Strong league team for floodlit game

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33493, 26 March 1974, Page 22

Strong league team for floodlit game

(By

J. O. COFFEY)

The Canterbury selectors. J. A. Flanagan and J. G. Clarke, have chosen a most attractive team to play Wellington in the first inter-provincial fixture under floodlights at the Show Grounds tomorrow evening. A long and varied firstclass season lies ahead of the Canterbury squad: the ■ province has been seeded into the Rothmans tourna-, ment finals; a challenge will be issued to the Rugby League Cup holder, West Coast: and Canterbury is one of three teams which will oppose the New South Wales Country tourists. While Mr Flanagan, the coach, is confident that Canterbury has the ability to perform with distinction, he is well aware of the strengths of the opposing sides, and is looking to the game with Wellington as a means of preparing for the important games ahead. He is conscious of Canterbury’s unimpressive record against Wellington in recent times. Wellington has a sequence of eight consecutive wins at Canterbury’s expense, and will no doubt be keen to maintain its successful run tomorrow evening, and in the return home and away game on Anzac Day. Mr Flanagan was well satisfied with the stamina and form shown by the Canterbury trialists at the Show Grounds last Wednesday night. The first half was extended to 50min to test the fitness of the candidates, . and there was little sign of the pace slackening as the < delayed interval neared. It was perhaps to be expected that Messrs Flanagan and Clarke—who were promoted to the Canterbury panel very soon after their ■ own long first-class careers 1 were brought to a i

■ close—should indulge in some experimentation and there will be considerable interest in the positioning of M. P. Brereton at stand-off i half and G. R. Findlay at prop. Ironically, Brereton—New Zealand’s most experienced test three-quarter in the last decade—will mark R. S. Ballantyne, who was a wing with the 1967 Kiwis in Australia. Ballantyne toured as a Northland representative, ;but has since transferred to i Wellington without being able to claim a regular berth |in that province’s first XIII. The Kiwi Colt inside back, N. J. Tupaea, is still extend- . ing his experience with the ’ Wigan club in Britain, and Ballantyne has taken his place. Ballantyne is considerably smaller than Brereton, and the strong-running Canterbury player might penetrate. Findlay’s all-round excellence in the trial demanded his inclusion, and he might be rather disappointed that he will appear in an unfamiliar position. The youthful second-row behind him, L. Wilson and A. Sarjeant, will be expected to capitalise on the ball distribution of Findlay and R. S. Walker. Over-all, the pack has much appeal in its basic pace and aggression. MOBILE PACK The mobility of the forwards is suited for the high standard of tackling that will be demanded by Mr Flanagan, who has also instructed his players in quick relaying of the ball to the outside backs. Canterbury, has continued a rebuilding process that began soon after its eariy elimination from the 1973 Rothmans contest. L. Wilson, Sarjeant and the wing, M. Barker, are new to first-class football, and W. A. Wilson. B. I. Dickison, J. Clarke and E. S. Kerrigan showed exceptional potential in their own debuts late last season.