COAST'S HOPES OF VICTORY SLIM Formidable fifteen to cross the Alps for opening match

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32589, 24 April 1971, Page 14

COAST'S HOPES OF VICTORY SLIM Formidable fifteen to cross the Alps for opening match

(By J. K. BROOKS) ATTEST Coasters wili be ” hoping for a Rugby miracle to occur in Greymouth tomorrow, when the home side plays Canterbury in the first representative match of the season. But from the look of the teams, it appears that the best the Coast supporters can hope for is a reduction in the losing margins of the last two years. Canterbury won last year by 58-3, and by 44-0 in 1969. This season Canterbury has marshalled its forces and will send a formidable fifteen across the Alps this evening for the game. The side contains four All Blacks, five South Island representatives, two New Zealand Maori players and two New Zealand Universities players. The team is so strong that S. E. Cron, a South Island representative and and an AU Black trialist last season, could only gain a place in the reserves. All these fine players will be under the sagacious leadership of I. H. Penrose, a captain who has earned the respect of his men many times over. His outstanding display for New Brighton last Saturday emphasised, once again, how unfortunate he has been not to receive more than one All Black trial in his career. In spite of the wide winning margins of the last two games, the Canterbury team will not be treating this assignment lightly. The match against the

British Lions is only eight weeks away, and the side will need as many games

together as it can get to prepare for the big day. The Canterbury selectors (Dr J. D. Stewart and Mr M. J. Dixon) will be looking for an improvement in the catching and distributing of the ball from the line-out, and for a concerted effort in rucking similar to the memorable display against Mid-Canterbury last season.

Among the backs, they will be watching H. T. Joseph, the centre, to see if he can recapture the fine form he displayed before his unfortunate accident last year. And perhaps the greatest interest will lie in the performance of the 20-year-old right wing, B. C. Cochrane, the only new representative in the team. Cochrane’s selection has introduced a flash of genuine speed in the threequarter line, and it is to be hoped that he receives plenty of opportunities. He is more than just a speedster; he is an eager hunter of the ball and is able to make play for himself. Looming large at fullback will be W. F. McCormick, anxious to prove that he is still the best man in his position in the country. This will be his tenth appearance for Canterbury at Rugby Park, Greymouth, and if he enjoys his usual run of success in these games he should pass a century of points on the ground. He has already 85 to his credit. Against this impressive array of players, West Coast has a side with a hard core of experience but not a great record of success. Last season the team won only three matches out of nine. The most interesting selection is that of F. Jack, the burly former Shirley ( second five-eighths, as;

centre. Jack is a stout defender who has marked Joseph with distinction in Christchurch, and the duel between these two players might be one of the game’s highlights. The forwards include such seasoned men as D. G. Bryce, N. McMillan, D. H. Henham and R. Forsythe, all reliable campaigners The half-back, M. J. McQuillan, and the first five-eighths, K. J. Beams, have developed a keen understanding through several seasons of club and representative play together, and if anyone can catch Canterbury offbalance on occasions, Beams will be the man to do it. West Coast, like Canterbury, will have a new wing on the field—C. Skates, a promoted junior, who scored four tries in his club debut last Saturday. Presumably, he will mark R. J. Woolhouse, a former West Coaster who is now firmly established in the Canterbury side. West Coast has not beaten Canterbury at Greymouth since 1956. The new Coast selector (Mr T. A. Bird) was a member of the winning XV on that occasion, and Dr Stewart was in the losing side.

But it is taking things a bit too far to suggest that this is a portent of a change in West Coast’s Rugby fortunes.