LEADER OF COMBINED SIDE Lions match 105th for Kirkpatrick

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32663, 20 July 1971, Page 24

LEADER OF COMBINED SIDE Lions match 105th for Kirkpatrick

(From J. K. BROOKS)

GISBORNE.

The amount of Rugby available to the top footballers in New Zealand these days has led to the talented young men of the game reaching a century of first-class matches in quick time.

I. A. Kirkpatrick, Poverty Bay’s man of the moment, is a case in point. Although not long past his twenty-fifth birthday, he will be playing his 105th game when he leads Poverty Bay-East Coast against the Lions at Rugby Park, Gisborne, tomorrow.

Kirkpatrick is only in his sixth season, but he has had three overseas tours with the All Blacks and the overseas teams games in England earlier this year to boost his tally of appearances. As fledgling forwards, Kirkpatrick and the present Canterbury lock, H. H. McDonald played for Poverty Bay-East Coast against the 1966 Lions. Kirkpatrick then had three years in the Canterbury team, and is now in his third season with Poverty Bay. He celebrated his bundreth game by scoring four tries against East Coast at Gisborne. Kirkpatrick and one of his older brothers, David, will both be in the combined side tomorrow, as flankers. The youngest brother. Colin, has also played for Poverty Bay this season as a flanker.

Ground wet The ground at Rugby Park, Gisborne, is likely to be wet and slippery for the Lions game. Gisborne reached its average annual rainfall by the end of May, and the sodden condition of the land testifies that the monsoon is not yet at an end. The likelihood of an uncertain footing might trouble the Lions caretaker fly-half C. W. W. Rea—especially as he will have I. A. Kirkpatrick to cope with. At training yesterday, the Lions coach (Mr C. R. James), a former fly-half, spent a good deal of time instructing Rea in the catching of the pass, and it was obvious that Rea will have to improve his liaison with his scrumhalf at practice today. Rea did not have a happy time in his one full game in the position earlier in the tour, but his selection was forced on the Lions management because of the need, to rest B. John, and the temporary loss of C. M. H. Gibson’s services because of a hamstring injury. The most impressive players at training were A. J. Lewis, the right centre, and the hardy lock, W. D. Thomas, who is fighting to

hold his test place in the face of a spirited challenge by G. L. Brown. Should Gibson’s injury take some time to mend, Lewis could force his claims to partner S. J. Dawes in the third test team with a compelling performance tomorrow.

The Kowhai bark treatment used by the renowned fullback of the 19205, G. Nepia, on the leg of the Lions’

scrum-half, R. Hopkins, has not had the desired effect.

Hopkins, still troubled by the injury he received some time ago, yesterday withdrew from the team for tomorrow’s game. His replacement has yet to be named, but it is probable that G. O. Edwards will be brought into the side, in spite of the fact that Dawes Substituted in the position when Hopkins failed to finish yesterday’s training run.