Rugby Youth

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32354, 21 July 1970, Page 13

Rugby Youth

WEEKLY COMMENT ON GAMES AND PLAYERS

Detail* of the South Island under 16 Rugby tournament to be played in between August 26 and August 28, have now been finalised. The tournament promises to be an exciting event for young Rugby Players. Games will be played on Rugby Park and Malvern Park and each of the nine representative sides entered (Otago and North Otago declined the invitation) will play on the main ground at Rugby Park. Considerable thought has gone into the planning of this tournament as is evident in the drawing of South Canterbury and Canterbury sub-

unions in the opening match; thus enabling teams from further afield time to find their, bearings before facing their initial test On the concluding Friday night a buffet dinner has been arranged for players and billets and following the final tournament game, South Island versus The Rest match at Lancaster Park Oval on the Saturday, all players Will view the Ranfurly Shield challenge from Waikato. Each team will play four matches with the exception of the victorious sides which will contest the semi-finals and the grand final. It is clear that the junior advisory board of the Canterbury Rugby Union has been assiduous in its planning—it remains now with the players, their coaches and, to a lesser

. extent, the referees to make the 1970 tournament the successful fore-runner of future such fixtures. This is a vital and imaginative effort to counter a threatened problem spot in New Zealand Rugby—the surprising decline in the number of teen-agers playing

Rugby. Again on Saturday the standard of under-weight Rugby was adversely affected by the extremely heavy under-foot conditions. Most teams found it difficult to achieve sustained mobility and the few individual players who did were extremely weary. The more experienced sides were less affected by the conditions and this was clearly reflected in the very fine play of the High School Old Boys under Bst 71b A side in its match against St Andrew’s which resulted in a convincing victory to H. 5.0.8. This team showed great strength hi the forwards and produced some slick back play. The forwards, with Glen McAdam, a fiery flanker, and Martin Harris, a strong and intelligent prop, prominent, were a force to be reckoned with. They drove a wedge through the defence with some exciting passing movements and also rucked efficiently. The backline was given amazingly good service by half-back, Gary Lepine, whose long pass and dangerous running stamped him as a player with fine potential. St Andrew’s, too, emerged from this game with its reputation enhanced. When the score and general state of the game suggested resignation, the side fought back and for a considerable period of the second half, outrueked and out-scrummaged its opponent, and went very close to scoring on several occasions.

The full-back, John Branch, played with a steady courage while the half-back-first fiveeighths combination of Bill Olds and lan Little showed a welcome desire to attack at all stages, although some of the latter’s tactical kicks were not always well directed. The Marist-Papanui under fist B team is enjoying a successful season, having lost only two matches. The forward pack is a solid unit

but the backline has genuine skill, as its handling of the greasy ball on Saturday suggested. Paddy Snowden is typical of the pack. He is a determined and hardworking prop with a pronounced ability for rucking. In the backline Pierre Manning directed play with commendable intelligence and tackled dllligently. Rex MeQuilkan, at fullback, was very safe and timed his entries into the baekline well, although, like several of the team's backs, he must learn not to lose his supports by running back infield.

A team which has had greatness “thrust upon it” is the Merivale-Papanui under 5 stone A side which played in the D section of the competition last year. This side has managed to contain many of its opponents and has won two games, winch is a tribute to the determination of a rather inexperienced team. The side is most enthusiastic about practices and is fortunate to have a very faithful and unusually large group of supporters for each game. The team has several good players including half-back, Paul Karens, who is a most industrious worker, Scott Todd, a vigorous flanker and centre, Howard Buchanan,

who stands out in a team of good taeklers. The Belfast under sst 71b B side is unbeaten in its competition and has now amassed over 160 points. The team is realistically coached; the backs are gaining experience slowly and so play is concentrated on a robust forward pack with the backline functioning mainly as a defensive unit Neville Don, a try-scoring half-back, is a points centurion this season, and his incisive running promises still more points. The forwards are an impressive unit particularly John McFadden, who alternates between lock and Number 8, and Rieky Cone stand out for their solid cover-defence and ball-winning ability. Belfast's opponents last Saturday, Christchurch, is also well placed in the grade, as befits a team which is comparatively experienced. An attractive type of Rugby is the aim of this team, although it was very difficult to achieve this on Saturday. Alistair Roberts, at first fiveeighths, is a remarkably cool and resourceful player while in the pack, prop Jonathon Coates and Number 8, Mark Vryenhoek, share a dedication to aggressive driving Play.