Tremain denies rumour of Shield come-back

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

Tremain denies rumour of Shield come-back

GISBORNE.

Strong and persistent rumours are circulating in Napier that K. R. Tremain is planning a surprise come-back to Rugby—especially for Hawke’s Bay’s challenge match against Canterbury’ for the Ranfurly Shield on September 29.

But the former All Black flanker said at the week-end that there was no substance to the rumours. “It’s just a load of codswallop,” he said.

However, Tremain said the knee injury which had precipitated his retirement had cleared up long since, and he had appeared twice for his club, Napier High School Old Boys, in senior club matches. On Sunday he played in a game between the Saracens and an invitation team at Clive, and some Bay supporters were moved to proclaim that a half-fit Tremain would be of greater benefit to the representative team than any one of the present loose forwards. OPTIMISTIC

Tremain’s weight has passed 17st, and although as coach of the Hawke’s Bay team he is still reasonably active, he would have to do a good deal of training on his qjyn to obtain some measure of mobility. And, as a partner in a prosperous travel and real estate business, he has not got much time to spare.

Whether Tremain returns to the side or not, Hawke’s Bay is looking forward to

the special challenge in a spirit of optimism. Defeat at the hands of the Lions has not shaken the side’s hopes of regaining the prized trophy it lost to Canterbury two years ago.

Twelve members of the 1966-69 shield squad are still playing for Hawke’s Bay, but on the evidence of last Saturday, age is catching up with some of them. However, the veteran of the front row, N. W. Thimbleby, is as tough and uncompromising as ever, and I. R. Mcßae is playing with verve and imagination at second five-eighths. The Canterbury centre, H. T. Joseph, need have no fears that M. G. Duncan (Hawke’s Bay) is about to usurp his place in the All Black backline. Possibly because of the broken jaw he received six weeks ago, Duncan was a weak link in the Hawke’s Bay defence against the Lions, and although he made two or three strong runs, he revealed a complete lack of guile and ran straight into a tackle on each occasion. However, for the shield game, it is likely that Duncan will be on the wing, while the former All Black, W. L. Davis, will return to centre.

The Hawke’s Bay captain, B. D. M. Furlong, has lost a

stone in weight since the South African tour, but he also appears to have lost a good deal of the accuracy with his punting, which used to be the strong point of his game.

The transfer to Napier of B. E. McLeod, who hooked for New Zealand in 24 out of a possible 27 tests in the last seven years, has been a boon for the provincial side. HOOKING ADVANTAGE

His tight-head advantage of 3-2 against the Lions was actually better than it seemed. One of the Lions’ heels against the head was gained by the loose-head prop, M. G. Roberts before the hookers had a chance to strike, while the other was the result of a concerted shove. The Hawke’s Bay pack was walked off the ball after McLeod had hooked it. The coach who guided Hawke’s Bay’s destinies during the last shield era, Mr C. le Quesne, has retired, but Tremain is proving an admirable successor, and has the confidence of the players. Yet, in spite of the fact that Hawke’s Bay has so many experienced campaigners at its command, the feeling persists that Canterbury will be too lively for its rival in the vital last 15 minutes.