Kerrigan, Schultz in squad

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33539, 21 May 1974, Page 14

Kerrigan, Schultz in squad

(By /. O. COFFEY)

The outstanding young Kiwi Colts wing, E. S. Kerrigan (Papanui), has returned to the Canterbury Rugby league squad to prepare for the Rothmans championship match against Auckland at the Show Grounds on Queen’s Birthday Monday.

Kerrigan missed Canterbury’s successful Rugby League Cup challenge with West Coast last Saturday because of a hip injury.

The reintroduction of Kerrigan to the 15-man training group was one of two alterations made by the selectors (Messrs J. A. Flanagan and J. G. Clarke). D. Schultz, who has performed most consistently for Sydenham as a loose-forward for several seasons without winning previous representative honours, has also been included.

The promotion of Kerrigan and Schultz has been made at the expense of the two players who were replacements during the cup victory—G. R. Findlay and P. R. H. Brown (both MaristWestern Suburbs). A former national schoolboy and intermediate selection, Find-' lay has not been at his best in recent club and first-class football. Brown was perhaps a little unfortunate to be discarded: usually a scrum-half, he had a brief appearance at full-

back on Saturday as the substitute for G. Te Aho (Addington). If he has fully recovered from his injury, Kerrigan would be an obvious choice to be on the opposite wing to the Kiwi, M. P. Brereton (Marist). However, the very promising B. I. Dickison (Christchurch - Eastern Suburbs) claimed two tries in that unaccustomed position against West Coast and must have a claim to being named in the team proper to oppose Auckland.

Some attention will no doubt be given to the displays of the regular Canterbury scrum-half, W. A. Wilson (Linwood), at club level. He began shakily on Saturday and the selectors might be tempted to use the Eastern inside-back combination of G. R. Cooksley, Dickison and L. Paskell.

Similarly, the inclusion of Schultz hints that consideration might be given to using R. S. Walker (Papanui) in the secondrow.

The squad is — G. Te Aho (Addington), M. P. Brereton (Marist, captain). E. S. Kerrigan (Papanui), L. Paskell (Eastern), R. Auimatagi (Sydenham), B. I. Dickison (Eastern), G. R. Cooksley (Eastern), W. A. Wilson (Linwood), J. Greengrass (Linwood), D. P. Brown (Kaiapoi). A. P. Rushton (Eastern), S. N. Hatipov (Marist), S. J. Hogg (Sydenham). R. S. Walker (Papanui), D. Schultz (Sydenham). Training Linwood Park, Thursday, 7.30 p.m.