CLUB RUGBY REVIEW

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28266, 2 May 1957, Page 13

CLUB RUGBY REVIEW

One of the most rewarding sights for spectators at any Rugby match is short passing among forwards. The Australian team which toured New Zealand in 1955 had this developed to a high degree but it has been seen too seldom recently in local Rugby. It is pleasing that at least three club teams in this season have gained advantage from its use; Sydenham used the type of play against Albion on the first day of the competition and both Technical’s tries against Linwood last Saturday were preceded by short passing among forwards bunched together. University, playing Old Boys, had several superb forward passing rushes.

The Merivale senior team badly missed the services of its second five-eighths T. Davis on Saturday. Davis was one of the best backs in the match against Alhambra on the previous Saturday and his play in that game gave a promise of greater things to come.

A young Linwood player who substituted at full-back for B. H. Dailey in the match with Technical last Saturday gave an impressive display. He was F. McCormick, a son of the 1925 All Black forward in Australia. Still under 20, F. McCormick has graduated through the grades in the Linwood club and now he is usually a five-eighths in the senior reserve side. His play was well up to senior standard on Saturday.

The University pack does not appear to have been adversely affected by the loss of some of its biggest and best forwards of last season. Although the pack lacks the height of some others, it has plenty of vigour. M. Dunne, a senior player for Wellington College Old Boys last season, stood out in the loose last Saturday. His play suggested that he should be a contender for provincial honours this season. J. L. Williams was also outstanding at the back of the scrum.

M. Gowans, Sydenham fullback who spent his early playing days at soccer, is not the picture of elegance on a football field. On Saturday he started badly with his kicking for which he did not seem able to register length or direction. It was bad luck for Marist when he did strike a length for he converted two tries and kicked a penalty goal when the ball was placed beyond half-way. Gowans is the most powerful place-kicker in Christchurch and is always a problem for the other side. His line-kicking also is grand and a 50 yards punt is not unusual for him.

One of the most impressive forwards so far this season has been the tall Christchurch flank forward K. N. Orsbourn. A member of the New Zealand Colts’ team which created such a good impression in Ceylon in 1955, Orsbourn for Christchurch is showing that he will be pressing some of the more established players for their places in the representative side.

Sunnyside-Spreydon, which shared the bottom position on the senior ladder with New Brighton last year, has begun the new season on a much higher note. After drawing with Technical in a friendly match the combined side led Technical in the first competition fixture and lost by only two points. Last Saturday it secured a well-deserved win against Merivale by 11 points.

N. Edgington, a full-back of capabilities above the average, has played some fine games for Albion in the last few seasons, and from time to time he offers a reminder of his goal-kicking prowess. On Saturday his four goals against New Brighton, gave his side 10 points and contributed largely to Albion’s success.

One of the deadly sins of Rugby football is to allow a “takeable” ball to bounce and in the commission of this offence” against Sydenham the Marist pack showed up as hopeless sinners. It is far better to race into a doubtful ball with the risk of a knock-on than to wait for the ball to strike the ground and afterwards play all the funny tricks which only an oval ball can play. Eye-on-the-ball when handling applies in Rugby the same as it does in golf when

hitting. Evidently the example set by K. C. Stuart who showed uncanny judgment in into the ball, is not being followed by his club-mates.

Although it is some years since he was a representative player, G. Bolton, formerly of Technical, continues to give New Brighton useful service.

M. J. Dixon, All Black wing-three-quarters and Sydenham’s captain, besides having a reputation for being unpredictable must be qualifying for the utility player’s prize. He has played in every back position from halfback to full-back. When the fullback, M. Gowans had to leave the field on Saturday Dixon took his place and, although he was caught in possession once when Marist predicted rightly, and his kicking was not so long or accurate as that of Gowans, he did not let the side down. Dixon is a real team player ana a handy man to have on any side.

W. L’Estrange, the tall Marist forward, has played senior grade football for several seasons without doing anything outstanding, but he showed against Sydenham on Saturday that he has the “devil”, so necessary in a good forward in his play. Another game like his last will draw the attention of the selectors.

Because of injuries to C. McDonald, J. Cadigan and M. Hurley Marist gave several lower-grade players, N. F. Anderson, M. McLeod and O. J. Lynch a run against Sydenham. All are good types but lack experience of first-grade footballers.