League stars back for Wellington

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33516, 23 April 1974, Page 16

League stars back for Wellington

(By

J. O. COFFEY)

The two representative Rugby league players who ha\e buen ordered off in recent weeks, M. P. Brereton and 1). P. Brown, will be available tor the Canterbury team to meet Wellington at Wellington on Saturday.

Both will complete their suspensions — Brereton (Marist-Western Suburbs) for one club match,' and Brown (Kaiapoi) for two — when their respective premier grade sides meet under floodlights at the Show Grounds tomorrow evening.

Brereton was dismissed by the referee (Mr T. Drake) during Marist’s game with Christchurch-Eastern Suburbs last Saturday and charged with punching an opponent who had already been penalised for felling a Marist player. The sending from the field of Brown by Mr T. C. Houston, also occurred against Eastern, on Easter Monday. Because of the cancellation of the last floodlit fixture — and meeting — Brown’s case did not come before the provincial board of control until last evening and he had already served half of his sentence. SECRET DISCUSSION Discussion concerning the recommendations of the board’s judicial committee was taken in committee, and the chairman (Mr M. R. Clinton) announced afterwards that the suggested terms of suspension had been upheld in each case. In comparing the length of the sentences, Mr Clinton said that “both players took the law into their own hands and allegedly threw punches. The difference was that Brereton’s action was spontaneous and Brown’s premeditated.” Two other incidents which occurred in grading games last week-end drew the attention of the judicial committee.

A decision on the abandonment of the match between Halswell and Hornby just before full-time was deferred for further investigation. A report had been received from the referee, Mr G. Franklin.

G. Mayers, a Shirley

player, was stood down for four games as an aftermath of his dismissal during his club’s fixture with University. He was accused of “using his boot on an opponent lying on the ground." CANTERBURY TEAM Once the availability of Brereton and D. Brown had been confirmed, the Canterbury team for the return match with Wellington could be chosen. Brereton once again will be captain and stand-off half, and Brown retains his hooking duties. Of the 15-man squad chosen at Easter, K. P. J. Williams (Papanui) and J. C. McNish (Eastern), have been named as the reserves. Neither has appeared in a first-class game, although they were in the Canterbury XIII which lost to New Zealand Marist. L Paskeil (Eastern) is the

only newcomer to Canterbury A status in the team i proper. He will partner P R. I Brown (Marist) in the ■centres. The son of a 19o.) i test wing, Paskell was a . I Zealand 19-years representa I live in 1972 and appeared tor ‘a Canterbury XIII and Canterbury B a season age Those returning to reprc jsentative football are P. Brown — who had three matches in 1969 and 1972 — and A. P. Rushton (Easterni. i whose seven previous games were spread over four years. Rushton’s return at prop en ables G. R. Findlay (Marht) to revert to second-row. while M. W. J. O'Donne'l (Marist) has returned to fullback after having been a centre in the first Wellington match. The team is.— O'Donnell; D. R Neylons (Kaiapoi). Paskell. P. Brown. E. S. Kerrigan (Papanui); Brereton (captain). W. A Wilson (Linwood); J. Greengrass (Linwood). D. Brown. Rushton; Findlay. A. Sarjeant (Papanui); R. S. Walker (Papanui). Reserves: Williams, McNish.