FROM THE TOUCH-LINES

Press, Volume C, Issue 29509, 10 May 1961, Page 13

FROM THE TOUCH-LINES

The Linwood back, R. Havill, has played in a variety of positions in his Rugby career, and it says much for his ability that he can fill any position

in the back line with distinction. On the wing against Old Boys last Saturday he came in-field several times and gave copy-book passes to his outside backs. * * * New Zealand representative Shirley Patrick, goal defence for St. Nicholas last year, is this season playing basketball in Temuka, where she is a school teacher. The experience she gained in Australia will be an asset to the game in Temuka. # # # The Hornby senior Rugby League side has found a very promising young wing, G. Geddes. In the game against Linwood he handled splendidly and ran very strongly. These assets, coupled with stout defence, will make him a valuable member of the side. He is a promoted player from last year’s champion third grade side. ♦ * # Christchurch's two Maori forwards, R. Wai-, nohu, the No. 8, and G. Thompson, were among the best on the field in the match with Albion. Wainohu showed great speed and intelligence and was very hard to bring down because of his strength. Thompson was a very honest worker and was also up with the play from beginning to end.

The former South Canterbury centre three-quarters, M. A. Keenan, has been playing well for Marist this season. Against Merivale on Saturday he ‘made several strong breaks and always managed to time his passing to perfection. Keenan, a strong defender, has a delightful swerve which often baffles the defence. * * * Hornby’s Kiwi Rugby League loose forward. M. Cooke, was in great form in his team’s match with Linwood on Saturday. His display proved conclusively that he should be a certainty for the New Zealand side against Australia and for the tour of England. His display on Saturday was outstanding in all respects and his clean handling, powerful running and deadly tackling won the admiration of the spectators. ® * Although his team was well beaten on Saturday, the Belfast full-back E. Williams was prominent in keeping the score lower than it could easily have been. Williams does not appear to be a robust player, but the amount of

useful cover-defence, tackling and clearing which he did against TechnicalShirley suggests that he has considerably more stamina than first impressions would suggest. # * * The improvement shown last season by C. Mullaney, the Christchurch centre, has been maintained this season. Mullaney is one of the fastest backs in the senior grade.

After showing poor form and little fitness in the first two matches of the soccer competition. Western’s R. Durant appears to becoming back to his best form. In the vital match against Nomads on

Saturday, Durant showed more energy than most of his younger team-mates, and his passing set up many opportunities for his forwards to fritter away. * * * A highlight of the game between Technical-Shirley and Belfast on Saturday was the play of the young Technical-Shirley centre, A. G. Dowel. He had few opportunities to show his attacking skill but when he did get the ball, his beautifully smooth running and ability to move cleanly through a gap were impressive. « # * Ruerby spectators are usually very firm in their opinions on the merits of the teams they follow. One very fervent Sunnyside-Sprey-don supporter at Rugby Park on Saturday made no secret where his affiliations lay. Continually exhorting his team to greater efforts against University, he caused some amusement among other spectators when, in one breath, he shouted, “Put the boot in Sunnyside—cut out the dirt Varsity.’’ ® ® * Spectators at English Park on Saturday were not slow to show their disapproval of unnecessarily rough play by members of the Western soccer team in its Hurley Shield fixture with Nomads. Barging and obstruction were too often used to cover up errors, and one New Zealand representative in the Western team was spoken to twice by the referee. ® ® ® J. Walsh (Marist), a second five-eighths from last year’s Marist senior Rugby team, has settled down remarkably well to the Rugby League code. Playing at half-back, his copybook tackles were an inspiration to the rest of the team. « * ♦ The University wing three-quarters, B. M. Weenink, impressed with his fast and determined straight running down the side lines against Sunnyside - Spreydon. Weenink scored two tries and made the break for another one at the end of the match. It.is his second season in the Univeri sity team.

Neerlandia’s goalkeeper H. Westenberg continues to turn in very good performances for his team. He is one of a number of first-class custodians in the Canterbury soccer competition, very safe in handling and capable in clearing his goal. Every week Westenberg makes some fine saves. « » « A feature of Marist’s first win in the senior Rugby League competition was its team-work. In a way this was remarkable, for after„ four rounds Marist has called upon 25 players, and only three of them have played in all four games. # ♦ # To score the equalising try and then to lose all interest in the game was the misfortune -vf" The Hornby Rugby League centre three-quarter, P. Tongue in the game against Linwood. Tongue went over the line with several players on top of him and in the process received a broken leg. He has given the Hornby club great service over the years, and it now appears that his playing days will be finished. * # ♦ The veteran Linwood Rugby League forward L. Blanchard was a fine leader in the team’s forwards in Saturday’s game against Hornby, Although lacking a little in pace, he makes up for this in the play close to the scrums, where his generalship and intelligent play set a fine example to the rest of the pack. « « * It was unfortunate that R. Bray (Hornby) was not available. for the Canterbury Rugby League training squad. Bray attends university lectures on the same nights the representative squad trains, but more opportunities will come the way of this promising first five-eighths. ® e » As G. Turner (Papanui) was resting a swollen ankle he was was unable .to travel with the Canterbury Rugby League team to Greymouth. Turner was not selected for the representative game in Auckland on Saturday. » * * The Rawhitl senior I women's hockey team had an unusually authoritative visitor during the half-time break at Hagley Park on Saturday afternoon'. He was a police constable who joined in the conference of players and returned to the side-line to watch when play was resumed. “Did you warn them?” inquired a woman spectator. “No," replied the constable. “I encouraged them.” The encouragement was apparently enough to stop the opposing University side from penetrating the Rawhitl defences again, but it fell short of enabling Rawhitl to draw level with or beat University.