ALL BLACK’S BRILLIANT GAME Shield XV Beaten By Arnold’s Men

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32362, 30 July 1970, Page 19

ALL BLACK’S BRILLIANT GAME Shield XV Beaten By Arnold’s Men

(By J. K. BROOKS)

“I would be available for Canterbury, but only if the team was desperate ... if no member of the squad was on hand.”

This was the reaction of the former Canterbury and New Zealand player, D. A. Arnold, to the suggestion that he should contemplate a come-back to inter-provinoial Rugby, after his performance for the Cantabrians invitation XV against Canterbury A yesterday.

But almost every move developed by Canterbury was dealt with effectively by the Cantabrians, and although the Canterbury forwards won the rucks with almost as much efficiency as they did at Ashburton last week, the second phase possession was regarded with indifference by the backs. The Cantabrians, denied an equal share of possession, produced little in the way of concerted attacks. But they did unfold the best movement of the day. B. F. Elder cleared the ball brilliantly .after a ruck, M. S. Moore joined in from the blind-side wing, and B. R. Niven passed infield to Arnold, who scored, untouched, between the posts with K. J. Beams in support H. H. McDonald, back in Rugby after losing a stone and a half through the effects of influenza, gave a most heartening performance in the Canterbury forwards; he will be the No. I lock in the shield side, without a doubt An injury to Legge in the thirteenth minute of the second half caused some consternation in the Canterbury ranks, for there was no fiveeights in reserve. But the former All Black, B. A. Watt, an emergency for the Cantabrians, cheerfully changed jerseys and filled in capably for his old side.

Davis Rivalled Four members of the shield squad played for the Cantabrians, with Elder making the best impression. On the day he rivalled Davis at halfback. The defeat of the Canterbury team did not have a great deal of significance, as four regular players were absent But the match should serve to ex« rcise the evil spirits'which have been lurking, unsuspected, in the side's play. Referee: Mr A. F. Gumsey.