Welcome return by league prop

Press, 26 May 1979, Page 56

Welcome return by league prop

The announcement yesterday that Terry Gillman is again available for representative rugby league selection will provide an additional incentive for Canterbury's forwards to perform well against Wellington at the Show Grounds this afternoon.

Gillman, one of the sturdiest front-row props in the country, restricted his football appearances to club level over the early part of the season because of a heavy programme of sporting and personal commitments. “The New Zealand Marist tournament and the

pre-season knock-out made for a heavy schedule in March and April, but now they are out of the way I want to try’ out for Canterbury and take it from there,” Gillman said yesterday. Not surprisingly, Gillman’s changed status was greeted as heartening news by the Canterbury co-seleetor and coach, Mr Trevor Bisman, and also by Mr Gary Clarke, who is both a provincial and island selector and the coach of the South Island side to take part in the national inter-district competition next month. It is not certain, though, when Gillman will ac-

tually return to first-class play. The Canterbury squad already numbers 16, and it was intended to recall Derek McLaughlan and bring it up to full strength after McLaughlan returns from Australia witii .he New Zealand Universities team.

Unless there are injuries to either side. Gillman might not participate in the fixture between Canterbury and Rest of South Island at the Show Grounds on June 4, a match that is being used as the final trial for the South Island side. Canterbury’s decisive wins over Wellington and Waikato this winter have not been achieved without

conceding more than the usual number of penalties at the scrummage. Gillman’s presence would alleviate the problem, and Broadhurst could return to the straight-running sec-ond-row role which first brought him to prominence.

Gillman’s decision is likely to be greeted even more widely. He was still developing his skills when chosen for a New Zealand XIII against Sydney Metropolitan at Auckland in 1976, and made a far more favourable impression on northern observers when Canterbury all but upset Auckland in the i 'Ottomans Cup final last September.

It is dear that Gillman is well in contention for , full Kiwi honours against Britain later this year, particularly now that the most seasoned test prop. Lyndsay Proctor, is suffering from a broken arm and will probably be out of contention. Gillman has strong credentials to pack down against the powerful British forwards. In addition to his physical attributes around the play-the-balls, he is a formidable attacking force close to opposing try-lines, as testified by his 10 tries in 13 appearances lor Canterbury and 94 tries In premier club football.