ANOTHER GAIN

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 108, 8 May 1937, Page 23

ANOTHER GAIN

PLAY/ER FROM CANTERBURY

Rugby in Canterbury has suffered another serious loss through the departure for .Wellington of J. Gillespie, provincial wing-three-quarter and leading member 'of the Sunnyside Club. ,

For some time Gillespie, has had an application- in. for admission to the police force, and a day or two ago he received advice that the'application had been granted, and that he would be stationed in Wellington (reports the ' "Star-Sun"). Gillespie, only twenty-one years of age but powerfully built,, had a sudden rise to football fame last season. While, play ing in. North Canterbury he was.chosen for the annual subunions' match. His sure and dashing play on the -wing so impressed the Canterbury sole selector that Gillespie was included in the Canterbury Colts' team to tour Nelson and Marlborough. Before this side left, however, a vacancy occurred in the rear division of the senior representative side through George Hart not being available. Gillespie was given his chance in the match against North Auckland on Sep- • tember 9. He made full use of it, and was 1 hereafter a regular member of the side.

> This season Gillespie has mostly

.filled the full-back position for Sunnyside, and Iras given several remarkably fine exhibitions. He adopted the role'of-attacking'full-back, and his unorthodox tactics frequently brought the crowd to their fee*. Gillespie is surp to go far in football. • Fast and as able to stand up to hard knocks as any forward, he' may eyen gain New Zealand honours.this season should.he get the right opportunities to show his ability in Wellington. ■' ,' J. D. Mahoney, of the Christchurcli Club, who is a Canterbury representative front-row forward, has been transferred to Dunedin, where he will play lor the Pirates Club. Mahoney represented West Coast before going to Canterbury early in 1936.