Laughton: a man to watch in league test

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32352, 18 July 1970, Page 11

Laughton: a man to watch in league test

(By

J. O. COFFEY)

TpHE outstanding supporting play and impressive speed of the British secondrow forward, C. D. Laughton, will be one of the major problems that the New Zealand team will have to overcome during the second test at the Show Grounds tomorrow. Laughton, 25, enjoyed a successful first test against New Zealand at Auckland last Saturday when his anticipation and ability to position himself astutely earned him two tries. Both were scored at vital times. The first followed a fine break by the powerful prop, C. H. Watson, and levelled the score at 6-6 and the other was the culmination of a darting run and accurate cross-kick by the stand-off half, R. Millward, when the Kiwis had cut Britain’s lead to one point with 12 minutes remaining. Laughton, apparently, has a penchant for scoring tries in major fixtures. He touched down only five times during the Australia section of the tour, but be

contributed to the tourists’ total in both state games and in the first test against the Kangaroos. He played a roving game at Auckland, drifting out among the three-quarters to increase the chance of an over-lap when the ball was passed along the line from the play-the-ball. On several occasions the New Zealand cover-defence was forced to scurry back towards the left wing after Laughton had found himself in the clear or had drawn a defender and sent J. B. Atkinson racing down the side-line. The New Zealand players must follow the example of their opponents in taking the ball at pace if more thrust is to be introduced into the Kiwis’ pattern of play. Laughton recognised this requirement and did not have to waste precious moments gathering speed when the New Zealand defence was negligent in not immediately covering his movements towards the flanks. Last season the Kiwis

countered the similar tactics of the Australian forward, R. J. McCarthy, during New Zealand’s outstanding second test victory. If Laughton’s free-running style can be harnessed tomorrow Britain will lose one of its most potent attacking forces. Laughton has played for Britain’s two most famous Rugby league clubs, St Helens and Wigan. He was signed by Wigan three years ago, being a member of the team which defeated the 1967 Kangaroos, 12-6, and last season became captain in succession to the former Britain centre and captain, E. Ashton. He has represented Lancashire on eight occasions and played for the England Under-24 team when only 20. A