Talented halfback kept waiting in the wings

Press, 2 June 1989, Page 26

Talented halfback kept waiting in the wings

Canterbury rugby has its grey areas as it strives to find a winning formula this season, but the problems do not pertain to the position of halfback where the province boasts an embarrassment of riches.

In all but the very strongest unions the Burnside halfback, Jon Preston, would almost certainly find himself snapping at the heels of any provincial pack, calling the shots at line-outs and scrums, controlling and co-ordinating backline play from his position of importance. In Canterbury, however, Preston, in spite of playing the best rugby of his still blossoming career, cannot establish himself in the top three. The Canterbury selec-tor-coach, Frank Jack, had Graeme Bachop as the number one in the South Pacific series with the perennial substitute, Allan Lindsay, on standby. The return recently of the All Back incumbent, Bruce Deans, presumably will drop Preston further down the pecking order.

Preston has all the qualities of a halfback better than good. He is long with his pass, increasingly adept at the little kick into uninhabited regions, belligerent on the burst and sure on defence. To boot, he is an outstanding right-footed goal-kicker with a high success rate from anywhere up to 50m.

A New Zealand Schools, New Zealand Colts, Canterbury Colts and Canterbury B representative, Preston, aged 21, ardently wishes to build on the one appearance he made for Canterbury A last season. He is willing, able and ready to do so, but is resigned to the fact that there might be a wait. Although it has been suggested to him that representative honours beckon away from Canterbury, Preston has no desire to leave the province which he came to from Dunedin when he was aged about seven.

The multi-talented Preston was twelfth man for the Canterbury cricket team’s final Shell Trophy match last summer and he would like to think that he could exchange the drinks-carrying duties for on-field participation next season. As well, his education — he is working towards a Bachelor of Arts degree — his family and his friends are Christchurch ties which he does not want to sever. Preston bears no grudges against the men who are preventing him from winning a place in Canterbury’s first XV. "I’d love to play for Canterbury. A few friends have suggested that I move away from Christchurch to break into top representative rugby but I wouldn’t do it at this stage. My cricket pros-

By

BOB SCHUMACHER

pects are here and so are my friends. Lindsay and Deans are getting on a wee bit and might not be around too much longer; there could be a place in a couple of years.” Bachop, older by five months, will probably continue to cast a shadow over Preston in future years, the two having started their rivalry with Canterbury Colts in 1986 when Bachop played most matches at halfback. Preston shared halfback duties with Ross Adler for Canterbury B in 1987 with goal-kicking largely the responsibility of Colin Williamson, but last season — with a union change of policy giving Colts preference over Canterbury B — Preston was the age-group team’s No. 1 halfback and goal-kicker. The equable temperament of Preston was tested last year in his Canterbury A debut against Southland in Invercargill. A last-minute try enabled Canterbury to tie Southland at 16-all and Preston was left with the match-winning conversion. It was a relatively easy kick but made more difficult because of its significance. Preston was not found wanting and he contributed 10 of Canterbury’s points.

“Considering what I had to do I was reasonably pleased with my game. But it was a pretty disappointing display from the whole team really under difficult circumstances ...

games on Saturday, flying down on the morning of the match all made it pretty rush-rush.” Born in Dunedin, Preston was five years old when introduced to a modified game of rugby at St Bridget’s School. He started at second fiveeighths and was fullback when he joined the Burnside club on his arrival in Christchurch several years later.

He has been a stalwart of Burnside since, his association with the club being broken only while he was at St Bede’s for five years. At that college he was groomed as a halfback and was in the first XV for two years. Cricket did not hold such a prominent station and he played for the college’s first XI for four years.

The difficulties associated with being so proficient at both sports began for Preston when he left school. He stepped straight into the Burnside senior rugby team and almost directly into the Burnside-West University’s first grade cricket XI.

Jon Preston ... “I’ve always been a passing halfback.”

But so far Preston has managed to meet the time-consuming demands required of players involved at the highest club level.

"I thoroughly enjoy both. I’ve chopped and changed my mind at times, sometimes enjoying cricket more than rugby and vice-versa, but when that sport comes back into season I enjoy them equally as much. I can’t make up my mind which I like best. While I’m still young enough I haven’t found the need to give up one but that time will come, no doubt.”

Preston paid tribute to the support given to him by both family and friends.

"They’ve made it easy for me. My parents have always encouraged me and still do and my close friends are always pushing me. To me that is motivation enough to perform well.”

Preston’s father, Bryan, has been the most influential coach on his son’s career and he guided him through his early years at Burnside and for his first two seasons in seniors. Bryan Preston, a senior club first five-eighths for Alhambra at the age of 17, was a convert of the Otago and All Black halfback of the 19605, Chris Laidlaw, and his son modelled his play on Laidlaw’s style. “Over the years I’ve basically always been a passing halfback, that’s been my style and the role I’ve considered a halfback should be. But in the last few years I’ve developed different types of kicks and also, particularly this year, my running has become a lot better as well. My coaches have encouraged me to develop kicks from halfback but the running side has been in the head and maybe I’ve matured a bit in my play.” Preston’s burgeoning craftsmanship and confidence have been largely responsible for Burnside’s prominent place in the Trustßank Cup competition, only one point behind the joint leaders, Shirley and Linwood.

“I’m involved more in the game and am contributing more to the side. We are a young teain, mostly all good friends in the same age group who have come through the same ranks together,” Preston said in explanation of Burnside’s obvious unity and understanding among all team members. Of present day halfbacks, Preston has most admiration for Otago’s wearer of the No. 9 jersey, Dean Kenny, an All Black in 1986. “He’s got the complete game — long pass, clever kicks, sharp breaks and does a

lot of work on cover defence.” It may be that Preston will become a fully fledged Canterbury cricketer before he holds a permanent place in the province’s rugby team. A Canterbury B representative for two seasons, Preston shrugged aside some disappointing early club seasons to score more than 700 runs last season and the left-handed opening batsman compiled several worth-while innings for the Canterbury second XI.

If patience was Preston’s favourite card game it would be no surprise. He exhibits that virtue at the batting crease and it may need more perserverance before this versatile sportsman gets the chance to display his rugby prowess for his province’s premier team.