Walker out of rep. league

Press, 10 April 1978, Page 32

Walker out of rep. league

By

JOHN COFFEY

Rod Walker, Canterbury’s most capped rugby league representative, and the provincial captain last winter, has announced his retirement from all first-class football. However, he will continue to guide the fortunes of the Papanui club side that he has coached and captained to victory in the last two championship grand finals.

The announcement by Walker—made only a short time before the Canterbury selectors (Messrs Peter Yaxley, Trevor Bisman and Gary Clarke) decided on their provincial squad on Saturday — was followed soon afterwards by the withdrawal from contention lof the former New Zealand XIII prop, Terry Gillman (Marist-Western Suburbs). They were added to the list of players who had previously restricted themselves to club level — John Greengrass (Kaiapoi), Ken Tait (Papanui), Bruce Dickison (Sydenham), and the Hornby pair, • Warren Wright and Trevor Williams.

Walker returned to the Canterbury team 12 months ago after not being available for two years. His final appearance —- in the Rothmans semi-final against Wellington —was his fiftieth for the province, the most by any player. The loss of Gillman will be sorely felt, particularly as there is an obvious scarcity of accomplished prop forwards. In addition to his worth in the tight, Gillman’s

thrust enabled him to be thei top try-scorer last season, | with six tries in as many) matches. Because of the increasing number of players who removed themselves from contention, and the injury which has kept the gifted centre, Lewis Hudson (Linwood), on the sideline, the squad for the game against Wellington at Wellington on Anzac Day will bear an experimental appearance. Tradition has been followed by the panel in discarding Wayne O’Donnell (Marist). In 1976, his elder brother, Michael, was surprisinglyomitted. and Wayne O’Donnell took time to convince ? the selectors of his worth s last year. Instead, the Cans terbury captain of 1975 and - 1976. ’ Wally Wilson (Lins wood), and a newcomer, i Merv Manson (Hornby), are - the scrum-halves. / Other comebacks have been made by the props, ? Steve Brewster (Hornby), s who was dropped after two / matches last winter, and Rex - Dalzell (Linwood), who s played 11 times between si 1974 and 1976, and the

stand-off half, David Field (Sydenham). The utility forward, Paul Truscott (Linwood), and the mid-field back, Mark Vincent (Sydenham), have yet to make their debut.

Generally, the squad is one of only moderate strength, a situation enforced to some extent by the withdrawals. The suspicion remains, though, that a group of greater potential could have been assembled. The squad is: M. W. J. O’Donnell (Marist), R. L, Alfeld (Hornby), E. S. Kerrigan (Papanui). F. A. Lawrence (Sydenham), G. D. Taie (Papanui), M. D. Vincent (Sydenham), D. Field (Sydenham). W. A. Wilson (Linwood), M. A. Manson (Hornby), S. J. Brewster (Hornby), A. P. Rushton (Eastern), M. H. F. Godinet (Papanui), M. E. Broadhurst (Marist), P. W. Truscott (Linwood), B. R. Edkins (Eastern). R, W. Dalzell (Linwood), M. D. Stone (Addington). The captain will probably be appointed at this evening’s meeting of the code’s board of control.