P. C. Orchard to rest from first-class Rugby league

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33153, 17 February 1973, Page 48

P. C. Orchard to rest from first-class Rugby league

(By

J. O. COFFEY)

P. C. Orchard, whose prolific try-scoring on the right wing has been a highlight of New Zealand’s international Rugby league performances during the last few years, intends to restrict his appearances to club level in the coming season.

In a telephone interview from Wellington yesterday, Orchard said that he had decided to step down from representative football temporarily so that he might finance a house for his family and shake off the lethargic attii tilde which marred his displays last year.

When Orchard does resume his first-class career in 1974, he may not be in his accustomed position on the right flank. Some doubts surround his immediate future. Work commitments will prevent him from training regularly, and he has not yet decided whether he will continue his association with the St George club in Wellington.

But Orchard did state a keenness to experiment as a loose forward in some club games this year, and he is still rather sore that Wellington did not use him in the centres more often after his

transfer from the Bay of I Plenty 12 months ago. “I want a home to put my I family in before continuing with football,” he said yesterday. “What I have saved in the last two years has been spent on overseas tours. It will take me a year to get back on my feet,” Orchard said. “A season off should do wonders to my game. I have had a lot of football in a short time and lost the enthusiasm I had—l was starting to get lazy even running on to the field.

“Changing to the forwards may not necessarily be a permanent move. Out on the wing you get plenty of ball to play with in the big stuff, but not at. club standard. It was even a help last season when St George placed me in the centres outside Eric Carson (a former Kiwi scrumhalf),” Orchard said.

He is no stranger to the pack, having played at the back of the scrum quite frequently while living in Rotorua, and, at 14st, has the physique and certainly the pace to carry out the duties of a loose forward.

Orchard, who is still only 24, has chosen a light season to relax. In contrast to recent years — Kiwi sides have visited Britain and France three times and Australia once since 1970—New Zealand is committed only to a home series against France. Even though Orchard failed to impress in Australia and at the World Cup in France last year, his absence will be felt, especially as his announcement follows quickly on the heels of a similar statement by the Kiwi centre and captain, F. R. Christian (Auckland). On the 1971 tour of Britain and France, Orchard scored a remarkable 27 tries in only

19 appearances. In all, he has touched down 32 times in 31 maches for his country, only

five short of the record estab-1 fished by R. W. Bailey (Auck-1 land) in 75 games. Orchard’s test total of 121

tries (in 13 internationals) is three jess than New Zealand’s best, by B. T. Hadfield (Auckland). There is no doubt that Orchard would be good value against France — in four previous clashes with the Tricolors he has scored seven tries.

It is possible that provincial and national administrators will attempt to persuade Orchard to change his mind, for he is still fulfilling a threeyear contract to the New Zealand league. But any such efforts will be met by a very determined Orchard, who wants to come back “fitter, faster and fresher” in 1974. His older brother and fellow international, Robert, was involved in more than one difference of opinion with officialdom between the time that he became New Zealand’s youngst test forward — in 1965 — and his transfer to a Brisbane club a few weeks ago. With Philip Orchard’s possible positional change in mind, it is of note that Robert Orchard was a provincial I wing before .moving to the pack and representing New Zealand in the second-row land as a prop.