and representative sides contained tho prolific scorer, E. S. Diack. He was faced with the same situation when he first appeared for the University senior side in Christchurch, in 1960. B. M. J. Dineen, the full-back, was the team’s goal-kicker, and Leary, playing at centre, had to be content with five tries. Since then, however, ' Leary has been a heavy

scorer in the senior competition, passing the century mark in five of his eight seasons with University. His highest tally, 135 in 1967, Is believed to be the best recorded in a Christchurch club season.

Last year he joined the Albion club as his connection with the university had ended. The club was near his home and It had a vacancy for a senior full-back as the dependable A. G. Harrison had retired. In his first season with Albion, Leary missed a century by three points; he crossed the apposing team’s goal-line In the closing stages of the final game but was recalled because of a forward pass.

His value to his new club is emphasised by the fact that he has scored 61 of Albion’s 97 points this season. He also finds time to coach the first XV at Riccarton High School. At 32, Leary has much to look back on in his Rugby career—3o matches for Canterbury, 21 for Otago, and tours of Australia and California and British Columbia with New Zealand University sides. But he intends to deal with his future in the game “as it comes.” Leary has always been a model of fitness in Rugby, possibly because of bls participation in athletics. He is a specialist in javelin throwing, but his participation in a variety of track and field events has always left him in good shape for the winter season.

Christchurch Rugby crowds have come to appreciate Leary as a master of the art of kicking a ball. His screw kicks for touch, and his long-range place and drop-kicks for goal have brought spectacular results because of his excellent technique. A fine sportsman, as composed in victory as he is in defeat, Leary is always ready to help a rival or a young player. But there is one matter he remains silent about—-the origin of his nickname, “Sam.” “It is a long story, and you would never believe It,” he says. "So we will leave it at that."