Records within reach of McCormick

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33037, 3 October 1972, Page 26

Records within reach of McCormick

(By

J. K. BROOKS)

W. F. McCormick could become the biggest scorer In New Zealand Rugby and the longest-playing provincial footballer if he retains his place as the Canterbury full-back for a full season in 1973. His nine points in Canterbury’s final game against Wellington last Saturday carried his first-class Rugby aggregate past the 1700 mark. D. B. Clarke’s New Zealand record of 1810 is only 107 points away, and McCormick has been re-

gularly producing totals of about 120 a season. The game against Wellington was his 181st for Canterbury — easily a record for a back in New Zealand inter-provincial Rugby. Only one man has played more games for his union—H. L. White, the 1953-55 All Black prop who represented Auckland 196 times. This figure is well within McCormick’s reach. McCormick holds most of the other records for a union—most points (1016), most conversions (209), and

most penalty goals (161). He broke Clarke’s penalty goal record this year. After 15 seasons and 259 first-class matches, McCormick is still a top-rank-ing full-back. Doubting Thomases obviously missed his display in the Ranfurly Shield match against Otago.

He was one of two players who appeared in all Canterbury’s 16 matches this season—the other was the prop, K. J. Tanner, whose total of games for the province is now 81.

A. J. Wyllie and R. J. Lockwood both played in 14 games; O. D. Bruce and S. E. G. Cron, 13; K. J. Gimblett, W. K. Bush, M.

P. Collins, and J. K. Phillips, 12; and H. H. Macdonald, R. W. Norton, L. J. Davis, and I. A. Hurst, 11.

McCormick was the side’s principal scorer, with 122 points. The bulk of the team’s tries came from the wings—Collins and R. J. Knight (nine each) and D. A. Hales (six)—and Wyllie scored five. Not one member of the side has declared himself a non-starter for the 1973 season, in which Auckland, Wellington, and Otago will probably be among the challengers for the shield. Counties, rebuffed as a challenger this year, will also be eager to gain a place on the list, especially since it has beaten two recent holders, Auckland and North Auckland, in the last 10 days.