Canterbury Has Four In National League Trial

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32395, 7 September 1970, Page 24

Canterbury Has Four In National League Trial

Four Canterbury players—M. P. Brereton (MaristWestern Suburbs), G. R. Cooksiey (Christchurch-Eastern Suburbs), J. G. Greengrass (Linwood) and R. S. Walker (Papanui)—have been selected to play in the New Zealand World Cup Rugby league trial at Auckland next Saturday.

Brereton, the Kiwi left wing in five tests during the last two seasons, and Cooksiey, who was not considered for the series against Britain in July because of a leg injury, have been included in the New Zealand XIII. The selectors (Messrs D. L. Blanchard, D. A. Barchard and M. W. Church) have placed Walker, who has played 65 minutes of international football in two games in the last two years, and the promising front-row prop. Greengrass, in the forwards of the opposing Rest team. Five players who appeared in the matches against Britain, J. K. Dixon (West Coast), R. Williams (Auckland), T. W. Patrick (Otago), J. D. Hibbs (West Coast) and F G. Schuster (Auckland), have been omitted from the trial teams and the reserve back for the third test, P. Matete (Auckland), has also fallen from favour.

Wellington’s success in the national tournament is reflected by the return of the 1966-68 Kiwi forward, G. M. J Smith, the promotion of the promising three-quarter, J. Whittaker, to the New Zealand XIII, and the choice of R. Farrell as a reserve for the Rest Forward Strength The former Canterbury representative, E. Kereopa (Midlands), will partner Greengrass and W. Burgoyne (Auckland) in the front row for the Rest in opposition to

the test trio R. I. Orchard (Auckland), C. E. O’Neil (Wellington) and D. J. Gailey (Auckland).

Kereopa, who played for Greengrass’s club, Linwood, while in Christchurch, went to the North Island three years ago and played for the North Island XIII against Britain. Greengrass made his first-class debut this season, appearing in five games for Canterbury. Club Form

Four Auckland players who have yet to gain provincial honours, L. Graham (fullback), J. O’Sullivan (centre), B. Anderson (second row) and W. Green (reserve back), have received the chance to challenge for World Cup positions after showing exceptional form in recent club matches.

E. M. Carson (Auckland) and W. Redmond (Auckland) have been relegated from test status to the Rest’s back line and Walker and P. C. Orchard (Bay of Plenty) have been given the opportunity to regain New Zealand selection.

The goal-kicking former Kiwi second-row forward, E. D. Wiggs (Auckland), who had his appendix removed only a few weeks ago, will also play for the Rest. The trial teams are:— New Zealand XIII.—G. C. Ladner (West Coast); Whittaker, B. Lowther (Auckland). F. R. Christian (Auckland), Brereton; R. W. Bailey (Auckland), Cooksley: R. I. Orchard, O’Neil, Gailey; W. G. Deacon (Waikato), Smith; A. p. Kriletich (Auck- , Res erveS: M. McClennan kato C ) kland) ’ P ’ Haggie (Wai '

The Rest.—Graham; P. C Orchard, O Sullivan, Redmond

R. McGuinn (Auckland); J. Al bert (Waikato), Carson; Greengrass, Burgoyne, Kereopa; An derson, Wiggs; Walker. Re serves: Farrell, Green.