SIGNALS TEAM.

Duffy's Gen, Issue VI, 5 June 1945, Page 4

SIGNALS TEAM.

Signals is taking a keen interest in .the rugby this season, and the nern who pound the morse keys, together with their comrades at the ’’Health Spa" or "Greenhouse" and the loop-swingers, not to be confused with the lead swingers - have combined in an effort to overthrow one other sections competing in the field* Three branches from Signals are not represented in the team, namely the Telephone mechanics, the plug-pullers and the cypher .section*'The first two named give excellent support from the sideline, but sc far none of the latter branch has put in an appearance, to. add a feminine voice to the terrific barracking, which must shake this small Island to its very foundations each Saturday afternoon* We wonder’if the spectacle-of so much trampling of* bodies underfoot, and the slaughter resulting therefrom, is too much for. the present .generation of HZ womanhoodWe think not, j and perhaps before the season closes, 'a soprano voice will be heard above, the awful tumult. . . ■ ; ;'o-. The. end of the fir . round-sees* Signals dragging the* chain, slightly as far as points are concerned, but it -has for its assistants in this impossible . task, Works and Mt*: Bates-,;- who have three points as well* The - second round will commence at a furious pace with Signals all out for victory,- and let he who • thinks that - any other' team can beat the W.T. men, • think’-again before hecarelessly parts with the golden shekel* u. We feel that those- at home, in the land of the: living, may be -interested in our opinion- of the various players, and with this thought in mind we proceed to a brief commentary on each man* ■ ’ ‘ . Clentwort, full-back and captain of the team, shows a solid defence and finds the line well;. Kent, wing three-quarters, the "general 1 has has. great speed and very tricky run; Talbot, a Temuka man, is the ideal type of winger and runs very strongly for the line# .. Patterson is playing good football on the .other wing; Freeman, centre, is a tower of strength in the back-line; Schroeder, in the second five-eighth ■ is a valuable link and puts in- some solid defence work; Eotchin, at first five, is quick off the mark and his handling:improves with each matchi Henderson, a deadly tackler is somewhat slow in attack; Sparrow, the diminutive half, is probably our outstanding back and he has played a fine game in every match to date; Ballantyne, front row and vice captain, is a veritable bull dog in any ruck; Chaney, the hooker who gives the backs an even share of the ball; Burgess, front row, a new., comer to this small Island but not to football; Litchfield, oreak-away and a fine forward too, is, to use a service expression."always on the ball" (and we referr to football only) Lee, the- other side-row, and

- 5 - Signals Team (Continued) one of the D,F 4 representatives who always takes a true bearing on the opposing first five-eighth: Janson, one of the locks ano a very fine physical specimen; MacGlashen, the tall Scotsman, does his share as the other lock; Johnson, an honest toiler who follows up f ast (