PEAK REASON

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22444, 26 September 1947, Page 7

PEAK REASON

KEEN TEAM SPIRIT CONSISTENT TRAINING PERFORMANCES LISTED An important factor in the outstanding achievement of this season’s P.B. Rugby representatives in winning each of the six contests with other unions was the success of the selectors, Messrs. F. Solomon and J. Gillespie, in developing an efficient combination for the opening encounter and being able to retain a considerable proportion of it for the ensuing engagements.

In all 23 players took the field. Ten, including the half, S. Lee, and the fiveeighths, R. Clay and R. McKinley, op peared in every game, the other seven being the three-quarter, W. Edwards and the forwards, G. King, G. Elliott, I. Shaw, B. Birrell, N. Summersby, and W. Brown. Six others, though missing at least one took part in three or more games. One player appeared in two games and six in one each.

Ten who took part in one or more games were reserves for other matches Ten others listed as reserves were not afforded the opportunity for play, there being no replacements in any of the six matches. Consistent Leaders

Summersby was the captain and McKinley the vice-captain in five games, their roles being reversed for the sixth. McKinley led the scorers with 27 points as a result of three tries, six conversions and two penalty goals, Edwards with six tries and the wing, J. Barbour, with four being next in order, followed by Clay, who secured three conversions and a penalty. The team registered 77 points and 31 were scored against it. In addition to the six victories to the credit of the union. Poverty Bay supplied 12 of the players and all of the scorers in the team which defeated Otago by 20 points to eight. The three-quarter, E. Carrington, and forward, VV. Carrington, were included in the New Zealand Maori team for the tour of the Dominion. The five-eighth, R. McKinley, was also chosen for that side, but was not available.

The forward. G. King, was selected for this season's North Island team.

On paper the Poverty Bay team did not appear as strong as some other sides which have represented the union, or as impressive as some of the opposing fifteens of the season. Excellent Coaching

The players had, howeved, the benefit of excellent coaching, a good standard of physical fitness, a splendid team spirit and determination evinced to an unusual degree by each individual to sustain the highest pace throughout the game and particularly in the concluding stages. The standard of training and the development of combination was achieved under difficulties, ground practice taking place mainly during evening periods when the only illumination available was that provided by the headlights of cars of the players and supporters. Despite this handicap the standard reached was the peak of many seasons. The details whicn follow cover the season’s record of representative matches and the list of players and reserves with the number of fixtures and the scores credited to each individual. A further table shows the senior

players who have scored a total of 20 or more points in the season’s club competitions, together with Gisborne and Poverty Bay representative fixtures.

Clubs are indicated by the respective abbreviations: (C), Celtic; (M), Marist;

(O), Old Boys; (H), High School Old Boys; (Wh.), Whatatutu; (K), Kiwis; (T), Te Karaka; (P), Puha; (Wa). Waipaoa; (N), Ngatapa. The letters (b) and (f) respectively signify back and forward. RECORD OF REP. GAMES 21 June v. BayofPlentyatGisbome won 17—3 Tries by W. Edwards, J. Barbour; try and penalty R. McKinley: conversion and penalty R. Clay. 2 Aug. v. Wairarapa at Masterton won 11-6 Tries by W. Edwards (two), I. Shaw; conversion R, Clay. 6 Aug. v. Bush at Pnhiatua won 8-7 Try by <3. Elliott; conversion and penalty R. McKinley. 9 Aug. v. Hawke's Bay at Napier won IS—3 Tries by W. Edwards, J. Barbour, W. Carrington: conversions R. McKinley, R. Clay. 2S Aug. v. East Coast at Gisborne won 13-0 Tries by W. Edwards, J. Barbour; try and two conversions R. McKinley. 20 Sept v. East Coast at Ruatoria won 15-12 Try and two conversions, R. McKinley; tries J. Barbour, W. Edwards; conversion R. McGregor. Summary: Played, 6; won, 6; points for 77, against 31.

Reserves who did not take the field were: *R. Humphreys (O) (f) (3), T. Donovan (M) (f) (2), J. Charteris (Wa) (b), G. Yates (K) (f), C. Grannachan (N) (f), B. Parker (M) (f), J. Rigby (K) (b), J. Gillespie (M) (b), J. Shaakey (M) (f), 11. Nelson (M) (f). P.B. players in the P.8.-E.C. Combined side against Otago were: B. Preston, J. Barbour, R. McKinley (capt.), R. Clay, S. Lee, G. King, G. Elliott, I, Shaw, B. Birrell, N. Sumbersby, W. Brown, J. Ferguson, Reserves were E. Carrington, W. Edwards, W. Varley. Tries were scored by Barbour (two), McKinley, Lee, Birrell and Ferguson, one being converted by Clay. ♦lndicates member touring team to Wairarapa.

B. Preston (H) (b) Bcored 34 points in five junior games at the commencement of the season, before entering the senior grade in which he registered 18 points with six conversiona and two penalty goals.

PLAYERS AND RESERVES * Games Res. T. C. P. Pts. •R. McKinley (C) (b) 6 — - 3 6 2 27 *W. Edwards (M) (b) 6 — 6 — — ia •J. Barbour (0) (b) 5 1 4 — — 12 *K. Clay (0) (b) b — — 3 1 9 *G. Elliott (O) (f) 6 — 1 — — 3 *1. Shaw (H) (f) 6 — 1 — — 3 *W. Carrington (C) (f) 3 i 1 — — 3 R. McGregor (0) (b) 1 i — 1 — 2 *S. Lee (M) (b) 6 *G. King (Wh) (f) 6 *B. Birrell (0) (f) fi — — —- — — *N. Summersby (0) (f) 6 *W. Brown (K) (f) 6 *B. Preston (H) (b) i i — — — — *E. Carrington (C) (b) 4 i — — — — W. Varley (C) (f) 3 *J. Ferguson (M) (f) 3 i — — — — *V. Hata (T) (f) 2 3 — — — — E. Newton (P) (f) t *J. Blane (M) (b) i i — — — — *R. Whitham (0) (b) i 3 — — — — *G. Harris (0) (b) i 3 — — — __ M. Gerrard (K) (b) i — — — —

SENIOR CLUB AND T. REP. C. SCORERS P. F.G. Pts R. McKinley (C) (h) 14 12 8 1 04 J. Barbour (0) (b) 21 — — 0,7 R. Clay (0) (b) a 10 2 3 r>3 E. Carrington (O (b) 14 1 44 35 W. Brown (K) (f) 7 1 4 N. Summersby (0) (f) 5 7 2 35 W. Edwards (M> (b) 10 30 M. Classford (0) (b) 7 1 23 fi. Harris(O) (bl 7 1 23 P. Griffin (M) (f) 1 4 4 23 L. Gibson(H) (f) (b) 7 21 S. Lee (M) (b) 5 1 — 1 21