Four newcomers in Rugby league squad

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33527, 7 May 1974, Page 28

Four newcomers in Rugby league squad

(By

J. O. COFFEY)

Four new players — G. R. Cooksley (Christchurch - Eastern Suburbs), R. Auimatagi (Sydenham), G. Te Aho (Addington), and S. N. Hatipov (Marist - Western Suburbs) — have been brought into the Canterbury Rugby league squad to prepare for the match against West Coast at the Show Grounds on May 18.

The provincial selectors' (Messrs J. A. Flanagan and J. G. Clarke) discarded the full-back, M. W. J. O’Donnell (Marist), and the right wing, D. R. Neylons (Kaiapoi), from the team which was well beaten by New South Wales Country on Sunday, and have increased the size of the squad to 17. By recalling Cooksley, who has represented New Zealand in both half-back positions, Messrs Flanagan and Clarke have paved the way for M.P. Brereton (Marist) to switch from stand-off half to his more-accustomed place on the wing. Mr Flanagan said yesterday that Brereton would definitely be regarded as a wing when the team to challenge West Coast for the Rugby League Cup is chosen after club games next weekend. Whether Brereton retains the captaincy is a matter still to be considered by the panel. Cooksley has been in excellent form for Eastern in recent weeks and seems likely to be used at standoff. Two scrum-halves, W. A. Wilson (Linwood) and P. R.

Brown (Marist), have been retained in the squad, but the experience and all-round skills of another former international half, R. S. J. Irvine (Marist), have not been utilised. The strong-running Hatipov has earned a return to the

Canterbury line-up with a succession of prominent performances for Marist. He has been out of favour since his disappointing debut in Wellington early last season. Auimatagi and Te Aho are long-serving club members who have been on the fringe of representative recognition for some seasons without winning inclusion in previous Canterbury squads. MILESTONES Both have attained personal milestones in recent weeks. Te Aho’s three goals for Addington against Kaiapoi on Saturday took his career points total in premier football to exactly 600 since 1965. A versatile and consistent back, Te Aho is a steady goal-kicker who has served Addington well. The elusive Auimatagi was the leading try-scorer in the grading round which was completed last week-end, his six touch-downs extending his premier grade tally to 53 in just over six seasons. He will come under consideration as a wing, whether he makes

(the team proper depending on (the placement of E. S. Kerrigan at centre or wing. ( The squad is:— ■ Te Aho, Brereton, Kerrigan, L. ; Paskell (Eastern), Auimatagi. B. 11. Dickison (Eastern), Cooksley, ( Wilson. P. Brown, J. Greengrass I (Linwood). D. P. Brown (Kaiapoi), I A. P. Rushton (Eastern:, Hatipov. G. R. Findlay (Marist). A Sarjeant (Papanui), J. C. McNish (Eastern), R. S. Walker (Papanui) Training Papanui Domain, Thursday, 7.30 p.m. —Advt