Sportsman’s Notebook RUGBY LEAGUE GAME AT GREYMOUTH

Press, Volume C, Issue 29505, 5 May 1961, Page 3

Sportsman’s Notebook RUGBY LEAGUE GAME AT GREYMOUTH

The Canterbury Rugby league team will have its first test of the season when it plays West Coast at Greymouth during this week-end. With the match being played so early in the season, the selection of the Canterbury team has in the main been governed by last season's performances. However, in the three club games played so far this season, most of last season’s representatives have shown excellent form and their selection can not be criticised. Last season’s policy of building up with the emphasis on youth should bear fruit this season. Canterbury's biggest handicap last season was the inability to win the ball from the scrums to enable a very efficient back line to show its undoubted attacking ability. The front row of J. Fisher, N. Diggs and K. Pearce, with M. Mohi and E. Lavendale as locks, looks the most compact scrum for some seasons. The Kiwi loose forward, M. Cooke, is not available for the first game through family reasons and this gives the very promising R. McLean his chance. McLean is playing exceedingly well in club games and should perform well. The decision to play last season’s second string halfback. R Pounsford, at first five-eighths will meet with general approval. In the last two club games he has been outstanding as a five-eighths and he is expected to add a great deal of thrust to the back line. The Linwood halfback. W. Godfrey, gets his first chance in representative football and has only to repeat his club performances to be a success. Jim Bond has been moved out one place and will play at centre, where his clever footwork should give him ample opportunity to make play for two capable scoring wingers, A. Amer and R. Turton. A player who appears to have a good future, K. Harding. will be at second fiveeighths. Harding has a quick eye for a gap and is strong on defence. The full-back's position will be in the capable hands of A. Smith, who gave Canterbury fine service last season. Smith is a match winner with his goal-kicking. ’ * $ $ Soccer Talent The Apia-Leichhardt team in the Sydney soccer competitions is bottom of the points table, and blames its poor record on its having too many good players. In 4he last two seasons the dub has spent much money in importing international players from Europe and South Africa, but > has found that several of these over-lap in their positions. Reluctant to drop any of these talented men. the club has included them all at the expense of playing several out of position. and the players have consequently not moulded into a team.

Badminton The Canterbury Badminton Association intends to organise a round-robin tournament over the Queen's Birthday week-end. Men's and women's singles will be played, matches to be the best of three sets. According to the number of entries, the tournament may be played in grades. It will be played on the Saturday and Sunday evenings, and perhaps will extend to the Monday evening. Entries for this tournament will close on May 12. « » * Boxing Tourneys The Canterbury Boxing Association expects to get under way soon with another amateur tournament at the Show Grounds. The venue, the scene of some very successful tournaments last season, is a very fine one for the sport. The 400 seats are tiered and all patrons can obtain an excellent view. « # * “N.Z. Bowler’’ The "New Zealand Bowler.” a periodical covering news from lawn bowls and indoor bowls on a national scale, has ceased publication. The magazine has not been published since its SeptemberOctober issue of last season and, as they have been unable to find anybody to take over, the present proprietors have had to cease publication. Subscriptions which have not yet expired have been taken over by the “Australian Bowler.” which will provide some news from the Dominion.