PEOPLE IN THE PLAY

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28262, 27 April 1957, Page 5

PEOPLE IN THE PLAY

H A knee Injury suffered two J years ago has prevented the § Auckland, Canterbury, and H Christchurch ■-<

== K>»rJiaLvuu i t u J centre threeS quarters, H. |j Vernon, from S playing Rugby H this year. His § services to the g game have not g been lost, g however, for g Vernon is this = year coaching |t h e ChristIl church club’s

g under 18 (Maori) team. Verg non had the cartilage of one g knee removed last year, and although this has prevented him from playing football, he was able to play tennis in the business firms’ night competition in the last tennis season.

One of Canterbury’s best referees. Mr S. W. Whiteford, will not take an active part in refereeing this year. Mr Whiteford has been one of the Canterbury union’s “big five” referees for at least six years, and last year he refereed two Springbok matches against Hawke’s Bay and Bay of Plenty-Thames Valley-Coun-ties. He has already refereed several Ranfurly Shield fixtures. He retains his interest in refereeing as the president of the referees’ association and the association’s representative on the union’s management committee. He will also attend many games controlled by junior referees to advise them and lend them assistance where required.

A good exhibition of goalkeeping was given at English Park last Saturday by David Smith, playing for Seatoun against Western. David is a son of Mr J. K. Smith, former Western player and Canterbury representative.

A former Brabin Shield wicket-keeper, N. L. Jones, who was a member of the winning St. Albans senior team, will be playing for the Dunedin Club next season. Through absence overseas, then the inclusion of S. C. Guillen, Jones has not had the opportunity of establishing himself as a ’keeper in senior cricket, but he may have more scope next summer.

Although he did not win a place in Canterbury’s Freyberg Rosebdwl tournament

team, that is a distinction which should not long escape \ Russell Wakefield, the young Timaru golfer who made such a good impression during the Christchurch Club’s Easter tournament. A fine

all-round athlete, Wakefield is improving fast and should soon be capable of beating the best players in the country.