Sport. Youth realised ambition

Press, 8 March 1989, Page 34

Sport. Youth realised ambition

By JOHN COFFEY Peter Beck, a young Canterbury player who voluntarily stood down for two years to gain a clearance from the New Zealand Rugby League, has realised his ambition to join an Australian club. The former schoolboy international from Hornby has linked up with the Lakes United club in the semi-professional Newcastle competition, one of the strongest outside of the Sydney premiership. “I think I made the right decision," said Beck from Newcastle yesterday. “The gate is now open for me in Australia and that is all I can ask for. The rest is up to me.” Beck, aged 20, is hoping to attract the attention of a Winfield Cup club — either the Newcastle Knights or one of the Sydney-based clubs with which Lakes United has

connections. Two years ago Tony Kemp and Beck were members of the national elite youth squad and candidates for the Junior Kiwis tour to Britain. Kemp made a successful bid for that trip and is presently involved in a transfer wrangle with the N.Z.R.L. after spending last season as a “rookie” with the Knights. Wary of signing any contracts, Beck spurned his chance of a tour and began a two-year selfimposed exile from the sport to qualify for a full overseas transfer. “I sympathise with Tony, who has had a taste of how sweet it can be at the top. But I can understand that the rules are there to protect the game in New Zealand and players in our situation have to bite the bullet,” said Beck.

“To release Tony would mean there are grounds to release many others, and that would knock the game at home,” he said. Beck is satisfied that there is no animosity between himself and the New Zealand administrators. “My two years were not up until May. But they were only too happy to bring it forward because I’d done the right thing. They didn’t want to disrupt my 1989 season. “Spending two years out of football is not something I’d recommend to everyone. It depends on the type of person. Those who just want to put their feet up, or who increase weight quickly, would find it difficult to come back,” he said. While waiting for his clearance Beck trained with Balmain in Sydney and last winter he played

first grade rugby union in Newcastle. So far he has made two appearances for Lakes United in interclub trials, having switched back to his schoolboy international role of loose forward. • Beck’s other sporting interest — horse racing — is also keeping him buoyant. Last Friday Dixie La Rue, the horse he partly owns and is trained by his father, Bill Beck, won at Riccarton at long odds. His sister, Donna, has a horse, Hughie McGahan, named after the Kiwi test captain. A horse dentist by occupation, Peter Beck will be doing more travelling in October — to a worldwide seminar on equine dentistry in Nebraska. By then he hopes to be looking back on a highly successful debut season in Australian rugby league.