Rugby Youth

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32324, 16 June 1970, Page 13

Rugby Youth

WEEKLY COMMENT ON GAMES AND PLAYERS

: Last Saturday was the I Christchurch club’s field day [and at North Hagley Park 1150 under-weight players .gathered in the morning, [giving a clear indication that [the club’s future was in safe [ hands even if the odd pass ! was dropped. It may not be : generally realised that because the club has no definite I suburban area from which its

players come, organising of ■team practices for the boys [is a very difficult matter which depends on the enthusiasm of the coaches and : players involved. The club must have been well pleased 'with the morning’s turn-out. In the Linwood B v. Christchurch A under 5 stone B match, Linwood, unbeaten for itwo years, were given a hard game by Christchurch whose forwards worked very hard. Linwood won 6-0, but the game was very even. Linwood’s backs ran well and passed accurately and fullback Grant Egan scored a good try and always ran hard. A good try also went to second five-eighth, John Haworth, after sustained Linwood pressure. For Christchurch, forwards Andrtw Hyde and Alastair Cotter worked hard throughout, and the pack mounted some fierce assaults on the Linwood line, forcing five successive scrums on the line and being most unlucky not to score. On an adjoining ground the under sst 71b D Syden- , ham team, yet to lose a match this season, emerged easy winners over Christchurch. The Sydenham backs ; showed fine combination and thrustful running and the forwards plenty of life. The reluctance of Christchurch to go down on the ball smoothed Sydenham’s path. For Sydenham, Peter Wilder, at second five-eighths, showed pace and thrust and combining . well with Tim Braldenberg scored three tries and dropkicked four conversions. For Christchurch Gregory Farrant, a flanker, showed out for his pace and determination on attack and defence, while Paul Corrie, at first five-eighths, played a capable game. A gallant 60-yard run by Andrew Wells of the Albion F side played Kaiapoi B in the under 5 stone D grade was a highlight of this game. The scorer defeated about three-quarters of his opponents in a long, curving path to the corner and showed plenty of determination along the way. The Medbury side in the under 6 stone section C showed the effects of very good coaching in the rucking and general purpose of their forwards and the constructive play of backs. Allen Hay. at half-back, was a lively and enterprising player who made much play for his side while Mark FerguMon and Richard Watheratone worked very hard in an excellent pack. Their opponents, Shirley B, showed glimpses of good forward play but were let down by some wild passing in the backs. This Medbury team disbands for the school holidays and but for this would, undoubtedly, be in at the hunt when finalists emerge. A feature of many games ; was the number of badlydirected passes which, fired I hopefully towards supporting players, failed to go any-

where near their intended recipients and produced selfinflicted gaps through which opponents poured in full cry. Experience, of course, lends greater judgment to this part of the game, but a little added care is well worth the effort.

The under 7st 71b Christchurch v. Shirley gamfe was an even struggle made memorable by some excellent tackling and brilliant passing. In a game marked by very solid forward play, none worked harder than Leslie Roberts and Ashley Smith, loose forward" in the Shirley pack, who both showed intelligence and energy in all phases of their play, especially on defence. The Christchurch centre, who later moved to full-back, Kerry Brady, played particularly well, proving a most elusive player to tackle and sidestepping beautifully off either foot: he also kicked some excellent goals. A veteran of the under 5 stone grade is Sumner’s Rex Smart, who was half-back for one of the Canterbury sides which played the curtainraiser to the All Blacks-Wales test last year. His experience is particularly telling in this grade, which is the starting point for most young footballers. He is an astute kicker of the ball and a competent passer, while hjs greatest asset is his determined running with the ball.

The under . 5 stone B match between Sumner and Meri-vale-Papanui resulted in a Victory to the increasinglysuccessful Merivale side. This team lost its first two matches of the season because of a shortage, of players. However, once ■ this deficiency was remedied, a very balanced combination emerged to win every subsequent match. The strength of this side is the forward pack in which every member works well to win a monopoly of ball from scrums and rucks. A solid backline complements this good pack. In juniqr Rugby grades one often finds many inside backs who tend to waste hard-won possession with fruitless kicking. There are two basic reasons for kicking—either to relieve pressure or .to make play for others. Defensive kicks should always be aimed into touch—distance is not as important as security. The attacking kick must be placed into a gap if a Player is kicking for hjs outside backs and it must be behind the opposition’s line of advantage. If for instance, a halfback is kicking for his forwards, the up-and-under is probably the best kick because it allows the forwards time to move from set play to an attacking position. Coaches should use their experience to explain to players the subtleties of tactical kicking rather than abusing them from the sideline* for misplaced kicks.