FROM THE TOUCH-LINES

Press, Volume C, Issue 29498, 27 April 1961, Page 13

FROM THE TOUCH-LINES

In passing the soccer ball, K. Olley remains supreme. His mastery of this very important aspect of the code was demonstrated once more when he played for Western

against City on Saturday. Every pass was fast, at ground level, and aimed ahead of a rilnning opponent. Local players too often put the ball into the air in passing, and lack control and direction. It was a pity that more was not seen of R. Lether, the second five-eighths for Merivale against New Brighton. Lether looks to be a potentially useful attacking back, with the ability to handle well and to run hard and straight. It is to be hoped that he will get an opportunity soon to show his ability to play constructive Rugby. ★ Spectators at the main soccer match at English Park on Saturday were treated to the sight of a City player, taking a penalty kick, putting the ball well wide of the posts. As City was behind at the time, the goal that usually results from such a kick would have been most welcome. Also on Saturday. a High School Old Boys player hit his penalty kick straight into an upright. There is no excuse for such lack of accuracy in this, the easiest of kicks. The High School Old Boys’ hooker, D. Hill, has been in grand form in both matches he has played. He may not be the best

hooker in the competition but his play in all departments is very sound. Against Sydenham he made . a break which led to a try and against Marist he scored a try himself. Mita Mohi, the big second row forward in the Marist Rugby League team, showed some of his last season’s form in the match against Linwood on Saturday. A Canterbury representative last year, Mohi proved to be a hard man to stop when he got under way. The Canterbury Rugby League representative side should receive fine service from the Sydenham forward, N. Diggs, again this season. Diggs is very fit and last Saturday was always prominent, with a fine all-round display. He has become the leader of the Sydenham pack and does the job in fine style. ★ The young Papanul Rugby League half-back, G. Sandford, has started off the season in fine style. His long, accurate passes from the base of the scrum give his supports a fine start, and his speed and clever running out in the open keep him prominent.

Jim White, who will be transferring to Wellington for several months at the end of May, showed pace and determination in several runs down the wing for the Linwood Rugby League team against Marist on Saturday. He scored the team's first try and was in some of the moves that resulted in others being scored. ★ With three rounds of the Hurley Shield soccer competition played. K. Olley (Western) heads the list of goal-scorers with six. He is followed by C. Whitehead (Western) with five goals. Players with four goals are E. Charlton and W. Shannon (Technical), I. McCallum and P. McFarland (Nomads), H. Scholten (Neerlandia) and B. Fergus (University). ★ Improving with every game, the Papanui Rugby League second row forward, E. Tavendale, seems to have a very bright future in the code. Strong and very fast, Tavendale handles like a back and opens up play for his backs in fine style. ★ C. R. Hockley, playing at lock instead of in the front row for University, gave a splendid performance against Albion. As

expected of him he played well in the tight, but also showed up in the short passing movements which have been a feature of the University forwards’ play this season. He is still a very good forward. ★ The Albion centre, R. J. Phelan, had few chances on attack against University but was outstanding on defence. Although he is not very heavy, Phelan’s tackling is almost perfect. He goes in low and hard and is an example to those who prefer to try to smother tackle and still remain on their feet. ★ The Canterbury and Linwood Rugby League fullback, Tony Smith, had a good opening day by kicking nine goals against Marist on Saturday when his team had a big win by 51 points to 2. Smith converted nine of the 11 tries and had the fine analysis Of eight goals from eight attempts in the second half. ★ In soccer, sound traping is more than a fundamental, it is a necessity if a side is to retain possession. The player who can trap the ball while on the run can make valuable openings for his team. Such a player has appeared all too rarely in local soccer this season. The Shamrock players in Saturday’s encounter with Nomads were very bad offenders in this respect. In his last two games, the New Brighton fullback. R. Bewick, has played very soundly. Bowick has had a lot of experience in senior Rugby, mainly as a threequarters. This experience has served him well this season, not only in defensive play but also in his attempts to put some thrust into the New Brighton back line by coming into the attack.