NO DAY FOR BACKS

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23282, 18 August 1945, Page 6

NO DAY FOR BACKS

It would oe hard to particularise amongst the South Canteibury forwards for their work on Thursday, but Hobbs iGeraldine' and Edwards (Star) were two forwards who shone in the loose. Hobbs was playing on the side of the scrum, and when the opposition had the ball, he was up on to their backs with a surprising turn of speed, and was to .the forefront of all the loose work. His good work, and persistence in following up. paid him dividends, late in the first spell, when he carried the ball at his toes from a Iqose ruck near the line to dribble through the defence, and cross the line handy to the posts. Eathorne (Star), who played on the left wing, was a surprise selection for the team, but he proved his worth, his tackling being low. hard and sure. On one occasion, the speedy Canterbury winger. Palmer, got away with plenty of room

POSITION OF TEAMS The following is the position in the senior competition, as from last Saturday:— CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS Senior Temuka 12 6 3 3 101 72 15 Celtic 12 6 4 2 58 46 14 Makikihi .. ..12 5 3 4 64 68 14 Old Boys 12 5 4 3 117 85 13 Geraldine .. ..11 3 4 4 62 66 10 Star 11 4 5 2 72 98 10 Zingari 12 4 7 1 77 90 9 Southern-Huimai 12 2 5 5 65 83 9

in which to move, and with his team mates in support, things looked dangerous, but Eathorne. brought off a magnificent tackle, with such speed thai his opponent had no time to get rid of the ball. It was not a day loi the backs, but Lundy made the most oi the few opportunities which came his way, and ne broke up several Canterbury rushes by clever interception, and the manner in which he charged down their clearing kicks.

Junior Cross-Country It is interesting to. note that already several local harrier clubs are entering teams in the South Island junior crosscountry championships. The Methodist Club has a group of young runners who are keen to compete. They are F Karton. M. McDonald. A. Mauser. H. Rolfe, C. McEwing and C. Thomas. Karton ran well in the Canterbury junior championships. Mauger also performed very well in the Timaru Boys’ High School race for the Johns Cup and the other members who should form the team are capable of running a good race. Stan Riley has good material in this group to give him encouragement to bring the Methodist Club to the front. Tile Timaru Club has a team that should pe form well in all inter-club events. The best appear to be K. Hitchcock, T. Hitchcock. A. Cotterlll, D. Adams, J. Farmer. A Dellow and V. Valentine. The Presbyterian Club has a good group of juniors and under the capable coaching of Lloyd Williams they should be represented in the South Island championships. D. Ramsay. W. Cross. I. Linney. W. Ramsay. S. Withell. H. 1. Dephoff and B. Harvey are a likely lot. Showing Good Form

A returned man who has shone in Club football this season for his old side. N. Ivey, who represented South Canterbury before the war. showed that he had lost none of his old

skill on Thursday in the game against Canterbury. A good line-out man, Ivey uses his head and is a tower of strength in the hard rucking.

South Island Representatives P. G. Fitzgerald gave ' convincing proof of his worthiness for the South Island team in Thursday's game at Fraser Park. A former South Canterbury representative Fitzgerald has been playing excellent Rugby in club games in Christchurch, and his performance against the home team was in keeping with his reputatio' as :

fast, loose forward who is always on the ball. McKenzie, the Canterbury captain, made a bad blunder in the first spell ’ hen he gave his backs

plenty of the ball from the scrum. He shone in lhe line-outs, but otherwise was not impressive as a South Island representative. This player was formerly a member of the Timaru Boys' High School first fifteen, where he learnt his football. The best forward tn the Canterbury pack was Rothwell who kept good control of the ball in loose rushes, and was a grafter in *b° tight. ..