GIMBLETT LEFT OUT Few changes in Rugby squad

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33815, 11 April 1975, Page 22

GIMBLETT LEFT OUT Few changes in Rugby squad

The new Canterbury Rugby selectors ( Messrs S. F. Hill and D. A. Arnold > have stuck largely with last year’s players in a 20-strong representative training squad announced yesterday.

The only selection yet to play first-class Rugby is the young Suburbs second five-eighths, Ricky Allen. However, he has performed well for Canterbury Colts and his inclusion is no great surprise.

hi naming Allen, andt leaving out the longserving Canterburyi second live-eighths. I Kevin Gimblett, thel selectors have a p-l parently decided to! forget about Gimblett; for the game against! Scotland at the end of; next month.

Gimblett will transfer to Palmerston North in June, but there had been suggestions that his experience would win him a place in the team for this key game. The only other newcomer is the former Wellington

lock, Dennis Waller, who moved to Christchurch during the summer. However, the squad has some interesting features. The choice of only one hooker, Tane Norton, is a little surprising, and it seems likely that Brent Elder will be restored to his old position of reserve half-back. Elder has not been available for the last two seasons and for a man who has spent so many years waiting on the wings it is bad luck that Lyn Davis, who he has understudied. has decided after some uncertainty to continue for another year. There are two omissions of] note, the tearaway University; flanker. Ray Scott, who seemed to have sealed his place with a fine club game on Monday night, and Brian Hedge, who in spite of injury problems, had a good first, season for Canterbury last year. Purdon chosen Stuart Purdon, who has been on the fringe of selection for three seasons and who has been called in for the odd game, has apparently been preferred ahead of Scott.

Tiie squad may be en-

larged to 22 members and there does seem a definite] need for at least one more] wing. Hedge and Grant! Anderson are possibilities.] but the vacancy is most! likely to go to Ricky Knight,) ia former Canterbury wing who returned recently to Christchurch from Hawke’s Bay where he became an All Black trialist. First run The full squad, which will have its first run at Glenmark on Sunday morning, is:— I Backs.—W. F. McCormick I (Linwood). G. S. Sims t (Suburbs), T. W. Mitchell (Linwood), B. A. McPhail (Old Boys). R. Allen (Suburbs), K. J. Jennings (University). O. D. Bruce (Oxford). L. J. Davis ('Suburbs), B. F. Elder (Linwood).

Forwards.—A. J. Wyilie (Glenmark), J. K. Phillips (Linwood), S. E. G. Cron (Suburbs), S. I. Purdon (Old Boys), D. M. Thompson (Belfast), D. Waller (Christchurch), V. E. Stewart (Marist), K. J. Tanner (New Brighton), W. K. Bush (Belfast), J. C. Ashworth (Linwood), R. W. Norton (Linwood).