Fisher makes come-back

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32639, 22 June 1971, Page 32

Fisher makes come-back

(By

J. O. COFFEY)

The former New Zealand Rugby league forward, J. H. Fisher (Christchurch - Eastern Suburbs), will make a return to first-class football when Canterbury meets West Coast at Greymouth on July 4.

An outstanding display by Fisher in his club’s surprise defeat of Addington on Saturday earned him a position in the 15-man provincial squad announced last even-

Ing by the selectors (Messrs M. L. Cooke and H. J. Walker). Fisher, a Kiwi on the 1963 tour of Australia, has appeared in only two representative games since 1969. He was not available for much of last season, but played as a prop against Wellington and West Coast in August

TRANSFER This year, he left Addington to become the captaincoach of Christchurch-Eastern Suburbs, and was required to undergo a four-match trans-

fer suspension. His presence and leadership have led to a vast improvement by the team in recent weeks, culminating in its 38-24 success against Addington. It appears certain that Fisher will revert to hooker at Greymouth. He is the only player in the squad with extensive experience in this specialist position. The University second-row forward, A. W. Thompson, and the Addington wing, S. J. Wilks, also return to the squad after having been passed over for fixtures against West Coast and Wellington. The squad Is:—

M. W. J. O'Donnell (MaristWesteru Suburbs), Wilks, W. Wright (Hornby), P. B. H. Brown (Marlat-Western Suburbs), R. J. Ralstrick (Sydenham), li. P. Brertton (Marist-Western Suburbs), J. G. Clarke (Papanul), G. B. Cookaley (Christchurch-East-ern Suburbs), J. Greengraas (Unwood), Fisher, B. M. Cotter (Addington), P. T. Talnul (Christ-church-Eastern Suburbs), Thompson, 1 J. Dalzell (Hornby), ft. 8. walker (Papanul). M.H. Mohi (Marist-West-ern Suburbs) and C. R. Schwass (Papanui) were not available because of business commitments. In culling the squad from 21 to 15, Messrs Cooke and Walker have omitted the Papanui three-quarters, B. A.

Bigwood, S. Dunn and D. D. Martin, the Kaiapoi centre, S. Rolleston, and the forwards, K. R. Blackler (Papanui), P. C. Cook Linwood) and R. W. Morrison (Kaiapoi).